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PTTC has summarized regional
results in the technology transfer realm during 2004. The
following article highlights focused areas that are of broad
interest and value to industry. Nationally, PTTC strives to
support and share these initiatives inter-regionally to speed
technology uptake across the country. To accomplish this PTTC
continues to provide case studies in World Oil, writes a
monthly Tech Connections column in American Oil and Gas
Reporter and assembles frequent E-mail Tech Alerts, for which
the audience continues to grow. PTTC encourages readers to
view individual regional websites periodically to access the
expanding technology information and data from over a decade
of contributions.
Appalachian
A feature of continued interest to Appalachian producers is
the online GIS maps of Trenton-Black River, horizontal wells
and coalbed methane activity. These interactive GIS maps along
with the extended online newsletter that captures technical
insights keep producers current. Industry response to a
coalbed methane road mapping exercise held late in 2003 has
led to formation of a Northern Appalachian Basin Coalbed
Methane Research Consortium. Among their core activities, the
Consortium will develop a coalbed methane database and
evaluate research proposals submitted by Consortium members.
Central Gulf
The region responded to strong producer interest in coalbed
methane, co-sponsoring a workshop on "Coalbed Methane
Resources in the Southeast" with the University of Louisiana
Lafayette's Energy Institute. A follow-on workshop and field
trip focused solely on Louisiana's fledgling CBM industry is
planned in spring 2005. Early on, the region developed the
Louisiana Desktop Well Reference CD, which spurred development
of the state's SONRIS online information system. Now the
region is supporting a pilot project called the Louisiana
Parish Well Reference that has more detailed information, but
only at the parish level. Hopes are that this pilot project
will demonstrate sufficient value to attract the major state
funding required should it be implemented statewide. A late
2004 workshop focused on finding the potential in
inactive/marginal wells. Don Goddard's study of "Shallow
Miocene Gas Potential" provides another resource for
stimulating activity in Louisiana.
Eastern Gulf
Consistent with a historical emphasis on exploration, key
workshops focused on "AVO Technology" and "Seismic Attributes
for Reservoir Characterization." A fall workshop presented
three field case studies (North Blowhorn Creek, Vocation
Field, and Womack Hill Field) that are a product of
DOE-supported research projects at the University of Alabama.
Beyond identifying potential in the individual fields, these
case studies demonstrated concepts useful for exploitation in
other fields. Alabama's Black Warrior Basin CBM play is the
most mature in the U.S. Regional support for the
"International CBM Symposium" in Tuscaloosa helps capture
operational insights of value to other CBM basins across the
country as they mature. Staff has been working with the
Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists
to provide events that will help individuals meet their
professional development requirements.
Midwest
 The
ILOIL interactive mapping service developed by the Illinois
State Geological Survey (ISGS) in a DOE-supported PUMP project
is serving Illinois Basin producers well. Several regional
events focused on acquainting producers with ILOIL’s features
and capabilities and there are already good reports about how
producers are using the online information. ISGS and PTTC are
helping maintain and even expand ILOIL now that the PUMP
contract has been completed. Importing a concept from the
Appalachian region, staff worked with the Illinois O&G
Association to tailor pumper operations and safety training
for the Illinois Basin. Michigan producers continued their
strong support for exploration- and case study-oriented
workshops, creating full houses for "Niagaran" and "Michigan
Basin Undiscovered O&G Resources."
North
Midcontinent
Working alongside KU's Tertiary Oil Recovery Project group,
case study information has been placed online for three
technologies of regional interest: (1) polymer-gel
water-shutoff (WSO) treatments, (2) GasGunTM solid propellant
stimulation treatments and (3) small scale 3-D seismic
surveys. Polymer-gel WSO treatments are of such interest that
a separate website was developed. Case study examples from the
above effort were featured in workshops in Wichita and Hays
that focused on exploitation of mature reservoirs through
technology. The Technology Fair provided an opportunity to
highlight other technologies applicable to Kansas' reservoirs.
Kansas oil production has actually increased (www.nmcpttc.org/News/2004/oilprod.html)
in response to aggressive technology applications and
cooperation between producers, consultants and service
providers in the area. There's also a rapidly growing CBM
industry in southeast Kansas that regional activities support. |
In
Review