Petroleum Technology Transfer Council

PEOPLE AND CONNECTIONS
Shortening the Technology Application Life Cycle

Technology—The Engine That Drives O&G Production

May 26 2009

Industry Highlight: Managed Pressure Drilling, A New Comprehensive Book

With extraction out of depleted wells more important than ever, this new and developing technology is literally changing drilling engineering for future generations. Never before published in book form, this book by renowned Bill Rehm & others describes the technologies and the processes that surround them in easy-to-understand language, complete with worked examples, problems and solutions. Information is equally valuable to veteran engineers and students.

DOE Funding Opportunities – Notices of Intent—Some O&G Opportunities in Flowing Stimulus Money

Geologic Sequestration Site Characterization: $50 million for a competitive solicitation to characterize a minimum of 10 geologic formations throughout the U.S.
Geologic Sequestration Training and Research: $20 million to educate and train a future generation of geologists, scientists, and engineers with skills competencies in geology, geophysics, geomechanics, geochemistry and reservoir engineering disciplines need to a broad national CCS program.
- Regional Sequestration Training – to develop regional sequestration technology training to transfer knowledge relevant to different formation types and geologic basins through the U.S.
- Geologic Sequestration Training and Research, Grants for Universities in two categories (1) all universities and (2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions
CCS from Industrial Sources and Innovative Concepts for Beneficial Use CO2 – $1.52 billion for a competitive solicitation for a range of industrial carbon capture and energy efficiency improvement projects, including a small allocation for innovative concepts for beneficial reuse of carbon dioxide.

DOE Highlights: New Portfolio of Oil Plays in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming (Utah Geological Survey)

The Utah Geologic Survey (UGS), with funding support from the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, recently updated and released a portfolio of oil plays in Utah, as well as neighboring Colorado and Wyoming. Oil plays in this tri-state area are defined as those geographic areas that show potential for petroleum production because they demonstrate certain characteristics, such as favorable source rock, migration paths, reservoir characteristics, and other factors. The portfolio is available on CD through the NETL CD-DVD ordering system. The portfolio contains comprehensive maps that provide data useful to organizations involved in petroleum exploration and production. The data include geologic settings, outcrop analogs, land-use issues, and best-development practices for each oil-producing area within the three states. The current portfolio builds on previous versions that had identified 10 oil plays and 13 subplays, including the Paradox Basis, the Uinta Basin, and the Utah thrust belt, as well as a new, major discovery, the Covenant field.

PTTC Highlight: Saluting the Rockies Region for Student Training/ Internship

In just a few weeks, PTTC’s Rocky Mountain Region will hold its annual “Futures in Energy” Student Training/Internship Program in Golden. Started several years ago with PTTC support, the Rockies Region now continues the program with industry support alone. High school students attend a week of on-campus training about O&G, then most have summer internships in industry. Does it make a difference? Listen to what Amy Burnett, a 2005 participant, had to say shortly after her experience. She provided an update — although Futures did not lead her to a career in O&G, it has profoundly affected her view on energy and its role that will influence many throughout her promising career.

Improved oil recovery (IOR) will be part of the solution to producing more oil across the world. Are you an IOR specialist that has some insights that can be shared for the common good (of industry and the public)? Consider participating in the 17th SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium in Tulsa next April by submitting a paper proposal. There’s still time.

AAPG Highlight: AAPG Annual Meeting, June 7-10 Denver

15 Pre-convention and 7 Post-convention Short Courses
12 Pre-convention and 6 Post-convention Field Trips
Discovery Thinking Forum, Monday afternoon, June 8: Learn from seven industry veterans renowned for their success in exploration.
AAPG Divisions Energy Forum, Tuesday late afternoon, June 9: Learn about carbon sequestration from three distinguished speakers with unique perspectives.
Luncheons: All Convention, DPA, DEG, EMD, Professional Women in Earth Sciences

Trivia Question: Columbus Marion (Dad) Joiner discovered the East Texas Field, completing the discovery well on October 5, 1930. But this wasn’t his first well there. How many times did he have to try before making the discovery?

Trivia Answer: The discovery well was the Bradford #3, the third try – which was only 375 ft from the Bradford #2, which itself was only 100 ft from the Bradford #1. Both the Bradford #1 and #2 were lost due to mechanical problems. Good thing that Mr. Joiner was perseverant and a promoter or Bradford #3 may not have been drilled. Source: Handbook of Texas Online.