Time is precious; that is why PTTC works diligently to package technology information such that busy independents can quickly wrap their minds around new ideas. When it comes to adding something to my calendar, I must be convinced it is necessary, and admit I have been resistant to the whole blogging/Twittering/social networking movement.

I attended the Tertiary Oil Recovery Project conference in Wichita, Ks., where Edward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association, shared some thoughts that are overcoming my resistance. To quote from printed information he provided, “Two-thirds of all members of Congress have a presence on the social networking site facebook.com. One in 10 is on Twitter. Seventy-nine percent of chiefs of staff, 66 percent of senior policy advisers, and 65 percent of legislative assistants read blogs. Even more significant is that 90 percent of congressional staffers use blogs to help determine constituent opinion and 60 percent of them prefer online resources when preparing their members for a vote.”

Cross stressed how advocacy must change and align itself with current trends. To some degree, I am now convinced that technology transfer such as that PTTC does must do a similar alignment. That is certainly true to reach the newer generation, which lives in a world of “24/7 constant communication.”

As most of you know, PTTC now operates under the umbrella of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Susan Nash, AAPG’s director of education and professional development and also responsible for PTTC, has extensive experience in the online world. So look for some PTTC initiatives in that realm. Rest assured though, local, affordable work- shops on topics of interest where you live and work will remain a mainstay of PTTC’s program.

It is now time to delve into some technology tidbits from the TORP conference. Most are aware of the “very small” carbon- dioxide-flood pilot in the Lansing-Kansas City formation that has been going on for years in Central Kansas (see story page 173). Although the pilot did not perform anything like expected (Can we say heterogeneity?), oil was mobilized and recovered–exhibiting about 6 Mcf of CO2 per barrel of oil recovered, which is equivalent to field performance in West Texas CO2 floods.

One lesson learned is that any future project must be large enough so that oil, when it is mobilized, will be captured “somewhere.” So what if one did a larger flood? Mark Ballard with TORP did some scoping work for field-scale projects (there are two ethanol plants within reasonable proximity). Beyond all the details, and it appeared to be a fairly thorough analysis, the rate of return at $50-a-barrel oil exceeds 40 percent. That is enough potential to be intriguing. Another important lesson learned in the pilot was that field personnel quickly picked up operating experience with both the injector and producers, demonstrating that independents can do it.

If one is seriously contemplating a CO2 flood, I recommend attending a two-day “CO2 operating” workshop PTTC is hosting June 3-4 in Houston. Developed by the Applied Petroleum Training Academy in Midland, Tx., the course is a prime example of “those really in the know sharing what they know.”

Any one familiar with improved oil recovery in Kansas knows about the success of larger volume polymer gel treatments in the Arbuckle. J.T. Portwood with Eclipse IOR Services LLC challenged attendees not to have “Arbuckle tunnel vision.” The gist of his message was to look at injection- side treatments. Anyone operating a waterflood knows about the “short circuits” that destroy sweep efficiency. Injecting polymer gel is one solution.

He recommended using lower polymer concentrations (less viscous and weaker gels) in rock dominated by tortuous matrix flow or microfractures, and higher polymer concentrations (more viscous and stronger gels) where flow is dominated by fractures or vugs. Illustrating it well with schematics, Portwood discussed how near-well-bore treatments (i.e., smaller gel plugs) work only when there are upper/lower flow barriers/boundaries keeping fluids in zone. If those upper/lower boundaries aren’t there, after a short time injection water simply moves around the near-well-bore plug and once again flows through the channels.

A reality of improved oil recovery is that one must maintain a long-term vision. Capital requirements can be significant, and projects can take several years to implement. One can’t let the oil price of the moment, whether it is the $140 a barrel of 2008 or today’s $50, make or kill projects. Are you a bull or a bear on the future?