Solving problems recovering oil and gas resources
Jan. 18, 2002
LANSING, Mich. -- Technical solutions that have increased oil and natural gas production while reducing costs and environmental impact, and federal funding that's available for new developments that will do the same will be outlined by independent oil producers and representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy during a February workshop in Lansing.
Sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council's Michigan Center at Western Michigan University and the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory, the daylong workshop, titled "New Field Technology by Small Independents to Maximize Production and Profits from Mature Fields," will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Holiday Inn South and Conference Center, 6820 S. Cedar St., Lansing.
The workshop will provide examples of how companies have used technology to solve problems encountered in the recovery of oil and natural gas resources. Among the presenters are representatives from American Warrior Inc., Vaquero Energy, Advanced Resources International Inc., Schlumberger Holditch Reservoir Technologies, Patriot Resources and James Oil Corp. In addition, DOE representatives will talk about the availability of funding for future technological innovations.
"All six companies represented at the workshop applied for and were granted DOE funding to apply new solutions to their gas and oil field problems," says Dr. William B. Harrison III, director of WMU's Michigan Basin Core Research Laboratory, which houses the PTTC Michigan Center. "Last year, DOE had more money to give out than qualified applicants, so part of this workshop will be to show others how they can capitalize on this opportunity."
Geared for geologists, engineers and those in the oil and gas industry, the workshop also is open to the public. For those whose registration is received by Sunday, Feb. 10, the fee to attend the workshop is $35 and includes a workbook, refreshments and lunch. After Feb. 10, the fee to attend the workshop will be $50.
Harrison says the workshop has been positively received when presented elsewhere in the nation. "Attendees emphasized that the technology learned from other basins had real applicability in their own backyards," he notes.
The PTTC at WMU is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, the National Petroleum Technology Office and the National Energy Technology Center. The PTTC Michigan Center has been located at WMU's Michigan Core Basin Laboratory since 1998.
For more information or to register, contact the PTTC Michigan Center at (269) 387-8633.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 269 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu