SMALL PRODUCERS

Small Producers make up the majority of Independents, which are non-integrated companies that received nearly all of their revenue from production at the well head. Independents or small to medium sized nonmajors oil and gas producers in the United States have been increasing on the rise since the fall of oil prices in the 1980’s. According to statistics kept by DOE’s Energy Information Agency (EIA) small to medium independents produced an average of 300 to 10,000 barrels of oil per day in 1992. By 2009 independents, often small family businesses produced 85% of the natural gas in the lower 48 states, and 60% of the oil. Since the mid 1990’s DOE has sponsored four programs to assist small oil and gas producers; Independents Program (1995-2003), Microhole Technology (2004-2008), Stripper Well Consortium (2000 – ongoing), and Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA Small Producers program 2007- ongoing).  These programs have focused on assisting small independents to increase oil and gas production through development of new technologies, increased efficiency and cost-savings, and teaming partnerships with universities and research groups to provide technical expertise.

White Paper – Issues, Current Work and Future Direction

Small Producers White Paper

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Tech Center Archives

Technology Tidbit of the Month

Rex Energy Increases Production in Lawrence Field by 300%

A research project funded by NETL has helped independent operator, Rex Energy, increase production by over 300%. Lawrence Field in southern Illinois has been in operation for 106 years. Rex applied EOR technology using a combination of steam, chemical and/or CO2 flooding. An innovative alkaline surfactant polymer flooding process resulted in increasing daily production from 16 to 65-75 barrels of oil per day. Ultimate recovery estimates are that an additional 130 million barrels of oil will be recovered from the depleted oil field.

Research

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Field Applications/Case Studies

Technologies

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Technical Information Databases

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UnconventionaL Resources

enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

Small Producers

deepwater/Ultra-Deepwater

Environmental /
Water Issues

Methane Hydrates