The US oil and gas industry needs more research into increased production from existing wells, improved recovery, and prolonged well life, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) outlined in a technology roadmap.
The 47-page plan was released to federal lawmakers and others detailing the industry’s research needs for both onshore and offshore projects in the coming decade. The plan, entitled, “Keeping it going for the long haul—the easy stuff is gone,” outlines US research and development opportunities, including:
• Improved safety performance and environmental sensitivity.
• Onshore emerging and developing shale plays.
• Offshore satellite fields.
• Improved recovery for onshore and offshore reservoirs.
“No one knows what the energy industry will look like in the next 10 years,” said RPSEA Pres. Tom Williams. He noted that multiple sources report the current average recovery from US shale plays is less than 10% for oil and 15% for natural gas.
Marginal wells are a proposed research priority, especially how to prevent wells in unconventional plays from becoming prematurely marginal, Williams said. The plan identified research and development funding that for the most part does not yet exist.
RPSEA is based on a public-private partnership model that has worked since 2002 with industry, academia, and the Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory.
A nonprofit national consortium, RPSEA advocates technology transfer of research and development information. It has managed more than 170 research projects.
RPSEA has consulted with more than 1,000 people through surveys, advisory meetings, and industry meetings.
Contact Paula Dittrick at [email protected].
