October 1995 (Volume VI)

Energy Research Center
1930 Constant Avenue
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66047

The Mid-Continent Resource Center now has an Internet address: http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/ERC/pttcHome.html


Index to this month's articles

Advisory Board Meets
Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines
Funding Opportunities
Activities of Co-Directors and Executive Director
Recent Proposals
Recent Awards
'95 Future Research Needs
"Report Available from the National Petroleum Council
Did you know...

Activities at ERC

KU Energy Research Advisory Board met on October 18, 1995. Present were Ernie Angino, Lee Gerhard, John Ralston, Curt Sorenson, Anthony Walton, and Paul Willhite. Co-Directors, Don Green and Tim Carr were present, Lynn Watney, Executive Director conducted the meeting. Watney reported on proposal activity submitted through the ERC and on successfully funded projects. The ERC is seeing continued growth with over $7 million in grants and contracts awarded to KU units in the past three years. A report was made to the board on Energy Research Development Grants that will be offered by ERC to KU Staff/Faculty to help develop new research ideas. Up to $2500 will be made available from the KU Energy Research Development Fund for each successful proposal.

A brochure and cover letter were mailed to over 100 faculty/staff containing information about the Development Fund.

ERC staff assisted Tony Walton, Campus DOE-EPSCoR Coordinator in notifying energy researchers at KU about the future of EPSCoR. The proposal submitted by Kansas was not funded. Walton reports that DOE's EPSCoR program will continue in some form and that Energy Researchers should be discussing potential topics and forming collaborating groups in anticipation of an announcement.


Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines

Nov. 29 and 30, 1995
NMRC--North Midcontinent Resource Center will conduct a 2 day workshop in Wichita, Ks., November 29th & 30th on 'Increasing Profits in Marginal Oil Fields.' For more information contact Lisa Love at (913)864-7398.

Nov. 30, 1995
Lynn Watney, John Doveton, and Bill Guy, University of Kansas, will give a luncheon talk at the Kansas Geological Society in the auditorium of the Fourth Financial Cernter in Wichita on November 30. Title of the presentation is "Petrofacies Analysis--Assessing and Mapping Pore Types, Fluid Saturations, and Reservoir Compartments with Wireline Logs".

The thrust of the paper is that well log data can be better utilized by both geologists and engineers in the search for oil and natural gas. A computer program was developed to better manage and analyze well log information. It uses a specially tailored off-the-shelf spreadsheet-based program for the PC. The software and methodology can be used to establish petrophysical characteristics of various complex reservoir rocks and can aid in partitioning the log response between the fluid and the rock.

The software development and testing was conducted with support and collaboration of the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) and 12 energy companies operating in Kansas.

Dec. 8, 1995
Tim Carr, Petroleum Research Chief at the Kansas Geological Survey has organized and conducted two workshops on the Internet. A third session of "The Internet Explored for the Petroleum Professional" has been scheduled for December 8th, 1995 in Overland Park, Ks.

Attendance is limited by the number of computers available at the center. Participants should be familiar with Windows and the general operations of either a PC or Macintosh.

Registration: Workshop registration includes access to computer, class notes, lunch, and refreshments. Registration fee of $35.00 should be payable to the KU Energy Research Center. Registration forms are available from the Energy Research Center (913-864-4445) or call Tim Carr, Kansas Geological Survey (913-864-3965) or the Midcontinent Resource Center at the University of Kansas (913-864-7398). Space is limited.

January and February, 1996
DOE's Reservoir Class Program will be conducting traveling workshops in January and February throughout the U.S. The workshops are a cooperative effort of Class project performers, field operators, BDM-Oklahoma, DOE and PTTC and its regional lead organizations. Workshops will demonstrate the practical benefits of applying technology in field projects. They will highlight technology applications, successes, economic benefits, failures and future directions in field development. A nominal fee of $25 is being charged for the workshops. Call Phillip Salamy at 1-800-645-7525 for more information.


Funding Opportunities

STTR--Small Business Technology Transfer
ERC has received the Program Solicitation from U.S. DOE for their small business technology transfer program. DOE invites small business concerns to submit grant applications under this third annual solicitation for the STTR pilot program. Firms with strong research capabilities in science and engineering, in collaboration and research institutions, in any of the topic areas described are encouraged to participate.

Under Phase 1 DOE anticipates making approximately 15 awards. The primary goal of this program is the commercialization of DOE supported research or R & D. The principal investigator should be knowledgeable in all technical aspects of the grant application and be capable of leading the research effort. Each concern submitting a grant application must qualify as a small business for research or R & D. The PI's primary employment must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed research. Deadline for submission is December 22, 1995. A complete application booklet with topics is available in the ERC office.


Activities of Co-Directors and Executive Director

Co-Director Tim Carr has managed to fill his calendar with talks at the SEG (Society of Exploration Geophysicists) National Meeting in Houston and the Midcontinent AAPG in Tulsa, and with presentations to the Petroleum Energy Network in Overland Park and to state legislators at the Geological Survey's Earth Resource Field Conference. Tim continues working as part of the PTTC project on an Internet Course aimed at petroleum operators. Co-director Carr also is working with Survey personnel to build a world-wide-web site for the Survey, PTTC project, and the KUERC. Work also continues on the Class II project at Schaben Field in Ness County, and with the Midcontinent Petroleum Atlas. In addition two days were spent at the Kansas State Fair answering questions at the University of Kansas Booth.

Co-Director Don Green is currently serving on the Chancellor's Task Force to reengineer and restructure the University. He recently attended the annual KIOGA and EKOGA meetings, held in Wichita and Chanute, and has been honored by the Mortor Board Chapter as an outstanding Educator and was chosen by the undergraduate students to be a finalist for the HOPE Award.

Executive Director Lynn Watney participated in the Internet Workshop in August, he gave an invited lecture at K-State as part of their Geology Seminars in September. Also in September he traveled to Germany for an NSF Project Review, and delivered an invited paper at the Mid-Continent AAPG meeting in Tulsa. Lynn continues to assist in developing new projects. He is currently working on an NSF proposal on stratigraphic modeling. He plans to participate in preparing a proposal on Pangea Global Sedimentary Geology Program. He continues to pursue the Gas Research Institute regarding nitrogen extraction methods from natural gas and EPRI for Fuel Cell Research and funding opportunities. Lynn will be assisting Lanny Schoeling (PTTC) in planning an exploration workshop to be held in early 1996. He recently assisted in preparing a prospectus on Hybrid Solar Energy Utilization in Kansas.


Recent Proposals Submitted through ERC


Recent Awards

Digital Petroleum Atlas
Oil and gas researchers from the Kansas Geological Survey, based at the University of Kansas, have received a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an atlas of information that will aid in petroleum exploration and production in the state.

According to Survey director Lee Gerhard, the grant will be used to produce an atlas of Kansas oil and gas data as the first step in a program of developing similar materials for other states in the northern Great Plains.

The atlas will include maps of the state's oil fields, cross sections of underground geology, data on the performance of oil reservoirs, and other information. "The atlas will include new studies of fields using the latest geologic techniques and concepts." said Gerhard.

While traditional published versions of the information will be produced, the data will also be made available electronically. Maps and other data will be compiled using the Survey's geographic information system, then disseminated through the Internet or by other media, such as CD-ROM.

"Because the information will be available electronically, operators can manipulate the data in ways that suit their needs best," said Tim Carr, head of the Survey's petroleum research section . "They can use the data to focus on the area they're particularly interested in."

In addition to containing statewide information on oil and gas, the atlas will include detailed data for one of the state's major oil fields and a major natural gas field.

"Users will be able to look at extremely detailed information for a major play, or series of wells, then use the information when exploring for new fields or redeveloping older fields," said Carr. "But they can also obtain less-detailed, more general information about other oil and gas fields, or data for the entire state. Either way, the digital atlas is a tool to find additional resources." Paul Gerlach has been hired as the project Geologist.

Evan Franseen, Kansas Geological Survey has received a $77,565 award from the National Science Foundation as the result of a proposal submitted entitled, "A new approach for evaluating controls on Depositional Sequence Architecture." Randy Farr and Bob Goldstein in Geology will be Co-PI's.


'95 Future Research Needs

On June 8, 1995 the National Petroleum Council (NPC) published a preliminary survey of the oil and gas industry's research and development needs. All items are listed in order of the impact of need in the oil and gas industry versus the likelihood the technology will not be commercially available. Although the NPC is still finalizing its Industry Needs Survey Report, these topics should serve as a good guideline for future research and development needs. Information summarized by Energy Research Clearing House (ERCH).

Exploration
High resolution seismic depth imaging
Advanced seismic acquisition
Amplitude versus offset (AVO) in 3D
Specialized seismic processing
3D Visualization tools
Geophysical fracture-detection methods
3D Basin modeling
Multi-component seismic techniques
Workstation seismic modeling
Fault seal analysis
3D Paleostructural restoration
Sequence stratigraphy techniques
Risk assessment methods
Geographic information systems
Geochemical analysis
Airborne/satellite remote sensing
Development
Development-scale seismic applications
Permeability logging techniques
Computer-based 3D geological modeling
Through casing logging
Reservoir property identification
Advanced reservoir simulation modeling
Seismic/log/core calibration
Deep investigation techniques
Advanced attribute processing
Advanced well testing and interpretation
High resolution borehole imaging logging
Cross-well geophysical imaging
Geostatistical reservoir descriptions
Fluid-rock interaction
Procedures for data scale_up
Advanced reservoir analog models
Advanced monitoring of EOR processes
Decision and risk analysis
Fluid sampling and analysis
Workstation single well simulations
Specialized core analysis
Core analysis/imaging
Expert systems applications
Time lapse seismic imaging
Formation water chemistry
Rock physics
CT scanning and NMR imaging
Outcrop analog studies
Characterization of rock wettability
Cutting analysis
Material balance applications
Tracers (biologic/chemical/radioactive)
Expendable well bore instrumentation
Tracer techniques
Drilling and Completion
Well productivity
Advanced fracture techniques
Horizontal well bore applications
Multilateral technology
Unconventional drilling technology
Perforating and well bore cleanup
Innovative bit and tubular technology
Slim hole drilling
Measurements while drilling
Coiled tubing drilling
Drill fluid design
Under balanced drilling
Cementing
Production
Stimulation techniques
Advanced recovery of natural gas
Near well bore stimulation
New directional drilling
Recompletion techniques
Paraffin control/removal
Corrosion control
Gas compression techniques
Produced water treatment
Remote control and data analysis
Viscosity reduction of heavy oils
Scaling inhibitors
Oil/water/gas separation
Injection water treatment
Submersible pump analysis
Modification of reservoir fluid mobility
Miscible contact/displacement
Rod/tubing wear evaluation
Compact processing on offshore platforms
Gas lift analysis
In situ generation of foams/emulsions
Beam pump analysis
High-velocity gas flow modeling
Thermal processes
Thickeners for CO2 floods
Microbial EOR processes
Combustion processes

Available from the National Petroleum Council

Marginal Wells
This report is an assessment of the costs and benefits of incentives for maintaining production from the more than 500,000 marginal oil wells in the United States. These wells produce approximately 700 million barrels of oil equivalent per year and represent $10 billion of avoided imports each year. They contribute nearly 80,000 jobs and generate close to $14 billion per year in economic activity.

The report is in response to Secretary O'Leary's request for the NPC to evaluate the costs and benefits of various actions to maintain this production. The report presents the NPC's recommendations for four federal income tax incentives to encourage continued operation of marginal wells, particularly in periods of low prices. Because of the cost structure of marginal wells, the NPC also recommends that regulatory, royalty, and state tax incentives and relief are needed to reduce the impact of increasing costs.

The report describes domestic oil and gas marginal well production and the access to potential reserves that those wells provide. Physical and economic characteristics of such wells are examined and evaluations of marginal well contributions to the national, state, and local economies as well as to the oil and gas industries are provided. U.S. producing wells are evaluated for marginality on a before federal income tax basis. Detailed economic analyses on an after tax basis are presented for several types of marginal well credits as well as for an improved EOR credit and an inactive well incentive. In addition, state incentives are examined and federal regulatory issues are reviewed.

(356 pages) Price: $65.00. Orders for NPC publications must be accompanied by check or money order made payable to the National Petroleum Council. Please address orders to:

National Petroleum Council
Attention: Publications
1625 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

All publications are shipped via UPS, which requires a street address (not a P.O. Box) and a phone number. Canadian and foreign purchasers should submit checks, drafts, or money orders payable in U.S. currency.


Did you know...

ERC has received an e-mail from Roger Martin in KU's Research, Graduate Studies, and Public Service office (RGSPS). He would like to hear from any of you with information about your research results as those results are about to go to press or be presented at a conference. He is especially interested in research the public would find understandable, interesting and/or useful. He would also like to know if the work you are conducting directly involves Kansans. Please contact Roger by sending your information directly to:
Roger Martin
Communications Director
RGSPS
rmartin@research.rgsps.ukans.edu.
913/864-7239

Editors

Melanie Cromwell and Lynn Watney
Energy Research Center, The University of Kansas
Parker Hall, Lawrence, Kansas 66047
Phone 913/864-4445, fax 913/864-5053
Email: lwatney@pcmail.kgs.ukans.edu

Placed online Dec. 1995
The URL for this page is /www.kgs.ukans.edu/ERC/Info/NewsLtr9510.html