DOE Digest

Pre-Commercial Testing of Ultrasonic Well Stimulation Device

In the past R&D scientists working on ultrasound technology have been unable to make the transition from the laboratory to a functioning commercial oilfield application. A Klamath Falls group has broken through this barrier in testing at RMOTC. Two different units, a 42-mm diameter tool designed to pass through production tubing and a 100-mm diameter tool for casing, were tested. The technical characteristics of both units were confirmed in relation to their capacity to generate and transmit stable signals for one to two hours, the time period representing the time expected to treat a damaged well. The system proved to be robust, showing no signal instability, attenuation, heat buildup, or other problems. Positive results in this testing are being used to design further testing.

Excerpted from RMOTC's 2005 Spring Newsletter (www.rmotc.
com/Today/Newsletter.html). For more information contact RMOTC's Bryant Mook at Bryant.Mook@rmotc.doe.gov.

Digital Bibliography of Unconventional Gas Research Reports

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has identified and catalogued all the historical unconventional gas project reports produced over the last thirty years. Over two hundred boxes of archived reports on Devonian Shale, Tight Gas Sand, Deep Source Gas, Coal Mine Methane and Natural Gas Hydrates have been sorted and the references documented in a digital bibliography. This reference material is extremely useful to producers interested in developing similar resources today.

For further information contact DOE's Tom Mroz (phone 304-285-4071, email tmroz@netl.doe.
gov).

Microhole Technologies Moving Forward

Companies receiving awards in DOE's Microhole Technology development program are moving forward in multiple fronts to develop and test rigs and many system components. This should ultimately make microhole (very small diameter) wellbores a reality. The economic driving force for

lower cost drilling with minimal footprint that would enable drilling wells for lower reserve volumes is powerful, so industry is also moving forward in many arenas on its own.

With simultaneous action by multiple players on many different fronts, there is the risk that components will not "fit" together. With that risk in mind, PTTC will be working alongside DOE in the coming year to enhance communication and interaction among those companies/individuals developing technologies. With improved communication and awareness, the chances for all the components being simultaneously developed to be "compatible when integrated" improves greatly.

Key elements of this Integration Initiative will be (1) integration meetings involving the players, (2) developing a state-of-the industry profile of microhole technology, and (3) developing and maintaining a web information/communication system. To accomplish the above, PTTC will work hard to identify, expand and connect those involved in technology development. Get people to talking in a timely fashion and many $ of rework can be avoided. An initial Technology Integration meeting is scheduled on Wednesday August 17th in Houston. Producers are encouraged to “stay in the loop” by attending this and subsequent meetings. Watch PTTC’s website for further information.

DOE's Phase I Microhole Awards (mid 2004)

The first set of projects focuses on field demonstrations and development of technology that uses coiled-tubing drilling:

• Demonstrations of existing 43/4-in. commercial microhole technology.

• Built for-purpose microhole coiled-tubing rig (Schlumberger IPC, Sugar Land, Tex.).

• Self-contained zero discharge drilling-mud system (Bandera Petroleum Inc., Tulsa).

• Microhole coiled-tubing bottomhole assemblies (three projects: smart steering and LWD system developed by Baker Hughes Inteq, Houston; radar navigation and radio data transmission systems developed by Stolar Research Corp., Raton, N.M.; and a downhole drilling tractor developed by Western Well Tool Inc., Anaheim, Calif.).

• Microhole completion and production equipment (through-tubing artificial

For more information see DOE Tech Line www.fossil.energy.gov/
news/techlines/2004/tl_microhole
_tech_selections.html.

DOE's Phase II Microhole Awards (Jan 2005)

The 10 projects receiving awards in early 2005 test coiled tubing rigs and continue development of various technologies needed in various parts of the system:

• Drilling 3 wells with composite coiled tubing drilling system (Geoprober Drilling Inc.)

• Field test a next-generation microhole coiled tubing rig (Gas Technology Institute)

• Develop elastic-phase, self-expanding tubular technology (Confluent Filtration Systems LLC)

• Develop mechanically-assisted, high-pressure waterjet drilling tool (Tempress Technologies)

• Increase reliability of bottomhole assemblies (CTES LP)

• Develop high-power turbodrill (Technology International Inc.)

• Combine existing MWD/LWD into integrated, inexpensive measurement system (Ultima Labs Inc.)

• Develop wireless system for steering (Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Inc.)

• Develop counter-rotating motor drilling system to improve penetration rates by 25-60 percent (Gas Technology Institute)

• Develop self-expanding, high-flow sand screen (Confluent Filtration Systems LLC)

For more information see DOE Tech Line www.netl.doe.gov/
publications/press/2005/tl_
microhole_selections.html.