In our day to day life, there are a lot of machines that needs to be in operations so that we can be able to go on with our day to day life. These machines need fuel so that they can be able to propel and therefore execute the duties that they are supposed to execute. This fuel comes from oils mines which are located in different parts of the world. Among the major wells or the major oil production reservoirs are those that are located at Wyoming. There are a lot of mechanisms that are involved in these reservoirs from the time the oil is found to the time it comes to the surface of the earth. This paper is therefore going to discuss the mechanism that is known to exist for the maintenance and the subsequent increase in the production of oils in these reservoirs. The paper will also look at the economic and technical feasibility of these mechanisms. The paper will also look at the future of oil production in these reservoirs and the possible position or situation that it will have in the next ten to twenty years.
Introduction
Wyoming happens to be a state that is located on the western side of the United States. It has most of its parts dominated by rangelands and mountain ranges which are mostly concentrated on the Rocky Mountain on the West. However, the eastern parts of the state are dominated by some sections of high elevation prairie which is commonly referred to as High Plains. This state is known to have a lot of oil reservoirs. It is believed to have over six separate oil reservoirs which are believed to be in operation for the last five years. (Hearn, C et al)
Extraction Techniques
This state is noted of having a good number of reservoirs which are known to supply oil to most parts of the United States. Over the past, there has been application of oil extraction technique that is commonly referred to as Enhanced Oil Recovery or EOR. This is a generic term that is commonly used to refer to the techniques which are used to increase the amount of extracted crude oil from the oil field. These techniques are known to increase the amount of extracted oil with thirty to sixty percent or even more. It is believed that the lower forty eight states in the United States have approximately sixty billion barrels of oil that is said to remain on the wells. Using the appropriate technique, there is a possibility of recovering about fifty percent of this oil from these wells. The technique that will be applied depends on the permeability of the well and therefore with those reservoirs that have low permeability, reinjection of reservoir gas is the best option. (Hearn, C et al)
Mechanism Used
There has been some advancement in the EOR technique in some wells in these states. For example when we look at the issue of steam flooding as a method of enhanced production of oil it is one of the most economical methods. However, it happens that oil sometimes is very viscous and therefore makes this method very inefficient. In such situation, it is advisable to use carbon dioxide and this is the case that is happening in most of the wells that are in Wyoming. The same case is also happening in those wells that are located in West Texas, Western Oklahoma and New Mexico. The reason why gas is uses is the fact that, the other techniques which is water flood technique is known to leave a lot of oil in the reservoirs as compared to gas floods. However, where permeability is higher, water floods can recover oil at a faster rate than gas. (James G.)
Extraction in all wells is known to have one universal mechanism. First air is used in deeper and hotter reservoirs and it is known to spontaneously react with the oil which is in these reservoirs to form flue gases. This air is usually at high temperatures of over a hundred and fifty centigrade. It happens that carbon dioxide is usually a flue gas that is absorbed or rather dissolved in the crude oil. When this hot air is pushed into these reservoirs, some light gas and water usually evaporates due to high temperatures brought by hot air. High temperatures are also as a result of combustion that takes place when air reacts with the oil. (MK Tech Solutions, Inc)
There are some three mechanisms that are involved in this process. These are pressure, maintenance, swelling and water flooding by condensing steam. When air gets into the well, it mixes with the oil and reacts with it this results to swelling which is known to increase the pressure that is in the wells. In addition, due to high temperatures that are in the well, water and some light gas evaporates but later condenses when it gets to some cooler areas. It forms water and some light gas and this is known to also increase the pressure in these reservoirs. This pressure increases to an extent that it needs to escape and the only escape it has is the direction where there is oil. It therefore finds an avenue on this direction and pushes oil on to the surface. (MK Tech Solutions, Inc)
Economic and Technical Feasibility
This method of EOR can be termed to be economically feasible in that all the law materials that are needed are more readily available. Some of the reservoir that is known to use air so as to increase oil recovery has been in operation for over thirty years. This is because the raw materials or the resources that are needed are readily available and cheaper to buy. Where the surface enhanced water floods are used, there are three chemicals floods that are known to exist in this extraction. In a study that was conducted in 2001, it was found out that the average cost of chemical per barrel increment was 1.96 dollars which means that the payout would occur between two and three years. However, this project is only viable in sandstone areas as there is very little chemical absorption. This means that if the permeability is high, the project will be more economically viable. (James G., Speight, D.)
In addition, there is no need to drill deep for those small wells as a shallow drilling will work if permeability is good. However all those large wells should be deeper and at the same time they are likely to have higher permeability. This is a clear indication that this is a technically feasible project as it will only required the amount of capital that is relevant for the expected outcome. (James G., Speight, D.)
There is a chance that oil will continue being an important energy product in the state of Wyoming in the next one to two decades. The reason is that this state happens to be the number one oil producer in the United States. It possesses a reservoir of about 62.4 metric tons of coal. Apart from this, the state also ranks number two in production of natural gases in the whole of the United States with the major markets as domestic, commercial and industrial heating. (Hearn, C et al)
In conclusion, from this statistic, it is clear that Wyoming produces about 25 percent of the world oil production. This means that if it is not exporting oil, it is in a position to supply itself with oil for the next thirty to forty years. It is therefore clear from the current situation that it oil will be an important energy product to this state for the next one to two decades.
Literature Search Summary
Literature Search
SummaryJournal
ArticlesPopular
LiteratureWeb SiteNumber of Sources Found345Number of Sources Read333Number of Sources Used112
Short description of the materials read
Journals
Gearino, Jeff. Abraxas Discovers Oil in the Wyoming Well Recently Drilled. San Antonio Business Journal (2009) 34-45.
This is a San Antonio journal that was published later last year. I chose the journal because it contains some very helpful information on the current trends in the oil industry in Wyoming. This is very crucial information on gauging the possibilities of the existence and the importance of the oil industry in Wyoming in the next ten years.
Hearn, C et al. Geological Factors Influencing Reservoir Performance. Journal of Petroleum Technology (1984) 1333-1343.
This is a journal that covers in details some of the major factors that are known to affect or rather influence the performance of reservoirs. Even though this journal tackles these problems from a general ground, the same problems or factors are known to affect all the reservoirs that are currently in operation in most parts of the world. I therefore chose it because it gave some background information on the economic and technical feasibility of the Wyoming reservoirs.
Willam, J. Forest Oil completes Infinity deal. Denver Business Journal (2008).
This is a short artilce that discusses some of the activitiest that are currently taking place in the oil industry. This article highlights some of the agreements that has been arrived at by different oil companies concering their future plans.
Popular literature
James G., Speight, D. Enhanced Recovery Methods for Tar Sands Heavy Oil . 2009 Gulf Publishing Company , New York.
This book gives comprehensive information on the methods that are used in oil extraction. The book gives an account of the possible factors that are likely to affect the process of oil extraction. It also gives different methods that are used and different techniques that are used in the process of oil extraction. It also gives some different factors that are considered in choosing the technique to apply in oil extraction.
Lake, Larry. Enhanced Oil Recovery. Irwin Prentice Hall, 1996.
This book gives a complete analysis of the process that is involved in oil extraction. It starts off with a brief history of oil extraction and then explains in details the mechanism that is involved in this process. It then describes some of the different techniques that are used in this process and the conditions under which these techniques are applied.
Lapeyrouse, Norton. Formulas Calculations for Production, Drilling, Workover . New York Gulf
Professional Publishing, 2001.
This is a more technical book as it contains some of the in-depth information that revolves around the production of oil. The book also gives in detail the requirements for drilling and the drilling process as it is supposed to be. The book further gives the information on the total amount of work and the total requirements that are necessary for the extraction process to be complete.
Introduction
Wyoming happens to be a state that is located on the western side of the United States. It has most of its parts dominated by rangelands and mountain ranges which are mostly concentrated on the Rocky Mountain on the West. However, the eastern parts of the state are dominated by some sections of high elevation prairie which is commonly referred to as High Plains. This state is known to have a lot of oil reservoirs. It is believed to have over six separate oil reservoirs which are believed to be in operation for the last five years. (Hearn, C et al)
Extraction Techniques
This state is noted of having a good number of reservoirs which are known to supply oil to most parts of the United States. Over the past, there has been application of oil extraction technique that is commonly referred to as Enhanced Oil Recovery or EOR. This is a generic term that is commonly used to refer to the techniques which are used to increase the amount of extracted crude oil from the oil field. These techniques are known to increase the amount of extracted oil with thirty to sixty percent or even more. It is believed that the lower forty eight states in the United States have approximately sixty billion barrels of oil that is said to remain on the wells. Using the appropriate technique, there is a possibility of recovering about fifty percent of this oil from these wells. The technique that will be applied depends on the permeability of the well and therefore with those reservoirs that have low permeability, reinjection of reservoir gas is the best option. (Hearn, C et al)
Mechanism Used
There has been some advancement in the EOR technique in some wells in these states. For example when we look at the issue of steam flooding as a method of enhanced production of oil it is one of the most economical methods. However, it happens that oil sometimes is very viscous and therefore makes this method very inefficient. In such situation, it is advisable to use carbon dioxide and this is the case that is happening in most of the wells that are in Wyoming. The same case is also happening in those wells that are located in West Texas, Western Oklahoma and New Mexico. The reason why gas is uses is the fact that, the other techniques which is water flood technique is known to leave a lot of oil in the reservoirs as compared to gas floods. However, where permeability is higher, water floods can recover oil at a faster rate than gas. (James G.)
Extraction in all wells is known to have one universal mechanism. First air is used in deeper and hotter reservoirs and it is known to spontaneously react with the oil which is in these reservoirs to form flue gases. This air is usually at high temperatures of over a hundred and fifty centigrade. It happens that carbon dioxide is usually a flue gas that is absorbed or rather dissolved in the crude oil. When this hot air is pushed into these reservoirs, some light gas and water usually evaporates due to high temperatures brought by hot air. High temperatures are also as a result of combustion that takes place when air reacts with the oil. (MK Tech Solutions, Inc)
There are some three mechanisms that are involved in this process. These are pressure, maintenance, swelling and water flooding by condensing steam. When air gets into the well, it mixes with the oil and reacts with it this results to swelling which is known to increase the pressure that is in the wells. In addition, due to high temperatures that are in the well, water and some light gas evaporates but later condenses when it gets to some cooler areas. It forms water and some light gas and this is known to also increase the pressure in these reservoirs. This pressure increases to an extent that it needs to escape and the only escape it has is the direction where there is oil. It therefore finds an avenue on this direction and pushes oil on to the surface. (MK Tech Solutions, Inc)
Economic and Technical Feasibility
This method of EOR can be termed to be economically feasible in that all the law materials that are needed are more readily available. Some of the reservoir that is known to use air so as to increase oil recovery has been in operation for over thirty years. This is because the raw materials or the resources that are needed are readily available and cheaper to buy. Where the surface enhanced water floods are used, there are three chemicals floods that are known to exist in this extraction. In a study that was conducted in 2001, it was found out that the average cost of chemical per barrel increment was 1.96 dollars which means that the payout would occur between two and three years. However, this project is only viable in sandstone areas as there is very little chemical absorption. This means that if the permeability is high, the project will be more economically viable. (James G., Speight, D.)
In addition, there is no need to drill deep for those small wells as a shallow drilling will work if permeability is good. However all those large wells should be deeper and at the same time they are likely to have higher permeability. This is a clear indication that this is a technically feasible project as it will only required the amount of capital that is relevant for the expected outcome. (James G., Speight, D.)
There is a chance that oil will continue being an important energy product in the state of Wyoming in the next one to two decades. The reason is that this state happens to be the number one oil producer in the United States. It possesses a reservoir of about 62.4 metric tons of coal. Apart from this, the state also ranks number two in production of natural gases in the whole of the United States with the major markets as domestic, commercial and industrial heating. (Hearn, C et al)
In conclusion, from this statistic, it is clear that Wyoming produces about 25 percent of the world oil production. This means that if it is not exporting oil, it is in a position to supply itself with oil for the next thirty to forty years. It is therefore clear from the current situation that it oil will be an important energy product to this state for the next one to two decades.
Literature Search Summary
Literature Search
SummaryJournal
ArticlesPopular
LiteratureWeb SiteNumber of Sources Found345Number of Sources Read333Number of Sources Used112
Short description of the materials read
Journals
Gearino, Jeff. Abraxas Discovers Oil in the Wyoming Well Recently Drilled. San Antonio Business Journal (2009) 34-45.
This is a San Antonio journal that was published later last year. I chose the journal because it contains some very helpful information on the current trends in the oil industry in Wyoming. This is very crucial information on gauging the possibilities of the existence and the importance of the oil industry in Wyoming in the next ten years.
Hearn, C et al. Geological Factors Influencing Reservoir Performance. Journal of Petroleum Technology (1984) 1333-1343.
This is a journal that covers in details some of the major factors that are known to affect or rather influence the performance of reservoirs. Even though this journal tackles these problems from a general ground, the same problems or factors are known to affect all the reservoirs that are currently in operation in most parts of the world. I therefore chose it because it gave some background information on the economic and technical feasibility of the Wyoming reservoirs.
Willam, J. Forest Oil completes Infinity deal. Denver Business Journal (2008).
This is a short artilce that discusses some of the activitiest that are currently taking place in the oil industry. This article highlights some of the agreements that has been arrived at by different oil companies concering their future plans.
Popular literature
James G., Speight, D. Enhanced Recovery Methods for Tar Sands Heavy Oil . 2009 Gulf Publishing Company , New York.
This book gives comprehensive information on the methods that are used in oil extraction. The book gives an account of the possible factors that are likely to affect the process of oil extraction. It also gives different methods that are used and different techniques that are used in the process of oil extraction. It also gives some different factors that are considered in choosing the technique to apply in oil extraction.
Lake, Larry. Enhanced Oil Recovery. Irwin Prentice Hall, 1996.
This book gives a complete analysis of the process that is involved in oil extraction. It starts off with a brief history of oil extraction and then explains in details the mechanism that is involved in this process. It then describes some of the different techniques that are used in this process and the conditions under which these techniques are applied.
Lapeyrouse, Norton. Formulas Calculations for Production, Drilling, Workover . New York Gulf
Professional Publishing, 2001.
This is a more technical book as it contains some of the in-depth information that revolves around the production of oil. The book also gives in detail the requirements for drilling and the drilling process as it is supposed to be. The book further gives the information on the total amount of work and the total requirements that are necessary for the extraction process to be complete.
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