CHAIR OF PETROLEUM AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RECOVERY

Herbert Hofstätter Oktober 2014

Neue Technologien im

Brennpunkt der Forschung

OIL PRODUCTION BY SOURCE - MILLION BARRELS/DAY

• Fracturing Technology/ Bio Enhanced Energy Recovery

• Ultrasonic Technology for IOR

• Nano Technology for IOR

• ESP Optimization

• Geothermal Applications

• SR Anti Buckling Systems

• Sonic Wave Analysis

• …..

Research Goals 2014 - 2017

3

• Increase the Rate at which the Well is Capable of Producing Oil or Gas

or Geothermal Energy

• Increase the Economically Recoverable Reserves (Recovery Factor) for

a Well (although it does not alter the Total Reserves in Place)

• Increase overall Energy Efficiency

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING - GOAL

• The Use of Fluids to create a Crack by

Hydraulic Pressure

• The Continued Injection of Fluids into the created Crack (“Fracture”) to make it grow larger

• The Placement of Small Granular Solids into the Crack to insure the Crack remains open after the Hydraulic Pressure is no longer being applied

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING - DEFINITION

The Continued Injection of Fluids into the created Crack

FRAC FLUID ADDITIVES - CONVENTIONAL

• Water

• Polymers

• Crosslinker

• pH Control

• Gel Breakers

• Surfactants

• Clay Control

• Biocides

• Conductivity Enhancers

• Fluid Loss Additives

• Proppants

( 11 Components )

BIO ENHANCED ENERGY RECOVERY (BEER) – MUL 2014

• Water

• Base Fluid

• Modified Starch

• Rheology, Fluid Loss, Carrying Capacity

• Potassium Carbonate

• Weighting Agent, Corrosion Inhibitor, Clay Stabilizer, Sour Gas Buffer

• Fricition Reducer, Cost Efficient, Bacteria & Temperature Resistant

• Proppants

• Frac Opening

( 4 Components)

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING – PROPPANT SELECTION

Advanced Pipe Technologies for Surface Modification (Nano Technology) and Insulation

Key drivers Increase energy production & efficiency Decrease costs for production, transportation and storage

Issues state of the art High temperature solutions Corrosion, adhesion Energy efficiency

April 2013 Confidential Presentation EPG Group

9 Source: EPG

Nano Technology for IOR

9

• Reduction of the surface roughness after application of a glass like coating material

• Profilometric measurement of an uncoated (Ra = 2.1 µm, left side) and an coated (Ra = 150 nm, right side) stainless steel sample

April 2013 Confidential Presentation EPG Group 10

Source: EPG

Roughness Reduction

Nano Technology for IOR

10

Borehole Insulation Materials

On flat surfaces (buildings, trucks, etc.), thermal resistance is proportional to insulation thickness and inversely proportional to thermal conductivity.

For piping, as thickness is increased, heat gain/loss is not proportional to thickness as the area increases

Source: EPG

11

Production Optimization

Artificial Lift System:

• Combination of ESP and GL (head reduction)

• Permanent fluid level control (MURAG)

Usage of associated gas for reinjection

Usage of associated gas for power generation (Microturbine)

Surface coated and insulated materials

ESP Optimization

12

Open question: GLR Optimization

Optimization of Geothermal Energy Recovery

• Materials (steel, surface coated inside – nano technolgy,

relined, insulated, fiber glass, others)

• Manipulation of surface parameters by nano technology

(oleophobic, hydrophobic)

• Surface coating & insulation (outside)

• Underground heat exchanger

• Vertical & Radial Drilling (jetting different media)

• Perforating Technology

• Borehole stabilization

• Geothermal Flow Simulation & Calibration

• Simulation Program

Geothermal Application

13

Piezoelectric Effect

The piezoelectric effect is a reversible process in materials where applied mechanical pressure generates an electrical charge.

The reverse piezoelectric effect is defined as the internal generation of a mechanical strain resulting from an applied electrical field.

• Lead zirconate titanate crystals will generate measurable piezoelectricity when their static structure is deformed by about 0.1% of the original dimension. Conversely, those same crystals will change about 0.1% of their static dimension when an external electric field is applied to the material.

Degassing by US waves

Oilfield Application:

Oil / Gas separation

Water / Gas separation

Mud degassing

Hydrates

Gas hydrates are clathrate hydrates (a class of solid hydrates of gases): water ice with gas molecules trapped within. When the gas is methane it is called a methane hydrate.

Nonpolar molecules such as methane can form clathrate hydrates with water, especially under high pressure.

Hydrates in oil and gas production may plug tubings, chokes, surface facilities

Hydrate / ice destroyed by US

Problems with wax precipitation

Reduced inside diameter – more pressure losses

Lower production rate

Higher friction – more energy consumption

Plugging of surface facilities

Plugging of pipelines

….

Application of Sonic Waves - Summary

2011 Removal of Paraffin & Asphaltenes Scale removal (with HCl) Manipulation of cement slurries Manipulation of oil viscosity Phase separation Hydrate removal 2012 - 2014 •Cleaning of equipment in place (e.g.compressor, turbine, ESP‘s etc.) •Gravel pack cleaning •Cleaning gravel filters (water treatment) •Prevention of precipitations by permanent application •Mud treatment (screens, degasser) •Bacteria (injection water)

Progress Ultrasonics AG Environmentally Friendly Oil Well Stimulation

MATERIAL SCIENCE APPLICATIONS

Material Zugfestigkeit

[MPa]

Reißlänge

[km]

PE 100 23 2,5

Polyamid 12 38 3,6

Polyesterfaser

(Nylon®) 900 85

Glasfaser 1400 135

Aramidfaser

(Twaron® /Kevlar ®) 2700 200

Dyneema®

Polyethylenfaser 3000 330

HexelOne® Tape 270 22,3

Baustahl St 37 370 5,4

Reiß

län

ge

Dr.-Ing. Thorsten Späth – Kunststoffe im Hochdruckbereich

MATERIAL SCIENCE APPLICATIONS

Replacement of conventional steel tubulars by compound materials

• Velocity string

• Data transfer (intergrated fiber optics, conductor)

• Heat conservation

• Dewatering gas wells

• Corrosion resistance

• Weight

• Rigless intervention

• ….

CHAIR OF PETROLEUM AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RECOVERY

Herbert Hofstätter Oktober 2014

Neue Technologien im

Brennpunkt der Forschung

Bio Enhanced Energy Recovery