By Viola Rawn-Schatzinger, RMC, Inc.

In DOE's Field Demonstration Program, the projects fall under the Reservoir Class Program and the Petroleum Technology Advances through Applied Research by Independent Oil Producers. The Independent projects are much shorter term and less have less funding than the Class Projects. Independent projects are funded by DOE to attempt to solve one particular problem. The purpose is to help small independent producers test technologies of interest to them which would benefit others by meetings one or more of NPTO's goals: 1) extending reservoir life, 2) increasing production or reserves, 3) improving environmental performance, 4) broaden the exchange of technology information. Twenty-two Independent projects have been completed (Figure 1). The chart shows the breakdown of projects relative to technological and economic success.

The new Independent Highlights section of The Class Act will provide information on completed independent projects and summarize ongoing project results and lessons learned. The twenty-two recently completed projects were in twelve states and cost a total of $3.5 million, with $1.0 million (29%) provided by DOE and $2.5 million (71%) from the independent operators. Various projects will be featured in future newsletters. Information on new projects will be summarized in the next DOE Inside Technology Transfer newsletter.

Figure 1 The majority of 22 projects by Independents were successful

HIGHLIGHT: COBRA OIL & GAS TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA

Cobra Oil & Gas in conjunction with the University of Alabama performed on whole core and FMI log analysis study on the Frisco City Sandstone in Monroe County, Alabama, to test the economics of FMI log interpretation as alternative to coring. Schlumberger's Formation Micro-imaging (FMI) log was run in a Frisco City well for which whole core was available for comparison. The complete core description was compared to the FMI log interpretation to determine if the FMI log can be used as a less expensive and less risky means to determine the facies and reservoir characteristics.

The results of the FMI and core analysis comparison showed that the environment of deposition interpretation did not differ significantly. The FMI log provided data on paleocurrent direction and sandstone orientation not available from core description. This additional data is critical to establishing a regional reservoir stratigraphic model. The FMI log also identified anisotropic features, which could be barriers to fluid flow.

The comparison between whole core analysis and FMI log interpretation from the Frisco City well indicated that the FMI log could be a valid alternative to obtaining whole core. The cost savings were estimated at from $10,000 to $25,000 per well in the southern Alabama area depending on depth and conditions. Typical coring costs in the area run $20,000 per well, and FMI costs were estimated at $5,000 per well.

The Class Act Winter 2000 Edition Volume 6/1