The U.S. Department of Energy has completed negotiations for three projects to demonstrate methods to increase oil production from fluvial dominated deltaic reservoirs.
It will pay half the cost each of a $2.8 million project headed by American Oil Recovery Inc., Decatur, Ill., a $2.9 million Oklahoma Geological Survey project, and a $2.6 million University of Tulsa project.
DOE now has completed agreements for eight of 14 projects aimed at demonstrating enhanced recovery for similar fields and forestall premature abandonment.
It requires industry participants to transfer information about the demonstrated technologies to other operators facing similar production challenges. Project sponsors estimate the 14 demonstration projects could add 21 million bbl of oil to the nation's producible supply.
DOE said, "If the technologies prove successful and are replicated throughout the reservoir class, the nation's crude oil supply could be increased by as much as 6.3 billion bbl."
Fluvial dominated deltaic reservoirs, the first reservoir class targeted for DOE's enhanced recovery demonstration program, garnered 44 project proposals for the second round of the program, which focuses on shallow shelf carbonate reservoirs.
THE PROJECTS
American Oil Recovery, Sigma Consultants, Mattoon, Ill., and Bretagne G.P., Nashville, Tenn., plan to use water and carbon dioxide to flush more oil production Mattoon field of Coles County, Ill.
DOE said if the technology is successful, it could increase recovery 20% and could be applicable to fields in Indiana and Kentucky where another 25 million bbl could be recovered.
The Oklahoma Geological Survey, the University of Oklahoma's Geological Information Systems Department, and OU's School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, will survey nearly 1,000 fluvial dominated deltaic reservoirs in the state to determine which recovery methods are successful.
They will convey the results to independent operators and estimate the information transfer could increase production 30% from the reservoir class in Oklahoma.
The University of Tulsa, Uplands Resources Inc., Joshi Technologies International, and Amoco Production Co., plan to research the use of horizontal wells for waterflooding in the reservoir class.
They will demonstrate the technique at Glenn Pool field in Tulsa and Creek counties, Okla., during 4 years and estimate it could add 4 million bbl to recoverable reserves.
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