|
"Sonic Stimulation" Test Site in Michigan
Sonic stimulation technologies,
while offering potential and performing in certain
environments, sorely need comparative testing in a
well-defined, controlled environment. In DOE-supported work,
Michigan Technological University established a field test
site in the northern Michigan reef trend that provided ideal
conditions for remote monitoring of the far-field effects
induced by sonic stimulation tools. The entire geological
sequence at the site consists of high velocity formations,
ensuring very efficient seismic wave propagation.
Several sonic source devices/technologies have now been
tested. Even the most powerful of the sonic sources failed to
be recorded in the target well, located some 2,000 feet away.
Attenuation of the signals generated by the sources to their
target observation well proved to be much greater than
anticipated. This coming winter BP and Shell will be testing
tools with more power. Contact DOE's Jim Barnes
(918-699-2076,
jim.barnes@netl.
doe.gov) for more information. |
Environmental
Issues of E&P
DOE's National Energy
Technology Laboratory, along with USGS and EPA, supported a
special issue of AAPG's Division of Environmental Geosciences,
"Environmental Issues of Petroleum Exploration and
Production." (Volume 12, No. 2, June 2005). This issue evolved
from an oral session held at the 2004 AAPG-SEM annual meeting.
Seven manuscripts, several describing DOE-supported work, from
that oral session are captured in the issue.
Fisher and Sublette looked at oil and saltwater releases
reported to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission from 1993 to
2003—18,349 of them to be exact. Quantified releases of oil
and saltwater had a median volume of 10 and 40 Bbl,
respectively. 34% of the releases resulted in reported injury
to environmental receptors (surface water, crops or livestock,
soil, fish, or wildlife).
Two projects in the Tallgrass
Prairie Reserve in Osage County, Oklahoma looked at low-cost
methods for remediation. One used hay and fertilizer but
without gypsum as amendments of both oil and brine in a
contaminated site.
|
The second used a subsurface
drainage system to intercept brine from a pipe leak.
View the Table of Contents
online at
http://deg.aapg.org/journal/
12_2june05toc.pdf.
Technologies Developed
Through SWC
The DOE-supported Stripper Well
Consortium (SWC) recently released a brochure titled "Keeping
the Home Wells Flowing: Helping Small Independent Oil and Gas
Producers Develop New Technology Solutions." It includes 12
case histories of technologies developed through the SWC. The
brochure, which is free, can be obtained through their website
(www.energy.psu.edu/
swc) or by calling
814-865-4802.
Readers are also alerted to
upcoming SWC meetings (see website) in Warren, PA (Oct. 18)
and Midland, TX (Oct. 27). |
|
MICROHOLE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION INITIATIVE
DOE Microhole Technology Goal:
Encourage and facilitate the development of the
infrastructure, tools, technologies and procedures to drill
low cost small diameter holes for the purpose of reservoir
extension, shallow gas production, field monitoring, and
exploratory logging and testing.
The PTTC Microhole Technology Integration Initiative is to
integrate and disseminate information generated in the first
and second round projects performed in the DOE Microhole
Technology program and other related industry activities.
Also, to ensure the projects' timing and direction mesh to
best meet the DOE goals and industry needs and to provide
information to and feedback from industry. |
|
To Meet the PTTC and DOE goals
of the Integration Initiative, the kickoff meeting was held in
Houston on August 17th. The highlights included:
-
Attended by 65 interested
parties from all aspects of the industry
-
DOE technology managers
presented their vision of the impact of the program on
industry
-
Presentations of the current
and planned activities in the 16 projects underway in the
Microhole Technology I and II programs
-
Recent industry activity in
small hole coiled tubing drilling
-
Introduction of PTTC
Microhole Technology website to facilitate integration
|
The PTTC Microhole Technology
website is found at
www.microtech.
thepttc.org/ and
includes:
-
The DOE vision and roadmap
for the Microhole Technology Program
-
Information on the 16 MHT
projects, including the Aug. 17th presentations
-
Relevant industry information
on coiled tubing, coiled tubing drilling and slim/microhole
activities
-
New content linked within the
coiled tubing resources section (www.pttc.org/
solutions.htm)
includes: (a) Schlumberger's business plan for their
built-for-purpose CT Microhole drilling rig (MHT I project),
(b) the Introduction to Coiled Tubing handbook published by
ICoTA, and (c) the Baker Oil Tools Coiled Tubing Manual.
|
The next MHT Integration
Initiative meeting will be held November 16th in Houston. All
interested parties are encouraged to attend. There is no
charge for admission and lunch will be provided. Preliminary
topics (watch the website for additional information) will
include:
-
Review of combined timeline
and milestones of all 16 projects underway in the MHT
Program
-
Project activity updates
-
Solicitation of industry
input on needs and the direction of the program in meeting
those needs
-
Industry input on web content
-
Discussion of future meeting
topics, venues, and demonstrations.
|
DOE
Digest