JULY 6, 2006

Industry Highlight: Advanced Multizone Stimulation Technology ExxonMobil is applying its patented advanced multizone stimulation technology in the Piceance Basin, which according to ExxonMobil will improve recovery 25% while keeping costs comparable to conventional technology. The two components of the technology are "Just-In-Time Perforating" and "Annular Coiled Tubing Fracturing." The technology has been licensed to Halliburton, Schlumberger and others. More detailed information on the technology can be obtained by downloading SPE Paper 95778 from www.spe.org.

DOE Highlight: Recent HTHP (Deep Trek) and Environmental Project Awards

HTHP (Deep Trek)—7 Awards Deep Trek was created to address harsh conditions when drilling, completing and producing below 15,000 - 20,000 ft. Many of the projects relate to different components needed for downhole equipment.

Giner Inc. (Maine): All-solid, high-voltage, electrochemical-electrolytic capacitor
Hamilton Sundstrand (Illinois): High-temperature, metallized fluorine polyester capacitors
Electrochemical Systems Inc. (Tennessee): High-temperature rechargeable battery cell
Honeywell International (Minnesota): Extend silicon-on-insulator process, demonstrated on other electronic components for Deep Trek, to development of a reconfigurable processor for data acquisition.
Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma): A regulated, switched-mode power supply with HT capabilities
GE Global Research (New York): A flexible, polyimide-based packaging approach that tests 3 different strategies to interconnect electronics
Drill Cool Systems Inc. (California): Extend insulated drill pipe technology already used in geothermal drilling to high temperature, high pressure deep gas drilling.

View presentations from June 22nd HTHP Technology Integration Meeting online.

Low Impact Natural Gas and Oil (LINGO)—3 Awards
The LINGO initiative integrates current technologies and practices in ways that minimize adverse environmental impacts from recovery of O&G projects over the life of the projects.

University of Arkansas: Thousands of wells are expected to be drilled in the Fayetteville Shale in the next several years. With assistance from Argonne National Laboratory, the University will develop a web-based software application that enables operators to generate development plans for wells in sensitive ecosystem areas. The project will develop a GIS-based, risk-management tool that enables an operator to evaluate alternative lease layouts and manage site-specific environmental concerns in advance.
Michigan Technological University: With partners Western Michigan University and Jordan Development Company, LLC, Michigan Tech will develop and test a new strategy to satisfy state environmental regulations that currently place large tracts of prospective Antrim Shale off-limits to exploration. The project will utilize horizontal drilling and open-hole completions. Economic alternatives to current practice of venting CO₂ will also be explored.
Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission: With partners ALL Consulting, Devon Energy and several State oil and gas agencies, IOGCC will develop an Adverse-Impact Reduction Handbook that helps E&P companies identify onshore E&P barriers, provides viable approaches to minimizing impacts, and includes a benefit analysis of each option. The handbook will serve as a "best practices" guide driven by case studies, field research and broad stakeholder input.

PTTC Highlight:  Regional & National Newsletters a TT Tool
National PTTC Network News: the standard industry Tech Transfer tidbits, plus the state-of-the-art section pulls insights from speakers at the Southwest Petroleum Short Course
Appalachian: this is always chock full of technology tidbits from recent events
Eastern Gulf: read about the final report on the Womack Hill Project (7 MB PDF)
North Midcontinent: watch for the next issue in mid-month
Rocky Mountain: this one comes out like clockwork every quarter
South Midcontinent: learn about gas geysers in Oklahoma
Texas: note article by Steve Melzer on December's CO₂ Flooding Conference

Trivia Question:  What Texas Ranch well-known for its vast cattle operations was actually saved by another industry, the oil and gas industry?