DOE funds research to aid independents

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected two university research teams to apply advanced computer modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) in projects to lower costs and risks of oil and gas exploration. The California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, is to develop a user- friendly computer model that will use oil chemistry to predict formation, movement, and accumulation of hydrocarbons. It will team with Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and GeoGroup Inc., Knoxville, Tenn.

Oct. 5, 1998

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The California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, is to develop a user- friendly computer model that will use oil chemistry to predict formation, movement, and accumulation of hydrocarbons. It will team with Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and GeoGroup Inc., Knoxville, Tenn.

The New Mexico Tech Petroleum Recovery Research Center at Socorro is to develop an AI system to integrate reservoir and basin information at all scales to improve finding risk and provide realistic estimates of drilling risks.

DOE said both projects will focus on helping small producers: "The independent producer requires basin-scale information on the regional geologic history, fault and fold trends, and basin temperature patterns that control oil generation. This information is generally unavailable to most small operators."

It said the research projects could provide data "on basins where independent operators may explore and a computer system that shows how risky the exploration will be. With this information, producers can make more effective use of their limited capital."

The two research teams will receive $3.6 million in federal funds during the next 3-4 years, and will provide $1.2 million in cost sharing.