Testing laboratory developed new tools and techniques in actual field conditions before commercialization has long been a significant problem. Working lab models may fail in the first field applications because of handling, incompatibility with existing equipment, or natural elements such as wind, humidity, or temperature. Further, the risk of damage to the operators wellbore, production, or other operations can be costly and embarrassing. As research dollars are becoming harder to obtain a neutral, non-competitive, and user friendly test site is needed This type of facility has been developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Naval Petroleum Reserve No.3 (NPR-3), near Casper, Wyoming through the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC). New technologies and processes field tested at this facility include those related to drilling production/lifting costs, P&A methods, and environmental control and remediation.
展开▼
