Engineering Commons^™

In-Situ Generation Of Hydrocarbons From Kerogen Using Electromagnetic Radiation, Forrest Green

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

From using surface seeps to modern day exploitation of hydrocarbon source rocks, the petroleum industry is awaiting the next big innovation, accelerated kerogen conversion. In the industry’s history, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has been used for exploration and now it will be taken to the extreme by determining an effective and efficient method to synthetically generate readily available hydrocarbons. The study starts with examining and defining what kerogen is and its importance as a source material. A strong understanding of what kerogen is, and an analysis of other in-situ projects presents an opportunity to study the finer details of kerogen’s conversion …

Synthesis Of Carbide Ceramics Via Reduction And Carburization Of Oxyanions Adsorbed Onto An Activated Carbon Matrix, Grant Wallace

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Carbide ceramics rank high among the hardest and most chemically resistant materials. Their ability to resist physical and chemical attack under conditions where more traditional materials fail make them very desirable for a number of industrial applications. Their use is limited, however, due to the expensive and energy-intensive methods required to produce them commercially.

A more versatile and energy-efficient process for commercial carbide production has been developed by synthesizing micron/sub-micron carbide ceramic particles through the adsorption and subsequent carburization of anions on an activated carbon matrix. Oxyanion solutions containing sodium tungstate, sodium molybdate, or sodium metasilicate are adsorbed onto activated …

Modeling Unconventional Water Production In The Northeast Elm Coulee Field, Bakken Formation, Jan Branning

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Wells within the Northeast (NE) Elm Coulee produce significantly higher water cuts than wells within Elm Coulee Proper. The purpose of this work was to identify the source of produced water in the NE Elm Coulee. An area within the NE Elm Coulee was selected for a numerical flow simulation analysis, and a total of three models of the project area were constructed by isolating production mechanisms to determine the source of produced water in the NE Elm Coulee. A Separate Tank model was constructed to determine if the source of the produced water was matrix water saturation in the …

Horizontal Flow Loop Design For The Study Of Drill String Rotation Effects On Cuttings Transport, David C. Rathgeber

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Exploration and Production companies are continually focusing more time, energy and resources into Extended Reach Drilling in order to maximize reservoir production while minimizing both environmental impact and development costs. These long laterals (2:1 Measured Depth: True Vertical Depth) are often more difficult to drill and can be severely impacted by inadequate drilling practices. Cuttings transport efficiency is a critical parameter of Extended Reach Drilling operations, and poor wellbore cleaning can lead to excessive torque, drag, and several other serious downhole problems.

Although many studies have been performed that identify the importance of drill string rotation on cuttings movement, there …

Well-Failure Analysis Of The Devil’S Basin In Musselshell County, Mt., Alexander Koerner

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Central Montana’s Devil’s Basin is the home of the first wildcat well in Montana. However, numerous operators have failed to recover economic oil reserves in the nearly 100- year history of the play. Analysis of the geologic conditions within the Devil’s Basin leads to a modern understanding of the charge, reservoir, and trap potentials of the greater Devil’s Basin petroleum play. Primary focus within the play is the Heath and Tyler Formations. Evaluation of previous exploration guides the end narrative of recommendations to direct future production in the Devil’s Basin.

A representative geologic model describing the southeastern portion of the …

Integrated Stratigraphic Controls For Flow Simulation Of The Wall Creek Member Of Frontier Formation: Western Powder River Basin, Wyoming, Tuan Le

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Frontier Formation in the Powder River Basin has been re-discovered for oil and gas potential with the development of long horizontal wells and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. Over the last decade, the Upper Cretaceous Wall Creek Member (WCM) of the Frontier Formation has proven to be a successful hydrocarbon-producing target, yet a full understanding of the flow behavior in this complex stratigraphic unit has not been fully achieved.

The fluid and rock properties have uncertainty and are not well defined due to the low permeability rocks. This study aims to describe the fluid flow behaviors of these features and create …

Evaluation Of Methods To Model Hydraulic Fractures In Flow Simulation, Ben Doleshal

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Modern reservoir studies use reservoir simulation to predict future production and plan reservoir development. Due to the increase in production in unconventional reservoirs in recent years, the number of hydraulically fractured wells has risen drastically. The days of using simple analytic techniques to account for the production of a single hydraulic fracture in a vertical well are gone, and the need to be able to model numerous hydraulic fractures in many stages over long horizontals is required.

This brings up the study question of this research: What is the best way to model hydraulic fractures in a flow simulator? There …

The Effect Of Mineral Composition On Shale Oil Recovery, Andrew Fakhry

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Identifying contact angles in porous media is essential for characterizing multiphase flow of fluids in reservoirs. Traditional methods to measure contact angles assume a homogenous structure of reservoir rock; however, microscale pictures by Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) show that rock composition varies even inside a single pore. In addition, the preferentiality of oil layer formation is different according to the minerals constituting the reservoir rock. As a result, contact angles have heterogeneous behavior at the pore-scale.

For the purpose of this research, contact angles are measured on the pure minerals that make up the main components of a Bakken reservoir …

Vibration Modification To A.P.I. Fracture Short Term Conductivity Testing Procedure, Blake A. Ereaux

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The current API Short Term Fracture Conductivity (volume number) testing procedure provided by the American Petroleum Institute doesn't consistently provide repeatable results. For example, in an independent review of three commercial lab results testing the same sample of proppant the variation between the three had a data spread of nearly 80% (Anderson, 2013). Continuing and refocusing the research performed by Kent Blair's thesis "Modifying Fracture Conductivity Testing Procedures" (Montana Tech, 2015), the goal of this thesis is to expand the lab research results on the use of vibration in the cell loading procedure to improve the repeatability of test results. …

Technical Feasibility Of Selectively Separating Rare Earth Elements By Vapor Phase Extraction And Condensation, Katie Lyons

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Experiments were performed to evaluate the technical feasibility of selectively separating selected rare earth halides (bromides and chlorides) using a volatilization and condensation technique. Initially, optimum chloridizing and bromidizing roast parameters were secured in studies performed on reagent grade rare earth oxide samples and subsequently confirmed in tests performed on mineral ore and concentrate samples. The volatilization and condensation experiments were performed by placing the subject rare earth halide samples in an argon-purged multiple-zone tube furnace wherein the temperature profile was controlled to establish separate vaporization and condensation regions. Following each experiment, condensate and solid residue samples were analyzed to …

Modeling The Effect Of Methane Vs. Carbon Dioxide Injection On Oil Recovery: Case Study: The East Vacuum Grayburg-San Andres Unit, Lea County, New Mexico, Charles Ohalekwu

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This project aims to determine if methane (CH4) injection is more effective and economical than carbon dioxide (CO2) injection in a conventional dolomite reservoir by using the East Vacuum Grayburg-San Andres Unit (EVGSAU), Lea County, New Mexico as a model. This was done by simulating a CH4 and CO2 injection system and estimating the economics for each. CH4 injection has not been done at the EVGSAU, however CO2 has been used as a method of enhanced oil recovery.

The EVGSAU is located on the eastern side of the Vacuum Field, approximately 15 miles northwest of Hobbs in Lea County, New …

Investigating The Feasibility Of Nitrogen Injection In Turner Valley, Igor Koracin

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Turner Valley gas and oil field was discovered in 1913 and it was one of the main plays that sparked the growth of the petroleum industry in Canada. The Turner Valley formation is a Mississippian reservoir located at a mean depth of 7,546 feet. It is a heavily faulted field, 25 miles in length with an average width of 2 miles and is located 30 miles south-west of Calgary. It is an asymmetric anticlinal structure cut by the y axis with parallel thrust and normal faults.

Due to its early inception and the lack of resource development regulations, Turner …

Modifying Fracture Conductivity Testing Procedures, Kent Blair

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Fracture conductivity testing is a measure of how proppant will perform downhole when injected. The current American Petroleum Institute (API) procedure for conductivity testing produces results that are difficult to replicate. In one case three commercial labs tested the same sample of proppant, the results varied between labs and the highest spread in data had an 80% variation (Anderson, 2013). The goal of this thesis is to investigate cell loading procedures that reduce the variation in laboratory results.

A variety of cell loading techniques were tested including Hoke cylinder injection, guar injection, and cell vibration. Hoke cylinder loading was determined …

Investigating A Pilot Area In The Williston Basin Three Forks Formation To Determine The Optimal Inter-Well Spacing And Hydraulic Fracture Length To Maximize Economic Recovery, Adhikeshavan Ravee

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The objective of this work is to determine optimal inter-well spacing and hydraulic fracture length of the Three Forks assets in the Williston Basin operated by SM Energy. SM Energy is an independent exploration and production company with operations across North America, mainly in Texas and North Dakota. SM Energy recently switched to infill drilling development in their North Dakota assets and is interested in knowing the economically optimal number of wells that can be drilled per two-section drilling unit.

A simulation approach was taken in this research to address SM Energy’s issue. For research purposes a small pilot area …

Correlating Petrophysical Calculations From Density Logs To Production Trends In The Elm Coulee Field, Montana, Colton Mall

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This thesis investigates correlations between estimated upper Bakken total organic carbon (TOC) and production data in the Elm Coulee field, and tests two hypotheses for defining simulation model properties with the results. The purpose of this research is to investigate potential correlations between upper Bakken TOC and production and exploit any correlations to develop better methods for defining simulation model properties. This may reduce time necessary to history match production from an Elm Coulee model and help to explain the production variability. The study area is in Montana townships 24N-57E, 23N-57E, and 24N-55E. Public domain completion and production data for …