Improved Recovery Week articles from January 1994

Improved Recovery Week archives from January 1994

Chevron tapers WAG to optimize Rangely CO2 flood. (Chevron U.S.A. Inc. manages water-alternating-gas injection program at Rangely Weber Sand Unit, Colorado; improved oil recovery project utilizing carbon dioxide injection)
January 10, 1994... Editor's note -- In these days of see-sawing oil prices, the application of either advanced secondary or tertiary recovery technology in domestic fields is often canceled outright or postponed indefinitely by operating companies caught in the...

Amoco tests CO2 coalgas injection. (Amoco Production Co. engaged in joint coalbed methane recovery project with Conoco Inc. in San Juan Basin, New Mexico)
January 10, 1994... Amoco Production Co. and Conoco Inc. are underway with their year-long joint carbon dioxide coalbed methane recovery project in the San Juan Basin. The partners are injecting [CO.sub.2] into the Fruitland coal in the Florence Gas Com S...

Class 3 reservoir program to be aired. (Department of Energy plans public information meeting January 19, 1994 regarding slope and basin clastic reservoirs)
January 10, 1994... The Energy Dept. has called a Jan. 19 public information meeting to discuss its Class 3 demonstration program for slope and basin clastic reservoirs prior to soliciting candidate projects. DOE will contribute some $37 million as its part of...

Low prices said to raise P&As. (oil prices will affect plug and abandonment policy of oil wells according to forecast made by Spears and Associates Inc.)
January 10, 1994... Some 50,000 oil wells will be plugged and abandoned this year if oil prices remain around $14/bbl for West Texas Intermediate, says a forecast prepared by Spears & Associates of Tulsa, Okla., market research and consulting firm. Up to...

Oklahoma bids for new lab. (Governor of Oklahoma David L. Walters seeks DOE funding for national energy research laboratory in home state)
January 10, 1994... Oklahoma Gov. David Waiters is proposing creation of a new national energy research laboratory in his state, and the Energy Dept. is considering it, says Walters. In a meeting with Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary late last month, Walters...

Mobil kicks off CO2 flood at Salt Creek Unit. (Mobil Exploration and Producing U.S. Inc. starts carbon dioxide injection project at Salt Creek oil field in Kent County, Texas)
January 10, 1994... Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc. has begun injecting carbon dioxide at its Salt Creek field in Kent County, Texas, and hopes to increase oil production there by more than 50%. The injection program began in December 1993 after...

Texaco touts N. Sea horizontals. (Texaco North Sea U.K. Ltd. reports on oil production levels from horizontal drilling projects in North Sea)
January 10, 1994... The United Kingdom unit of Texaco Inc. expects to boost its oil production in all sectors of the North Sea to around 200,000 b/d by the end of the decade, due in part to use of new drilling and development technology. The company, Texaco...

Syncrude sets production increase. (Syncrude Canada Inc. plans synthetic crude production goal oil for 1994)
January 10, 1994... Syncrude Canada Inc. plans to produce 72 million barrels of synthetic crude from oil sands in 1994, or 197,000 b/d, compared with 65.4 million barrels, or 179, 178 b/d last year. According to published reports, the Calgary-based company...

Back to drawing board for oil spending. (world oil prices affect oil and gas exploration and development financing)
January 10, 1994... U.S. oil and gas companies planned to increase exploration and development spending in 1994, but that was before the November oil price collapse. Now, it's probably back to the drawing board. So reports the annual survey of industry chief...

W. Kentucky may hold major tight gas field. (research geologist from Kentucky Geological Survey at University of Kentucky reports on possible natural gas field in Western Kentucky)
January 10, 1994... New findings on the likelihood that Western Kentucky sits atop a major natural gas field is getting quite a bit of attention. "There's been quite a lot of interest," said Terence Hamilton-Smith, a research geologist at the Kentucky...

J.W.F. Costerton, F. Cusack, F.A. MacLeod and T.J. Cyr, all of AOSTRA. (patent microbial process for plugging subterranean permeable stratum; Canadian Patent No. 1,277,936; Alberta Oil Sands and Technology Research Authority)
January 10, 1994... J.W.F. Costerton, F. Cusack, F.A. MacLeod and T.J. Cyr, all of AOSTRA, have patented a microbial process that provides for selectively plugging a subterranean permeable stratum, which is usually associated with an oil-bearing formation. The...

Shang Chou of Chevron Research and Technology Inc. (patents way to generate foam by improvement of sweep efficiency of gas and steam floods; U.S. Patent No. 5,234,054)
January 10, 1994... Shang Chou of Chevron Research and Technology Inc. has patented a method for generating foam by improving the sweep efficiency of gas and steam floods by reducing the permeability of higher permeability thief zones of an oil-bearing reservoir...

R.L. Christiansen and S.R. Smith, both of Marathon Oil Co. (patent way to recover liquid hydrocarbons from formations with gas injection; U.S. Patent No. 5,232,049)
January 10, 1994... R.L. Christiansen and S.R. Smith, both of Marathon Oil Co., have patented a process for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from a formation by (A) injecting a first gas into the formation to substantially swell the liquid hydrocarbons contained...

Texaco doubles Kern River temperature observation wells. (Texaco USA Inc. plans expansion of drilling program in San Joaquin Valley oil field, California)
January 17, 1994... Since kicking off a 23-well drilling program in September in California's Kern River field, Texaco U.S.A. Inc. has more than doubled the scope of the project. The company plans to drill 28 additional wells, bringing the total to 51, with...

Evergreen tests coalgas wells. (Evergreen Resources Inc. reports on coalbed methane wells in Raton Basin in Las Animas County, Colorado)
January 17, 1994... Denver-based Evergreen Resources Inc. has released production test details on its first two coalbed methane wells in the Raton Basin in Las Animas County, Colo. The company said both wells were completed in the Vermejo coal at depths...

Fine tuning at Rangely gets most from CO2. (carbon dioxide flooding maximizes improved oil recovery efforts at Rangely Weber Sand Unit in Colorado for Chevron USA Inc.)
January 17, 1994... Editor's note -- Despite today's oil price fluctuations, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. is in a small coterie of major oil companies that has kept a commitment to tertiary recovery techniques in domestic oil fields. Chevron's water/carbon dioxide...

Beta expands CIS holdings. (Beta Well Service Inc. plans acquisition of Quest Petroleum Group, including oil production projects in Commonwealth of Independent States)
January 17, 1994... Beta Well Service Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based well service/workover contractor, has signed a letter of intent to acquire all of the operating interests of Quest Petroleum Group, including two joint-venture oil production projects in...

Baroid shareholders sue against merger. (lawsuit filed against merger with Dresser Industries Inc.)
January 17, 1994... Just when they had reached an agreement with the Justice Dept.'s antitrust division on their merger, Dresser Industries Inc. and Baroid Corp. announced that disgruntled Baroid shareholders have filed a lawsuit against the deal. ...

Salomon Bros. hedges spending outlook. (predicts increase of spending on global oil exploration and production in 1994, excluding persistence of low oil prices)
January 17, 1994... Just as Arthur Andersen & Co. did in their forecast of 1994 (IRW, 1/10), Salomon Bros. Inc. sees a slight increase in worldwide exploration and production spending this year. But if recent depressed oil prices persist, Salomon Bros. also...

Firms set logging tool record. (Anadrill Schlumberger and Schlumberger Ltd.'s Vector Cable Co. set depth record for retrieving nuclear sources and data from oil sell drilling project in Gulf of Mexico)
January 17, 1994... A depth record for retrieval of nuclear sources and data was set recently by Anadrill and Schlumberger Wireline & Testing in a well being drilled in the Gulf of Mexico. The sources and data were retrieved successfully from a depth of...

Arakis gets Va. coalgas option. (Arakis Energy Corp. obtains option from Appalachian Development Corp. for mineral rights on lease and development of oil, gas and coalbed methane in Brooke County, Virginia)
January 17, 1994... Arakis Energy Corp., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, has been granted an option by Appalachian Development Corp. of Powell, Tenn., to lease and develop oil, gas and coalbed methane beneath 3,000 acres of fee lands and 10,000 acres of mineral rights in...

Montana plans tax cuts on IOR projects. (Montana Legislature passes bill decreasing taxes on new improved oil recovery projects)
January 17, 1994... Following the lead set by several Western Canadian provinces and the state of Texas, Montana's Legislature has approved a bill to lower taxes on new secondary and tertiary recovery projects. Montana lawmakers also voted to extend the tax...

J.L. Gidley. (patents way of matrix acidizing sandstone oil-bearing formation with acid solution injection; U.S. Patent No. 5,232,050)
January 17, 1994... J.L. Gidley has patented a method of matrix acidizing a sandstone oil-bearing formation wherein an acid solution containing HF is injected into the formation to react with clays therein, the improvement is described wherein the following fluids...

S.E. Fredrickson of Halliburton Co. (patents way for fracture acidizing producing zone in formation; U.S. Patent No. 5,238,068)
January 17, 1994... S.E. Fredrickson of Halliburton Co. has patented an improved method for fracture acidizing a producing zone in a formation, comprising (a) creating one or more fractures in said zone; (b) causing said fractures to close; (c) injecting acid into...

P.D. Robison, A.J. Stipanovic, C.E. Stypulkoski, N.C. Wan, and S. Easter, all of Texaco, Inc. (patent improved oil recovery method; U.S. Patent No. 5,236,046)
January 17, 1994... P.D. Robison, A.J. Stipanovic, C.E. Stypulkoski, N.C. Wan, and S. Easter, all of Texaco, Inc., have patented a method of enhancing oil recovery comprising at least one step of injecting into said reservoir an aqueous solution of the...

High-angle Ohio well undergoing tests. (Belden and Blake Energy Co. performs Clinton sand test on oil well in Mahoning County, Ohio)
January 24, 1994... An experimental high-angle Clinton sand test, drilled by Belden & Blake Corp. in cooperation with the Energy Dept., is nearing completion east of Alliance in Mahoning County, Ohio. If successful economically, the well could be the...

PRC seeks IOR bids for 10 fields. (Peoples' Republic of China solicits foreign oil company bids for improved oil recovery projects)
January 24, 1994... The Peoples' Republic of China has issued tenders from foreign oil companies to explore 26 new onshore sites, as well as for improved oil recovery bids on 10 aging fields. According to published reports, the China National Petroleum Corp....

Aussie operator 'won over' to horizontals. (Santos Ltd.completes first onshore horizontal oil well drilling project in Cooper Basin, Australia)
January 24, 1994... Now that it has completed the country's first onshore horizontal well, Australian operator Santos Ltd. says it will approach future horizontals less conservatively. Santos struck it lucky with its first effort (the well flowed initially at...

Nowsco develops new frac geller. (Nowsco Well Service Ltd. pioneers new oil well fracturing system, Rheo-Gel)
January 24, 1994... NOWSCO develops new frac geller A new fracturing system, Rheo-Gel, which exhibits high tolerance for contaminants and can be used with a broad range of fracturing fluids, has been developed by Nowsco Well Service Ltd. According to the...

Atlas/Halliburton seismic sale done. (Western Atlas International Inc. acquires assets of Halliburton Co.'s seismic units)
January 24, 1994... Litton Industries Inc. says its Western Atlas International Inc. unit has purchased substantially all of the operating assets of Halliburton Co.'s seismic businesses for $190 million. Meanwhile, this new, expanded geophysical/petrophysical...

'Save the wells' part of IOGCC P&A guide. (Interstate Oil and Gas Compact commission offers 'guidance document' for prioritizing oil well plugging for abandonment)
January 24, 1994... The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission is worried about the impact on supply of plugging and abandoning oil and gas wells and so has issued a "guidance document" to assist state regulatory agencies in prioritizing well plugging. ...

N. Sea group plans E-R wells. (Exxon Corp. in partnership with Shell Oil Co. for development of extended-reach oil wells in North Sea)
January 24, 1994... Extended-reach wells from existing fixed platforms will be used by Exxon/Shell to develop additional reserves in two fields located in the southern North Sea. The $260 million development of new reserves in the Barque South field and an...

Texas incentives bring return. (tax incentive program introduced by Texas Railroad Commission returns sizeable number of oil and gas wells to production)
January 24, 1994... The Texas Railroad Commission's recently enacted tax incentive program already has returned 815 oil and gas wells to production. According to Railroad Commissioners Mary Scott Nabers and Barry/Williamson, the program, contained in state law...

Stripper Assn. raps Clinton over aluminum. (National Striper Well Association president Virginia Lazenby urges President Clinton to curb oil imports)
January 24, 1994... The president of the National Stripper Well Assn. has sent President Clinton a frosty letter calling for presidential action on oil imports, basing it on the president's intention last week to persuade Russia to restrict aluminum exports. ...

PDVSA plans Orimulsion expansion. (Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. to expand production of bitumen-based fuel)
January 24, 1994... Petrolcos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) plans to spend about $31.5 billion by 2002 to expand its operations, including production of its bitumen-based Orimulsion fuel. As it continues to market Orimulsion in the United States, Europe and the...

D.N. Burrows and P.S. Northrop of Mobil Oil Corp. (patent steam injection procedure to protect gravel pack completion in oil wells; U.S. Patent No. 5,240,075)
January 24, 1994... D.N. Burrows and P.S. Northrop of Mobil Oil Corp. have patented a method for protecting a gravel pack completion in a well through which steam is injected into a producing formation, wherein gravel used to form the gravel pack completion...

I.N. Forsdyke, J.C. Morgan, and C.F. Rogers of British Petroleum Co. Ltd. (patent way of controlling conformance of reservoir with polymer solution; U.K. Patent No. 2,255,360)
January 24, 1994... Q/I.N. Forsdyke, J.C. Morgan, and C.F. Rogers of British Petroleum Co. Ltd. have patented a method for conformance control of a reservoir where high formation temperatures are encountered. A high-temperature selective gal-forming composition...

E.S. Sprunt and N.F. Djabbarah. (patent time-lapse electric logging method; U.S. Patent No. 5,214,384)
January 24, 1994... E.S. Sprunt and N.F. Djabbarah have patented a timelapse electric logging method where self-potential measurements are used to determine steam quality comprising: (a) measuring electric self--potential via a wellbore at various levels in a...

Details aired on calcite scale control study. (engineering specialists at Rice University conduct study on calcium carbonate deposition in producing gas wells)
January 24, 1994... A study at Rice University, Houston, of calcium carbonate ([CaC 0.sub.3], or calcite) deposition in producing gas wells reveals that producers often overspend in the treatment and control of such scale. With support from the Gas Research...

N.M. Tech leads DOE reservoir characterization project. (division of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology begins research project entitled, 'Integration of Advanced Geoscience and Engineering Techniques to Quantify Interwell Heterogeneity in Reservoir Models')
January 31, 1994... A division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology at Socorro has begun a three-year, $1.8 million project to integrate advanced geoscience and reservoir engineering to quantify interwell heterogeneity. Entitled "Integration...

Further testing set for deep well. (Department of Energy plans test on California's deepest oil well located in Elk Hills field, California)
January 31, 1994... Further evaluation is planned for the deepest well ever drilled in California after initial testing yielded non-commercial condensate and gas. The Energy Dept.'s Well No. 934-29R, drilled in the southwestern portion of the billion-barrel...

Multinationals may duck India IOR bidding. (multinational oil companies plan to abandon bidding on improved oil and gas recovery contract at Bombay High oil field, India)
January 31, 1994... Multinational oil companies from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and France are planning to withdraw from bidding for improved oil and gas recovery contracts at India's largest field, Bombay High. According to reports in...

Permian group plans CO2 forum. (Center for Energy and Economic Diversification plans carbon dioxide flooding forum at University of Texas - Permian Basin)
January 31, 1994... Based on the success of a similar meeting it held in June 1993, the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED), Odessa, Texas, is planning a second carbon dioxide flooding forum, to be held in April at the University of Texas -...

Egyptian E-R well yields gas. (El Qar'a Northwest Well No. 1, extended-reach oil well tests positive for natural gas reserves)
January 31, 1994... Marathon Oil Co. said the El Qar'a Northwest Well No. 1, an extended-reach well drilled from shore to an offshore reservoir extension in Egypt's Nile Delta, has tested significant natural gas and condensate from multiple zones. The...

Commerce Dept. torpedoes IPAA petition. (Independent Producers Association of America fails to gain support for petition requesting that Clinton Administration change it's oil import policy)
January 31, 1994... The Independent Producers Assn. of America, vowing it is not finished yet, last week said it was "surprised and disheartened" over the Commerce Dept.'s decision not to act on the group's petition to President Clinton to adjust oil imports. ...

Utah opens more potash lands. (acreage in southeastern part of state offered for oil and gas leasing, formerly developed for potash)
January 31, 1994... Utah officials are expecting only a so-so response today (Jan. 31) to oil and gas leasing of 7,750 acres in the southeastern part of the state. The acreage was withdrawn more than 30 years ago for potash development. In 1990, oil and gas...

New Wyoming horizontals told. (Wilshire Oil Company of Texas tests and completes horizontal oil wells in West Silo area of Laramie County, Wyoming)
January 31, 1994... One new horizontal well has been tested and another has been completed by Wilshire Oil Co. in the West Silo area of Laramie County, Wyo. The company said its unit, Wilshire Oil Co. of Texas, with headquarters in Jersey City, N.J., tested...

U.S. development drilling up 22% in 1993. (Petroleum Information Corp. reports on oil well development drilling)
January 31, 1994... Development drilling in the United States rose nearly 22% last year, with operators tallying 16,710 infill completions through year end, says Petroleum Information Corp. Gas infill completions far outnumbered those of oil, said PI,...

Bacteria studied for bitumen sulfur removal. (study conducted by Nalco Fuel-Tech Inc. and Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center)
January 31, 1994... A project is underway to study the use of bacteria to remove sulfur pollutants from heavy oil. The Energy Dept.'s Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center is conducting the study with Nalco Fuel Tech of Naperville, Ill. The biotechnology to be...

I.N. Forsdyke, J.C. Morgan and C.F. Rogers, all of British Petroleum Co. Ltd. (patent way to control conformance of reservoir in cases of high temperature; U.K. Patent No. 2,255,360)
January 31, 1994... I.N. Forsdyke, J.C. Morgan and C.F. Rogers, all of British Petroleum Co. Ltd., have patented a method for conformance control of a reservoir where high formation temperatures are encountered. A high-temperature, selective gel-forming...

Holy cow! G-WIZ helps map reservoir compartments. (Gas Wizard application software maps natural gas reservoirs) (Product Announcement)
January 31, 1994... In compartmentalized gas reservoirs, which are relatively common, operators often are able to drain one compartment with a well while leaving another compartment -- perhaps only a few feet away. relatively untapped. However, research...