Table of Contents

Vol. 7, No. 1
1st Quarter 2001

Stripper Well Projects to Be Selected Soon

The DOE-funded Stripper Well Consortium, managed by Penn State University, held its organizational meeting in January. Members at that time elected from among themselves a seven-member Executive Council. One of the primary responsibilities of the Executive Council is to review R&D proposals from member companies and select those that should be funded. The Consortium is focusing its efforts in short-term R&D that addresses problems/opportunities relevant to oil and natural gas stripper wells. Closing date for proposals was March 22. On April 9-10, the Consortium will review the proposals which were received and the Executive Council will select the winners shortly thereafter. Project work is anticipated to begin as soon as May. Producers are encouraged to visit the Consortium's website (http://www.energy.psu.edu/swc) to see what proposals won awards and learn about how they might become members. The Consortium will solicit R&D proposals annually. Consider becoming a member to stay on top of funded projects and become eligible to submit R&D proposals when funds next become available.

EIA Analysis of US Gas Storage Situation

On March 5, DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its recent analysis of the US gas storage situation, "Natural Gas Storage in the United States in 2001: A Current Assessment and Near-Term Outlook." Inventories on February 23 were estimated at 937 Bcf, already lower than the average end-of-season inventory of 1,139 (1995-1999) Bcf. Depending on storage demand during the end of the heating season, season-end inventory could range from 461 to 781 Bcf. Although much lower than average, EIA sees little likelihood that inventories will be completely drawn down, although some sites might have to dip into base gas to meet demand. To refill storage, about 10 Bcf per day of natural gas will have to be injected during the coming injection season.

The report is available through EIA's website: http://www.eia.doe.gov

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More R&D Proposals Sought from Independents

DOE recently released a solicitation for another phase of "Technology Development with Independents." DOE is seeking proposals from domestic small (less than 50 full-time employees) independents for innovative field technologies to increase production, reduce operating costs, reduce environmental constraints, or combinations thereof. Maximum award for these short-term projects will be $75K and a minimum cost share of 50% is required. During 2001 there will be three application periods—April 2, August 15 and December 24. Although it is too late for the April 2 date, independents are encouraged to submit applications for the later periods. Award or selection dates for these later periods are November 16, 2001 and March 28, 2002.

Since 1995 when the program was initiated, DOE has made 43 awards (22 in Phase 1 and 21 in Phase 2). For Phase 2, about one in four proposals received an award, confirming that the odds are good for solid technology proposals. Results of Phase 1 projects, which have been completed, can be reviewed online (http://www.npto.doe.gov/indep/TOC.html).

Results from Phase 2 projects, which have been underway for some time, are now becoming available. Technology areas covered within Phase 2 projects include: drilling, exploration, formation evaluation, reservoir simulation, improved oil recovery, operations, production problems, stimulation, water production and wellbore problems. Watch for published results later this year. 

DOE contact: Jim Barnes with the National Petroleum Technology Office in Tulsa, phone 918-699-2076, email jbarnes@npto.doe.gov.

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Microwave Sintering Process Improves Tungsten Carbide For Drill Bits

Gas Technology Institute (GTI), the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and its partners have begun work to further examine the commercial viability of drilling using high-powered lasers. This project is a continuation of GRI's initial two-year basic research study at the Colorado School of Mines. The basic research project examined the feasibility, costs, benefits and environmental impact of applying military-developed laser technologies to drill and complete natural gas wells. Project partners include the Colorado School of Mines; Argonne National Laboratory (Laser Applications Laboratory); and industry partners Petroleos de Venezuela, SA, and Halliburton Energy Services.

The technical basis for this new project lies in the recent technical advances of improved materials characteristics in optical fibers and coiled tubing, and in the availability of lasers with enough power to cut rock. Over the next year, GTI will focus on three areas, including:

Laser Cutting Energy Assessment. Results from GRI's initial investigation determined that calculations done twenty years ago significantly overestimated the energy required to spall (break), melt or vaporize rock. However, the initial GRI study was not designed to quantitatively determine these limits through empirical methods. The proposed study will determine the correct energy requirements, both empirically and theoretically.

Variable Pulse Laser Effects. Pulsed lasers have been used for better cutting performance in several applications, particularly in cutting steel. With rock, there is a high probability that cutting with pulsed lasers will also have a greater cutting effect, as the pulsing action should flex and break grain-to-grain contacts.

Drilling in the Presence of Fluids. Industry advisors consider the problems associated with drilling in a "weighted" fluid environment to be a crucial barrier for success of laser drilling technology. The technical challenge is to determine whether too much laser energy will be required to vaporize and clear away fluid. Initially, research will be conducted to determine the change in energy required to remove material from water-saturated rock specimens as compared to corresponding dry rock samples.

Beyond 2001, part of the R&D effort will address using lasers for downhole well completion and stimulation. This would allow perforation into producing formations to start the flow of hydrocarbons without removing the downhole assembly, thus significantly reducing time and expense.

Check GTI's website http://www.gastechnology.org for updates on R&D progress. For more information, contact Jeff Gavin, GTI, 847-768-0937 or Jeff.gavin@gastechnology.org, or William J. Gwilliam, DOE, 304-285-4401 or WGWILI@netl.doe.gov

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