U. S. Energy Research and Development Administration field experiment (for tar sand oil recovery)

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Earth Sci. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6281892

Marchant, L C

E.R.D.A.'s Laramie Energy Research Center is equipping a small-scale field experiment to test the reverse combustion process to recover oil from tar sand. This field experiment, the first of a planned series, will extend the results of laboratory work and will identify the problems that will affect the application of the process in the field. The reverse combustion process will be tested in preference to the alternative forward process, because laboratory experiments have indicated that reduction of permeability downstream from the combustion zone by condensing vapors is not likely to occur. A tar sand section 10 ft thick at the top of the Rim Rock Sandstone has been selected for the experiment. The section has a porosity of about 28.5%, an oil saturation of about 52%, a water saturation of 15.5%, a permeability of 182 mdarcy with the bitumen in place, and a permeability of 615 mdarcy after the oil is extracted. The oil has a gravity of about 10/sup 0/API and a viscosity of over 500,000 cp at reservoir temperature.

• OSTI ID: 6281892
• Journal Information: Earth Sci. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Earth Sci. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN ESCBA
• 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
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL SANDS
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVERSE COMBUSTION
TESTING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES