BuMines plans Utah tar-sands pilot

Journal Article · Mon Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 1974 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6727676

The U.S. Bureau of Mines will begin an in situ combustion pilot operation soon in Utah's tar sand area. The project signals industry interest in the domestic deposits as a source of much needed new oil. The business experimental project, set for this summer or early fall, will seek to show that a reverse combustion burn can succeed at a depth of only 200 ft or so in the rich sands of NW. Asphalt Ridge, 5 miles west of Vernal in the Unita Basin of NE. Utah. The pilot will consist of 9 wells in 3 rows forming a rectangle. The center row will consist of 3 production wells spaced 10 ft apart. The 2 outside rows each 30 ft from the center row, will consist of 3 wells, also spaced 10 ft apart and at right angles to the production wells. Operators will ignite the central production wells in the formation and inject air in the outside wells and push it toward the central wells. The bitumen in the formation will heat to a vapor and be produced out the injection wells. At the surface, the vapor will be cooled down and the oil condensed out.

• OSTI ID: 6727676
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 72:15; ISSN OIGJA
• 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
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OXIDATION
PILOT PLANTS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
UTAH