Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Geopressured-Geothermal Brine
This white paper presents a unique plan for an Oil Industry-DOE cost sharing research project for Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery (TEOR) of medium and heavy oil using geopressured-geothermal brine. This technology would provide an environmentally clean method of recovery as opposed to the burning of crude oil or natural gas used widely by the industry, but presently under scrutiny by federal and state air quality agencies, as well as provide an alternative to the very expensive operational and mechanical problems associated with heating water on the surface for injection. An example test reservoir is a shallow, small structural reservoir about 1-l/2 miles long by 1/2 mile wide. It is presently producing heavy oil (18.6 API gravity) from 5 wells, and is marginally economic. One of three nearby geopressured-geothermal wells could be re-entered and recompleted to supply about 400 F brine from 13-16,000 feet. This brine can be used to heat and drive the heavy oil. It is anticipated that about one million barrels of oil may be recovered by this project. Over 3 million barrels are estimated to be in place; only 2.7% of the oil in place has been produced. The suggested teaming arrangement includes: (1) EG&G Idaho, Inc., which presently provides technical and management support to DOE in the Gulf EG&G would supply coordination, management and Coast Geopressured-Geothermal Program. technical support to DOE for the Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Project. (2) A small business which would supply the field, geologic and well data, production wells, and production operation. They would cost-share the project and provide revenue from increased production (5% of increased production) to help offset DOE costs. Though DOE would cost-share brine supply and injection system, they would not assume well ownership. The small business would supply engineering and operations for brine supply, injection system, and collection of field producing and injection data. Phase 1--Geologic, reservoir, feasibility and economic studies, and hot water flooding design would be made for the proposed project, and geopressured production well and leases will be investigated. Phase 2--If the results of the feasibility studies warrant proceeding, geopressured production well and leases will be obtained. Phase 3--Operation of project, collection of injection and production data, reservoir and environmental monitoring and evaluation will be completed. This would be concluded by a final report including an evaluation of methodology for regional application in the Texas Gulf Coast. The project will be turned over to the operator for operation to depletion. The final report will also address the feasibility of geopressured-geothermal enhanced recovery of oil in other locations. There is a regional trend of similar reservoirs along the Texas Gulf Coast, where this technology could be immediately applied, as well as other areas, such as the San Joaquin Basin, where the country's largest heavy oil reserves are located. If this process is proven successful, many millions of barrels of oil could be added to this country's recoverable reserves. Further, hundreds of marginally economic fields may not require immediate plugging. The total estimated cost for this five-year program is approximately $16 million. Cost-sharing by the small business will reduce the DOE funds required over five years to $13 million less cost-shared oil produced. To initiate this program would require a first year funding level of approximately $1 million. This is not a formal proposal and is not a commitment by EG&G Idaho, Inc. A formal breakdown of financial information will be provided with a formal request for proposal.
- Research Organization:
- DOEEEGTP (USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Geothermal Tech Pgm)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 893588
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-PRO-003-89; TRN: US200701%%302
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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