Thermochemically Driven Gas-Dynamic Fracturing (TDGF) Metadata

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Title

  • Main Title Thermochemically Driven Gas-Dynamic Fracturing (TDGF)

Creator

  • Author: Goodwin, Michael
    Creator Type: Personal

Contributor

  • Sponsor: United States. Department of Energy.
    Contributor Type: Organization
    Contributor Info: USDOE

Publisher

  • Name: More Oil Incorporated
    Place of Publication: United States

Date

  • Creation: 2008-12-31

Language

  • English

Description

  • Content Description: This report concerns efforts to increase oil well productivity and efficiency via a method of heating the oil-bearing rock of the well, a technique known as Thermochemical Gas-Dynamic Fracturing (TGDF). The technique uses either a chemical reaction or a combustion event to raise the temperature of the rock of the well, thereby increasing oil velocity, and oil pumping rate. Such technology has shown promise for future application to both older wellheads and also new sites. The need for such technologies in the oil extraction field, along with the merits of the TGDF technology is examined in Chapter 1. The theoretical basis underpinning applications of TGDF is explained in Chapter 2. It is shown that productivity of depleted well can be increased by one order of magnitude after heating a reservoir region of radius 15-20 m around the well by 100 degrees 1-2 times per year. Two variants of thermal stimulation are considered: uniform heating and optimal temperature distribution in the formation region around the perforation zone. It is demonstrated that the well productivity attained by using equal amounts of thermal energy is higher by a factor of 3 to 4 in the case of optimal temperature distribution as compared to uniform distribution. Following this theoretical basis, two practical approaches to applying TDGF are considered. Chapter 3 looks at the use of chemical intiators to raise the rock temperature in the well via an exothermic chemical reaction. The requirements for such a delivery device are discussed, and several novel fuel-oxidizing mixtures (FOM) are investigated in conditions simulating those at oil-extracting depths. Such FOM mixtures, particularly ones containing nitric acid and a chemical initiator, are shown to dramatically increase the temperature of the oil-bearing rock, and thus the productivity of the well. Such tests are substantiated by preliminary fieldwork in Russian oil fields. A second, more cost effective approach to TGDF is considered in Chapter 4: use of diesel-fuel to raise the rock temperature by a combustion process in the well. The requirements for such a Gas-Vapor Generator are laid out, and the development of a prototype machine is explained. This is backed up with laboratory experiments showing that the fuel-water mixture used does significantly increase the viscosity of the oil samples. The prototype Gas-Vapor Generator is shown to be able to operate at temperatures of 240 C and pressures of 200 atm. Unfortunately, geopolitical and economic factors outside of our control led to the cancellation of the project before the field testing phase of the generator could be commenced. Nevertheless, it is to be hoped that this report demonstrates both the feasibility and desirability of the Gas-Vapor Generator approach to the application of TDGF technology in both existing and new wells, and provides a foundation for further research in the future.

Subject

  • Keyword: Wellheads
  • Keyword: Nitric Acid
  • Keyword: Combustion
  • Keyword: Chemical Reactions
  • Keyword: Fracturing
  • Keyword: Productivity
  • Keyword: Pumping
  • Keyword: Oil Wells
  • Keyword: Economics
  • Keyword: Heating
  • Keyword: Testing
  • Keyword: Viscosity
  • Keyword: Efficiency
  • STI Subject Categories: 02 Petroleum
  • Keyword: Mixtures
  • Keyword: Stimulation
  • Keyword: Velocity
  • Keyword: Oil Fields
  • Keyword: Distribution
  • Keyword: Cancellation
  • Keyword: Temperature Distribution

Collection

  • Name: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports
    Code: OSTI

Institution

  • Name: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
    Code: UNTGD

Resource Type

  • Report

Format

  • Text

Identifier

  • Grant Number: FC26-05NT15479
  • DOI: 10.2172/981918
  • Office of Scientific & Technical Information Report Number: 981918
  • Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc1014768
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