ITF, the Industry Technology Facilitator, has issued two new calls for proposals on the topics of unconventional gas resources and enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
The calls invite technology developers to come forward with innovative ideas to address specific technology gaps identified at two workshops held in Amsterdam earlier this year.
Unconventional gas and EOR had already been identified by ITF’s members as key challenges for 2010, and the Amsterdam workshops brought members together with other operating and service companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research and academic players from around the globe to determine the detail of the calls. With respect to unconventional gas resources, the focus is on tight gas, shale gas and coal-bed methane. These resources each have their own distinct characteristics and issues, but have in common the fact that they are more difficult to extract than those gas resources categorised as “conventional”.
ITF operations director David Liddle says: “Very large volumes of gas are known to exist within these technically and economically challenging resources, and although new technology and advances in geological understanding have already had an impact on their contribution to global gas supply, further progress in the development of technology to make these fields accessible, productive and cost-effective is considered essential by the international oil& gas community.”
The challenges identified in the tight gas, shale gas and coal-bed methane call fall under the following headings:
Well design/drilling efficiency.
Improved stimulation – required to “create the reservoir”.
Sweet spots – identification of areas of higher permeability/connectivity on a macro scale is of great importance in accessing reserves.
Reservoir modelling and simulation – conventional approaches have previously been adapted for unconventional reservoirs but may not offer the most effective route.
Reservoir analysis.
Recovery mechanisms (understanding production mechanisms).
Energy has, on several occasions this year, particularly highlighted shale gas – both opportunities and issues.
EOR technology encompasses a range of techniques used to improve hydrocarbon recovery factors by restoring formation pressure in mature reservoirs and improving hydrocarbon displacement and flow.
ITF’s workshop aimed to facilitate an in-depth discussion of the issues surrounding these techniques and identify specific areas where technology development work is most required.
The resultant call is wide-ranging in its scope, covering issues under the headings of:
Chemical EOR.
Miscible and immiscible gas injection.
Thermal recovery (including in-situ combustion).
Microbial EOR.
Modelling.
Other topics such as “big picture modelling”; augmented water flooding; cross-fertilisation; non-thermal heavy-oil EOR; well density and location; combined EOR, and EOR-tolerant kit.
Liddle: “EOR technology is important not only because of its role in an industry operating in increasingly mature fields, but also in relation to the economic viability of new high-capex and opex installations. The needs surrounding EOR are complex and multifaceted, and the scope of our call reflects this.
“For both the calls, our aim is to stimulate innovative ideas offering the best potential solutions. And, to that end, proposals for research, development or field-trial projects are invited from any national or international organisation, including SMEs, academia, research institutions, large organisations, consortiums or alliances.”
The closing date for applications is July 5, 2010. Full details of both calls can be found at www.oil-itf.com