Oil recovery from a Utah tar sand deposit by in situ combustion

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5548243

Johnson, L A; Fahy, L J; Thornton, M W; Romanowski, Jr, L J; Marchant, L C

The US tar sand resource consists of an estimated 30 billion barrels (4.7Gm/sup 3/) of oil. Most of this resource is in six large deposits in Utah. Through research and development to prove tar sand oil recovery methods, the Department of Energy is attempting to stimulate commercialization of this resource. Two in situ combustion field experiments have been conducted in Utah's Northwest Asphalt Ridge deposit. The second of these experiments, described in detail, was completed in early 1978 and consisted of a reverse combustion preparatory phase followed by a forward combustion production phase. Oil recovery exceeding 20% of the oil-in-place from a 40 ft by 120 ft (12m by 36m) nine-well line pattern provides encouragement for larger scale technical and economic demonstrations. This report includes the follwoing in detail: the design of the oil production process and its related air injection and production facilities; ignition of the process; conduct of the process (for 183 days); effluent monitoring; data acquisition (including use of an on-site minicomputer); data analysis; and resultant conclusions.

• Research Organization: Laramie Energy Research Center, WY
• OSTI ID: 5548243
• Journal Information: Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN IOCBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DATA
DATA FORMS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INFORMATION
ISOLATED VALUES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SANDS
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
UTAH