The feasibility of recovering medium to heavy oil using geopressured/geothermal fluids

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7024653

Negusde Wys, J; Plum, M M ^[1]; Kimmell, O E; Hart, G F ^[2]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (United States)
2. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge (United States)

Thermal enhanced oil recovery using geopressured/geothermal fluids is a unique concept for recovering heavy and medium oils that are bypassed during conventional production processes. The successful implementation of this technology would provide an environmentally clean and less expensive method of thermal recovery. The GPGT fluids are under high pressure in their parent reservoir and when linked to shallow reservoirs by suitable plumbing will provide a self-propelled method of heat transfer to a target reservoir existing at shallow depth. The method is similar to hot water flooding; thus the basic technology already exists. However, the major difference is the usually high total dissolved solids present in GPGT waters. The exact effect of the brine on the target reservoir is uncertain but may have a beneficial effect not only on viscosity and oil extraction but also on permeability and porosity. The operational and mechanical problems associated with piping the GPGT fluids into shallow reservoirs also are uncertain but probably can be readily overcome. The important point is that an enormous amount of additional domestic heavy and medium oil will be recovered, if the concept works. GPGT fluids combine the temperatures, propulsion, and technology that would be comparatively clean environmentally. The major states from which considerable quantities of additional production is possible are California, Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, Wyoming and 2 Bbbls in other states. the Alworth field of the south Texas Minando trend is proposed as a pilot site. Run of the economic model on the Alworth field suggests that it will be economic.

• OSTI ID: 7024653
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150900 -- Geothermal Engineering
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL HOT-WATER SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HEAT EXTRACTION
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
STIMULATION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS