[mkwin]

I knew the title would get you doomers going but the EOR technique looks like it could substantially change the picture of oil depletion.

Essentially it is a firewall recovery technique that can increase the ratio of total oil in place (TOIP) recovered from its current level of 30-50% to 70-80%.



In theory, this could increase the world URR from 2-2.5 trillion barrels to circa 4-7 trillion barrels. It is not dependant on water, gas or any other constraining input and is costing only $8-9 dollars a barrel to lift.

In reality, the system would need to be designed for each field and scalability and time will mean it is unlikely to prevent peak oil, it does, however, look like it could be another tool for managing or stabilizing the decline.

Link is here: http://canada.theoildrum.com/node/2907#more

and here: http://www.petrobank.com/hea-thaitechnology.html

[FireJack]

I still think its the same for "in the lab" technologies, when they are using it in the real world and its working then we can praise it.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mkwin', '[')img]http://www.petrobank.com/images/content/heavyoil/ho-thai-sideview-label.jpg[/img]

[mkwin]

I'm not a Petroleum Engineer so I can't comment on the potential issues. All I can say is the test wells are working - it is not some 'in the lab' idea as the previous poster suggested. The consensus from the experts in the comment section seems to be that there are potential unsolved issues but they might not be a problem and if they are they could be resolvable.

In regards to EROEI, the cost of $8-9 would be a good indicator. That’s cheaper than much of the deep water oil currently in production. As energy input is a major portion of cost, the relatively economical extraction cost would indicate a favorable EROEI.

[Windmills]

I thought peak oil was about production rates. I can't seem to find where it says that production rates will be increased along with URR, which is the only thing that will fix peak oil...by definition.

[steam_cannon]

You know, this would make a great icon for The Hall of Flames!

[mkwin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Windmills', 'I') thought peak oil was about production rates. I can't seem to find where it says that production rates will be increased along with URR, which is the only thing that will fix peak oil...by definition.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mkwin', 'I')ronically, the production flow rates from this method could be too fast. The firewall forces the oil out in a small amount of time. If this was implemented on a massive scale, it could crash the oil market and destroy the alternative fuel market - that is my major concern.

[Tanada]

This method is VERY reminiscent of the scheme to retreive shale oil I read about in the February 1981 Special Edition National Geographic Magazine. The oil company proposal back then was to tunnel under a large block of oil shale, fracture the block into gravle sized rubble with high explosives, and then inject air and ignite the top of the block burning down vertically to upgrade the kerogen and produce from the bottom through horizontal wells.

Ebay copy

Looking for the issue online I found this copy on Ebay Wish it was availible on Project Gutenberg instead!

edit: fixed date to Feb 1981!

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'I') have little hope THAI will not stand on its own.

[mkwin]

The technique does work. The article documents experimental wells that have exceeded expectations.

Whether it is feasible for wide scale use is unknown at this time.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mkwin', 'T')he technique does work. The article documents experimental wells that have exceeded expectations.

Whether it is feasible for wide scale use is unknown at this time.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tanada', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mkwin', 'T')he technique does work. The article documents experimental wells that have exceeded expectations.

Whether it is feasible for wide scale use is unknown at this time.

[whereagles]

To insure rapide self-destruction, do this at the same time methane hydrides are burned.

[TheDude]

Natch.

January 3rd pdf from Petrobank: WHITESANDS May River Project - Public Disclosure Document. Lots more pretty pictures (these THAI guys have rockin' graphics).

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('whereagles', 'T')o insure rapide self-destruction, do this at the same time methane hydrides are burned.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('whereagles', 'T')o insure rapid self-destruction, do this at the same time methane hydrides are burned.