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Vol. 8, No.3
3rd Quarter 2002

DOE Digest

 

DOE Makes $23.8 Million Available for R&D

In a recent broad-based solicitation, DOE makes $23.8 million of funding available (subject to governmental funding). DOE is asking for research ideas in 13 areas of interest in three broad areas: Coal and Environmental Systems, Strategic Center for Natural Gas, and Petroleum. They expect to make 50 to 75 awards through the three rounds of competition in the solicitation where 20% minimum cost share is required. Proposals for Round 1 are due October 28. For Rounds 2 and 3, respective due dates are February 27, 2003 and October 23, 2003.

This newest solicitation differs from similar requests in the past. Pre-applications or mini proposals are not required. Instead, projects will be evaluated on the merits of a 25-page initial Volume II technical application alone (plus cover sheet, specific assurances and an application for financial assistance). Volumes I and III will only be required from applicants who are selected for negotiation leading to awards.

In the gas arena, the Strategic Center for Natural Gas (SCNG) is soliciting proposals in three areas: fuel cells; natural gas exploration, production, storage and hydrates; and infrastructure reliability. Of the $5.5 million available for SCNG projects, $2.85 million is allocated for projects dealing with natural gas exploration, production, storage & hydrates. 

In the oil arena, there are three areas of interest: upstream oil and gas environmental, petroleum fuels and oil exploration and production. $8 million of the total $8.7 million available is allocated for E&P-related proposals. Major subtopics include: Resource Development Mechanics (Completion & Stimulation Systems), Subsurface Imaging (Advanced Diagnostics & Imaging), and Improved Recovery Methods (Reservoir Efficiency Processes). 

Applications must be submitted through DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System, which can be accessed through DOE's e-Center (http://e-center.doe.gov). Visit NETL's website (www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicit/index.html) for full solicitation information. DOE's technical contact is William F. Haslebacher, NETL, phone 304-285-4784, e-mail william.haslebacher@netl.doe.gov.

CD-ROMs for Various DOE-Funded Projects

Relatively recent CDs available through the National Energy Technology Laboratory's website (www.netl.doe.gov) publications section include: (1) Greater Green River Basin Production Improvement Project (2002), (2) Proceedings of the Methane Hydrates Interagency R&D Conference (March 2002), and (3) Sound Coiled Tubing Drilling Practices (September 2001).

DOE's National Petroleum Technology Office in Tulsa is offering a CD-ROM containing the final reports for Class I field demo projects. To order your free copy, contact Oletha Thompson, phone 918-699-2034, email Oletha.Thompson@npto.doe.gov.

Advanced Resources International has provided yet another CD to PTTC's regional resource centers on "Advanced Exploitation Technologies for the Development of Mancos Formation Oil Reservoirs, Jicarilla Apache Indian Nation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico."

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DOE NPTO's Publications List—July 2002

DOE's National Petroleum Technology Office's most recent publications list (www.npto.doe.gov/PubList90.pdf) is now available.

Final reports of potential interest to independents include: (1) Using Chemicals to Optimize Conformance Control in Fractured Reservoirs (Order #787945), New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center; (2) Exploitation and Optimization of Reservoir Performance in Hunton Formation, Oklahoma (Order #793150), University of Tulsa; and (3) Evaluation of Reservoir Wettability and Its Effect on Oil Recovery (Order #790862), New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology.

Contact Oletha Thompson, phone 918-699-2034, email Oletha.Thompson@npto.doe.gov  to order.

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Six Recent (April 2002) Independents Awards

PTTC missed these awards in our last newsletter, so even though not quite news, we thought our readers would be interested in the nature of awards being made in DOE's Independents Program.

Oil Well Remediation in Clay & Wayne Counties, Illinois
DAKFAM, Inc. (St. Charles, IL) - plans to demonstrate that oil can be recovered efficiently and economically from abandoned oil wells that should contain, but have not been drilled to the depth of naturally fractured lower Mississippian Salem limestone formation in Southeastern Illinois. They will deepen two idle wells through the Salem formation where recent finds indicate oil is available and plentiful. The well completion will incorporate the use of GasGunTM technology to stimulate the limestone in the Salem formation. DAKFAM will enhance GasGunTM stimulation by acidizing the newly fractured network to dissolve limestone around the fractures. 

Oil Production Solutions
Driver Production (Okmulgee, OK) - will conduct a gas re-pressurization/well stimulation project on a six-well, 80-acre portion of the Dutcher Sand of the East Edna Field, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. The objective is to produce additional oil by repressurizing the reservoir with excess natural gas that cannot be economically delivered to local gas gathering systems.

Improved Recovery by Relocating Steamflood Injectors
Macpherson Oil Co (Santa Monica, CA) - will use improved thermal and numerical simulation techniques to better position steam injectors and producers in an existing steam injection operation. This study should extend the economic life of the field by reducing costs and improving oil recovery.

Marginal Expense Oil Well Wireless Surveillance
Vaquero Energy Inc. (Edison, CA) - this work is a follow on effort (to an earlier Independents project) to establish low cost producing well monitoring equipment. It involves additional testing of pumping unit vibration/frequency monitoring devices, plus the investigation and testing of other low cost wireless devices. The effective monitoring of stripper and marginal well production is critical for many independent oil operators. This proposal intends to find and test wireless surveillance equipment suitable and economical for use on these low volume producing wells. 

Use of Biostratigraphy to Reduce Risks, Increase Production & Reduce Environmental Concerns in Oil Well Drilling
Marks & Associate (Cypress, CA) - Geophysics and geochemistry have been used to a great extent in recent years to pinpoint reservoirs. Stratigraphy, the study of the definition and description of natural divisions of rock, established the fundamentals for finding oil and gas around the world in highly disturbed geologic areas. Biostratigraphy has not been pursued in recent years. However, the effective employment of this science in oil well drilling, particularly in these highly disturbed areas will lead to increased production, reduced risk and costs, and reduced environmental concerns. 

CavaChem Remediation of Eight San Andres Wells
SED Energy Inc. - (Midland, TX) - will stimulate eight wells in the San Andres formation with an alkaline chemical in an effort to increase production. A successful test of this chemical treatment and a demonstrated increase in the current 12 barrels of oil per day of production will defer the economic need to shut in several marginal wells producing in this formation.

For more information, contact DOE's Jim Barnes, phone 918-699-2076, email Jim.Barnes@npto.doe.gov.

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