22. OIL AND NATURAL GAS TECHNOLOGIES  

The DOE seeks innovative methods and concepts that will contribute to more efficient and economic processes for the recovery of oil and natural gas.  Much of the known reserves of oil and natural gas in the U.S. cannot be recovered by conventional means, and advanced technologies will be required for extraction.  This topic supports innovative research that supplements and complements, but does not duplicate or displace, private and other public research and development efforts.  Grant applications must propose a concept development effort and a work plan which should be supplemented with the development of a project team (including partnership arrangements) to pursue the idea into a workable system.  Grant applications are sought only in the following subtopics:

a. CO2 Flooding—To prolong the sustainability of the oil supply over the longer-term and to aid in the sequestration of carbon for the environment, dramatic improvements to carbon dioxide flooding are required.  Grant applications are sought to develop:  1) chemicals or methods to improve sweep efficiency; 2) methods to monitor the CO2 flood front for better reservoir management; and 3) chemicals or methods to inhibit asphaltene dropout during CO2 flooding.  All grant applications must lead to cost-effective ways to improve CO2 flooding.

Questions – contact James Ammer (James.Ammer@netl.doe.gov)

b. Methane Hydrates—The objective of this subtopic is to receive applications for research projects that will develop new methane hydrate production tools and technologies, and/or provide a better understanding of the role of methane hydrates in the natural environment.  Specifically, grant applications are sought to support 1) alternative approaches, or focused studies of new, novel, and cost-effective approaches to producing methane hydrates from natural accumulations, (note:  any work on numerical simulation should clearly recognize and incorporate the existing models already in use/development) or 2) research that improves understanding of the risks and implications for methane release from natural hydrate accumulations due to either natural processes or human activities.  Applicants may review information about the DOE’s National Methane Hydrate R&D Program and current DOE methane hydrate projects at http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/FutureSupply/MethaneHydrates/maincontent.htm.

Questions – contact James Ammer (James.Ammer@netl.doe.gov)

References:

Subtopic a:  CO2 Flooding

1.      Justice, Jim, et al., “Interwell Seismic for Reservoir Characterization and Monitoring,” SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, OK, April 2000.  (SPE Paper No. 62588-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

2.      Wagener, D. C. and Harpole, K. J., “Determination of Relative Permeability and Trapped Gas Saturation for Predictions of WAG Performance in the South Cowden Unit CO2 Flood,” presented at the 1996 SPE/DOE Tenth Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, OK, April 21-24, 1996.  (SPE Paper No. 35429-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

3.      Tsau, Y. S. and Heller, J. P., “How Can Selective Mobility Reduction of CO2-Foam Assist in Reservoir Floods?” presented at the 1996 Permian Basin Oil and Recovery Conference, Midland, TX, March 27-29, 1996.  (SPE Paper No. 35168-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

4.      Yaghoobi, H. and Heller, J. P., “Effect of Capillary Contact on CO2-Foam Mobility in Heterogeneous Core Samples,” presented at the 1996 Permian Basin Oil and Recovery Conference, Midland, TX, March 27-29, 1996.  (SPE Paper No. 35169-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

5.      Yaghoobi, H. and Heller, J. P., “Improving CO2 in Heterogeneous Media,” presented at the 1996 SPE/DOE Tenth Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, OK, April 21-24, 1996.  (SPE Paper No. 35403-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

6.      Hallenbeck, L. D., et al., “Design and Implementation of a CO2 Flood Utilizing Advanced Reservoir Characterization and Horizontal Injection Wells in a Shallow Shelf Carbonate Approaching Waterflood Depletion,” pp. 26-27, May 1996.  (NTIS Order No. DE96001234) (Abstract and ordering information available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS).  Telephone: 1-800-553-6847 .  Website: http://www.ntis.gov/  (Search by order no.  Please note:  Items that are unavailable via the Website might be obtained by phoning NTIS.)

7.      Michels, M., et al., “Enhanced Water Flooding Design Using Diluted Surfactant Concentrations for North Sea Conditions,” presented at the 1996 SPE/DOE Tenth Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, OK, April 21-24, 1996.  (SPE Paper No. 35372-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

8.      Yin, Y. R, et al., “Asphaltene Inhibitior Evaluation in CO2 Floods:  Laboratory Study and Field Testing,” presented at 2000 SPE Permian Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference, Midland, TX, March 21-23, 2000.  (SPE Paper No. 59706-MS) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

9.      Leontaritis, K.J. and Mansoori, G. A., “Asphaltene Deposition:  A Survey of Field Experiences and Research Approaches,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 1(3): 229-239, August 1988.  (Abstract and ordering information available at:  http://sciencedirect.com.  In center of page under “Search for a title”, search for journal, and use information above to locate article.)

10.  Leontaritis, K.J., et al., “A Systematic Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Formation Damage Caused by Asphaltene Deposition,” Production and Facilities, 9(3): 157-164, August 1994.  (SPE Paper No. 23810-PA) (Paper preview and ordering information available at:  http://www.spe.org/elibrary/app/search.do.  Search by paper number or title.)

Subtopic b:  Methane Hydrates

11.  Applicants can review information about the DOE National Methane Hydrate R&D Program and current DOE methane hydrate projects at:  http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/FutureSupply/MethaneHydrates/maincontent.htm.

 

12.  National Research Council, “Charting the Future of Methane Hydrate Research in the United States,” 1st ed., Washington, DC:  National Academies Press, 2004.  (Full text can be read online at:  http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11094.html)

 

 

 

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