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Oil-impregnated rocks of Utah: USERDA field experiment to recover oil from tar sand

Journal Article · · Brigham Young Univ. Geol. Stud.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6795080
The U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration is equipping a field experiment to test the reverse combustion process for recovery of oil from a tar sand on a 10-acre site on the Northwest Asphalt Ridge deposit near Vernal, Utah. A tar sand section 10 ft thick at the top of the Rim Rock Sandstone (Mesaverde, Upper Cretaceous) has been selected for testing. Air is to be transmitted through injection wells at 16,000 scf/hr at 200 to 400 psig. Production wells, with 2 strings of tubing, one to transmit cooling water to the bottom of the well and the other to produce hot vapors at the surface, will produce vaporized oil and water in about a 2:1 ratio by volume. Following ignition, the burning front should move from well bore into tar sand with a peak burning temperature of 800/sup 0/F. The optimum air flux is 40 scf/hr-sq ft across the pattern and should result in a total production of 30 to 35% oil in place.
Research Organization:
Energy Research and Development Administration
OSTI ID:
6795080
Journal Information:
Brigham Young Univ. Geol. Stud.; (United States), Journal Name: Brigham Young Univ. Geol. Stud.; (United States) Vol. 22; ISSN BYGSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English