Geologic controls of in-situ processing of tar sands, NW Asphalt Ridge, Utah

Conference · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5632085

Sinks, D J; Johnson, L A; Fahy, L J

The Laramie-Energy Technology Center completed 3 in situ oil recovery experiments from tar sands at NW Asphalt Ridge, Utah. The 3.28- to 14.75-m thick experimental tar-sand zones are in the Rim Rock sandstone member of the Mesaverde Formation of Cretaceous age. Three experiments were performed at the tract. Two combustion tests using reverse combustion and a combination reverse and forward combustion were completed in a tar-sand bed 3.28 to 3.93 m thick. The third test used steam injection on a 14.75-m thick bed. Tar-sand analyses yielded the following range of data for the 3 tests: extracted porosity, 26.1 to 31.1%; absolute air permeability, 651 to 2175 md; oil saturation, 62 to 75% pv; water saturation, 2.4 to 7.9% pv. Various geological controls can determine the effectiveness of the extraction process. These include the dip of the beds, reservoir thickness, water and oil saturation, porosity, permeability, vertical and horizontal continuity of section, confinement of zone, and potential fractures and faulting in area.

• OSTI ID: 5632085
• Report Number(s): CONF-8206143-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 66:5
• 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
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
294004 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Oil Shales & Tar Sands
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CONTROL
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LARAMIE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL SANDS
OIL SATURATION
OXIDATION
PERMEABILITY
POROSITY
PROCESS CONTROL
PROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVERSE COMBUSTION
SATURATION
STEAM INJECTION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
UTAH
WATER SATURATION