Detailed Technical and Economic Feasibility of Light Oil Mining in the United States. Final Report

摘要

The initial Scope of Work of the present report called for a study to provide a detailed Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis of three oil mining methods as applied to three oil reservoirs. The three pre-selected methods were: (1) spoke drilling from bottom of shafts; (2) spoke drilling from bottom of shafts, of lesser density of drill holes and stimulation of the formation through explosive fracturing of the horizontal holes; and (3) block caving mining method. At the request of DOE, the second option was replaced with the Lateral Horizontal Drilling from Ribs of Tunnels concept. A specific application of the explosive fracturing of the horizontal boreholes concept was not attempted here, but a description of the technique is provided for future consideration. Each of the three mining methods were to be applied to each of the three reservoir formations to be exploited by oil mining. Thus, nine oil mining case studies were to be performed, including both technical and economic feasibility elements. However, it was later decided to apply selective oil mining methods to each of the three reservoirs. All key unit operations of each mining method were to be identified and the mining and construction requirements associated with each unit operation were to be quantitatively specified. Key unit operations were to include among others; shaft excavation, shaft lining, shaft grouting, tunnel excavation, tunnel lining, oil collection chamber excavation, well bore stimulation (such as explosive fracturing, MHF, etc.) positive displacement of oil pumping from underground mine workings to the surface. Results of the study are presented. 70 references, 132 figures, 119 tables. (ERA citation 09:045425)