DOE-Sponsored Seismic Project Helps Identify Untapped Oil in Developed Reservoirs
24 April 2010
Using innovative seismic-based technologies developed with funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE), a Kansas drilling company has discovered an untapped, 10-foot-thick oil zone in a developed Colorado reservoir. Close examination has shown that the reservoir has excellent fluid properties and that the oil zone has not been affected by drainage from surrounding wells.
Mull Drilling Company of Wichita, Kan., discovered the oil zone near Cheyenne Wells, Colo., using seismic technology designed to detect hydrocarbons from specific kinds of reservoir systems within the onshore continental United States. The project, which is funded by the Office of Fossil Energy’s Oil and Natural Gas Program, is improving seismic imaging and understanding of complex compartmentalized reservoirs, called karst reservoirs, and helping operators add to the US supply of oil and natural gas.
The success of these seismic technologies demonstrates the potential for recovery of oil and natural gas from both old and new sources. Incremental steps such as this significantly contribute to our Nation’s energy security and independence.
—Chandra Nautiyal, Project Manager at DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
Karst reservoirs are characterized by low permeability, fluid-control problems, and low recovery rates. These reservoir systems are important because they account for 30 to 50% of the hydrocarbon production in the US mid-continent region.
The seismic technologies use new three-dimensional, multiple-tracing processes to improve hydrocarbon reservoir imaging, and characterization of karst reservoirs and natural fracture systems. Visualizing and mapping reservoir compartments can assist operators in identifying subsurface features that include natural fractures, voids, collapsed voids, and identifiable compartments isolated from the primary reservoir.
Mull Drilling Company’s success at producing oil at the Cheyenne Wells site marks the second such success by the company. In 2009, the company drilled a well into a 6-foot-thick tight formation in Gove County, Kan., that has produced more than 6,200 barrels of light oil, with no water, through February 2010.
A research team from the University of Kansas Center for Research, the Kansas Geological Survey, the University of Houston Allied Geophysical Laboratories, and the University of Oklahoma developed the seismic technologies. NETL manages the project under a cooperative agreement with the participants.
It probably won't mean a lot. Even though the US has more oil reserves than Saudia and the Arab countries (in shale) the enviromentalists will block their usage as well.
Posted by: Jimr | 24 April 2010 at 08:11 AM
Right. And the environmentalists stopped the ALberta tar sands from being developed.
Developement of these types may not be feasible because it sometimes requires the use of chemicals pumped into the strata to get at the oil. If it gets out, then yes it may be dangerous, and yes it may be stopped.
Should the point be oil at any cost. I should hope not. That's the same reasoning that created present day foreign policy.
Posted by: aym | 24 April 2010 at 10:48 AM
But also should the point be no drilling at any cost. That's the same reasoning that increased our present day reliance on foreign oil.
And reliance on foreign oil created much of what's bad with our present day foreign policy.
Blaming the oil and American auto industries for our reliance on oil is much like blaming teen pregnancy on condoms - sure, there's a connection but most would agree banning condoms is not the answer.
Same for banning drilling.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 24 April 2010 at 10:25 PM
ToppaT, that's outrageous! Are you somehow implying that the oil and auto industries are not completely to blame? Like it could somehow be everybody's fault who relies upon the cars to get around...everybody who owns a car?
Posted by: danm | 25 April 2010 at 09:30 AM
I wouldn't say that it was reliance on foreign oil that led to today's foreign policy.
It was the desire to not create both domestic and foreign policies to effectively deal with limited oil and the wrath of voters. Eventually someone has to.
Obviously there will be exploitation of resources. The point I was trying to make was that single mindedness of just atttacking the supply side of the problem hardly works. You get the tendency of ignoring very real problems.
Posted by: aym | 26 April 2010 at 01:07 PM