U.S. Department of Energy
Rhonda Lindsey, Senior Project Manager National Energy Technology Laboratory
Class IIShallow-Shelf
Carbonate Reservoirs
Reservoir Class Program
Program Goals: Slow oil well abandonment rates and preserve industry
infrastructure Demonstrate improved methods of reservoir
characterization, advanced oil recovery, advanced environmental compliance techniques, and improved reservoir management techniques
Broaden information exchange and technology application among stakeholders
Program Benefits: Extend economic production of domestic fields Increase ultimate recovery in known fields Increase domestic oil reserves Decrease cost of environmental compliance
The DOE Report on Field Demonstrations presented to the National Research Council in November 2000 stated that the realized benefit in production and taxes returned to the government was
$30.5 billion for $136 million spent
These Projects Have More Than Returned The Cost To Fund Them
*Page 62, U.S. DOE Report, November 2000
Reservoir Class Program
Accomplishments: The University of Utah with Aera Energy successfully
reestablished production in an abandoned lease. Production from the 40-acre property has risen to over 1,200 bopd and in 5 years over one million bbl of oil has been recovered. The adjoining leases have a potential for 80 million bbls of oil.
University of Kansas: Stewart Field has shown an 11-fold increase in oil production since 1993. Significant cost savings have been realized at Savonburg Field.
Hughes Eastern extended the life of North Blowhorn Field, AL by 12 years with MEOR
Laguna Petroleum Corporation extended reservoir life of South Cowden and Foster Fields, TX by 7 years, and identified 570,000 bbl new reserves through seismic interpretation
Michigan Tech. University drilled the 1st horizontal well in the Michigan Basin. Over 20 permits were issued to drill “look alike” prospects in the Michigan Basin.
Midway-Sunset Field, CAUniversity of Utah
Steamflood of the Pru Fee property
Savonburg Field, KS University of Kansas
Injection water quality was improved by 90% reduction in solid-using air flotation unit
North Blowhorn Field, ALHughes Eastern
Nutrient injection for microbial enhanced recovery
Foster & So. Cowden Fields, TXLaguna Petroleum
Infill well, Foster lease
Crystal Field, MIMichigan Technological University
Drilling Michigan’s first horizontal well
Class II Shallow-Shelf Carbonate Reservoirs
9 field demonstrations in shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs were selected and awarded in 1994
6 additional projects in Class II were selected and awarded in 2000
Class II Projects
The Future of Field Demonstrations
DOE will continue to support field demonstrations through the Advanced Technologies Initiatives targeted toward the needs of independent producers
Reservoir Characterization is essential Technology Transfer is essential Good Ideas are essential – Thanks go to those
who brought us the great ideas