Billions of barrels of oil that could increase domestic supply, help reduce imports, and improve US energy security may be potentially recoverable from residual oil zones, according to initial findings from a study supported by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy.It is interesting to note that ROZs are something different than "reservoirs in the mature stage of 'waterflooding.'" Wow, it never ends -- moving the peak oil curve to the right.
The recently completed study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas-Permian Basin, is one of several DOE-supported research projects providing insight that will help tap this valuable but overlooked resource.
Residual oil zones, called ROZs, are areas of immobile oil found below the oil-water contact of a reservoir. ROZs are similar to reservoirs in the mature stage of “waterflooding,” in which water has been injected into a formation to sweep oil toward a production well.
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Monday, July 23, 2012
Residual Oil Zones -- ROZ
I sometimes call them "legacy" formations; the DOE calls them residual oil zones (link at Oil and Gas Journal). Regardless, it is estimated these old fields still have a lot of recoverable oil using enhanced oil recovery techniques.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/david-letterman-fracking-screwed_n_1687028.html
ReplyDeleteDid you happen to see this rant on fracking?
I saw the headline. A year from now we will hear the Letterman rant on $8 natural gas as fracking hysteria shuts down natural gas wells in the northeast. Big Oil will be blamed. The elitists will be able to afford natural gas (in fact, they won't even notice the price) and the average American will continue to struggle and ask "what happened?"
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