Charles E. (Chuck) Fox, Dr. S. M. (Sam) Avasthi, Dr. Michael H. (Mike) Stein & J.M (Jay)  Avasthi

Monograph Volume 22, “Practical Aspects of CO₂ Flooding”, published in 2002, and is an outgrowth of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin/ SPE CO₂ Conferences and short-courses held in Midland, Texas, in December, for the past 12 years. The co-authors of the monograph presented a review of the monograph at the December 2002 Conference. The authors’ presentations and the monograph were very well received by the Conference attendees, and it is the instructors’ opinion that this course and the monograph should also be very well received by the SPE members outside the Permian Basin area as well. The instructors intend to present this course before the SPE meetings around the world, wherever there is an interest in improving oil recovery from oilfields, by CO₂-flooding or by hydrocarbon gas flooding, and in CO₂sequestration, a topic of growing interest to the SPE members around the world. In teaching this course, the instructors plan to: (1) spend most of the time discussing the practical aspects of CO₂ flooding, and keep discussion of the theoretical topics to bare minimum, (2) discuss economics of CO₂ flooding (vis-à-vis water flooding), (3) give the course attendees some practical and useful problems to work on, (4) discuss CO₂ geosequestration wherever there is interest in this topic, and (5) provide each course attendee a workbook containing copies of the instructors’ PowerPoint presentations, and solutions to the problems.

The instructors will discuss all of the important facets of the reservoir modeling process. The important factors that can dramatically impact the model results are emphasized. Specific topics include Data Acquisition, Fluid Properties, Rock-Fluid Interaction, Grid Construction, History Matching and Prediction Cases. These and other topics will help the attendees better understand how to plan and conduct a reservoir study and how to review a study conducted by someone else. Although there will be no direct computer related activities, the last half of the second day is reserved for discussion of case studies. Previous models conducted by the instructors will be presented for discussion and attendees are encouraged to bring materials and data (non-confidential) relating to a potential project that they may be involved with in the future. The class as a group (or groups, guided by the instructors) will brainstorm and discuss the approach to be taken to achieve the desired study objectives.

See Day 1 description

See Day 1 description

This course presents the state of the art for using gel methods to reduce water production during oil and gas recovery. Placement and permeability reduction properties of various blocking agents are compared to show what these materials can and cannot do with respect to water shutoff. Using field examples and sound engineering principles, problem diagnosis, selection of treatment type, sizing, and placement of treatments for applications directed at various types of water-production problems will be discussed.

This course is design for engineers with at least a BS degree in petroleum or chemical engineering. All other engineers, mathematicians, and physicists with at least a BS degree and some experience in reservoir engineering and/or numerical simulation can benefit from this course.

Charles E. (Chuck) Fox, Dr. S. M. (Sam) Avasthi, Scott B. Rennie & J.M (Jay)  Avasthi

This course is intended to serve as an introduction to geological storage or sequestration of CO₂.  Geological storage of CO₂ is emerging as an important tool for combating global warming, and over the last few years, has developed rapidly.  Although much of the technology is similar to that of CO₂ enhanced oil recovery (EOR), as practiced in the Permian Basin of West Texas, there are important differences which require adaptation of the industry’s subsurface knowledge to this new application.  The information presented in this course is drawn from instructors’ extensive practical experience in EOR projects in West Texas and in emerging development of CO₂ storage projects, as well as from numerous conferences, workshops, literature, and research projects in which the instructors have participated. 

In teaching this course, the instructors will: (1) present the latest information available in this rapidly evolving field, (2) spend most of the time discussing the practical aspects of CO₂ sequestration, and keep discussion on the theoretical topics to a minimum, and (3) provide each course attendee a workbook containing copies of the instructors’ PowerPoint presentations. The instructors intend to present this course at SPE meetings around the world, wherever there is an interest in geologic storage of CO₂. 

The instructors, all seasoned engineers and longstanding members of the SPE, offer their extensive industry experience and expertise in CO₂ flooding and storage to teaching this course to the SPE members around the world. In addition, the instructors plan to invite knowledgeable CO₂ flooding and sequestration experts, who may be attending the SPE conference/ meeting/ symposium before which this course is to be presented, to answer questions from the course attendees.

This course develops strategies for completing horizontal wells with either cased or open hole configurations, with or without sand control. It reviews the historical development of horizontal wells and completions and discusses drill-in fluids, hole displacement, cementing, perforating, stand alone screens, horizontal gravel packing, execution and procedural guidelines for avoiding trouble, well surveillance and operations after it is completed, and well intervention for reducing water-gas oil ratios.