Oil mining techniques could enhance reserves

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · Drill Bit; (United States)

OSTI ID:7037135

Gill, D

Wide application of the technique of oil mining could boost the total of economically recoverable domestic US reserves as much as 10 fold. That compares to a mere 8% increase in total average recoveries now estimated to be possible through known techniques of enhanced recovery. Approx. 30 billion bbl now remaining are recoverable through conventional primary and secondary techniques, with perhaps an additional 15 to 20 billion amenable to various types of enhanced operations. By contrast, oil mining may release 300 billion of additional barrels, resulting in ultimate recoveries of 80 to 90% of original oil in place, compared to 30 to 40% amenable to all types of conventional methods involving drilling into oil-bearing formations from the surface. Oil mining involves sinking access shaft around the perimeter of a known, depleted reservoir, with horizontal drifts from which boreholes are drilled up into and through the total gross pay interval. Crude then drains to collection points in the drifts.

• OSTI ID: 7037135
• Journal Information: Drill Bit; (United States), Vol. 28:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
BOREHOLES
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
OIL SHALES
UNDERGROUND MINING
DRAINAGE
MATERIALS RECOVERY
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OPTIMIZATION
RESERVES
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
USA
WELL DRILLING
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
040300* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining