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Shell Initiates Kansas CO2 Study
Meeting to Follow Annual KIOGA for Operators Interested in
CO2
Shell CO2 Company Ltd. has begun work to determine the feasibility
of CO2 flooding in the Central Kansas Uplift and Morrow in southwest Kansas.
This work is being complimented with Tertiary Oil Recovery Project's (TORP)
Carbon Dioxide Initiative, which has similar objectives. Initial focus in
Central Kansas will be in the L-KC and Arbuckle reservoirs with possible
expansion to the Mississippian reservoirs. To get this study accomplished,
Shell has hired engineering and geological consultants throughout Kansas
to determine the CO2 potential in the Central Uplift. If successful,
this could increase daily production in Kansas by 25,000 to 50,000 barrels
of oil per day.
If economic calculations warrant, a pipeline will be placed from a CO2
supply to SW Kansas (parallel to Transpectco's pipeline) and further extended
into Central Kansas. This will be necessary for sufficient volumes to be
transported to the Central Kansas Uplift. First, Shell is looking for a
consortium of operators that is willing to sign a contract to anchor a line
to southwestern Kansas. Then, a line will be extended to the Central Uplift,
once a contract is negotiated.
The application of accepted general screening criteria for the carbon
dioxide miscible process indicates that the process is promising for most
Morrow, Lansing-Kansas City and Arbuckle reservoirs throughout the north
Midcontinent area. The reservoirs tend to be at depths greater than 2000
feet. The API gravity of the crude oils tend to be above 30 degrees API
with relatively low viscosities (<10 cp), and reservoir temperatures
between 100 and 170 degrees F. These are factors that are generally favorable
for CO2 flooding.
| Table 1 |
|
Rules of Thumb |
L-KC |
Arbuckle |
Morrow |
| API Oil Gravity |
> 30 degrees |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Depth |
> 2000 feet |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Temperature |
100 - 170 degrees F |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Residual Oil |
> 25% |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| MMP Achievable |
|
Yes |
TBD |
Yes |
(Note: TORP is currently running laboratory MMP tests on an Arbuckle crude
oil)
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