Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute to Recognize Outstanding Partners at Annual CO2 Conference

July 8, 2013

Representatives from Devon Energy and ExxonMobil will be recognized by the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI) for their outstanding contribution to improved oil recovery/enhanced oil recovery and the recovery of stranded oil in Wyoming at the seventh annual CO2 Conference July 9-10 at the Casper Events Center.

ExxonMobil and Chuck Peterson, senior reservoir engineering adviser for Devon Energy, will be recognized for their contributions to the use of CO2 in oil recovery in Wyoming.

Since 1986, CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in Wyoming has contributed more than 95 million barrels of incremental oil. The benefit to the state, of this industrial contribution, is obvious to all, says Glen Murrell, EORI associate director.

“Up until late last year, ExxonMobil was the sole supplier of CO2 to this system and, obviously, without their contribution, this most likely would not have occurred,” Murrell says. “ExxonMobil also has been great supporters of the institute and this marks their seventh year of contribution -- both of presentations and sponsorship."

Peterson has contributed to EOR in Wyoming in several ways. At Devon Energy, he was intimately involved in the development of the Beaver Creek Madison CO2 flood in Fremont County. The success of this flood is well known and was responsible for lifting production from 300 barrels per day in 2008 to more than 4,000 barrels per day today, Murrell says. The project has produced almost four million barrels of incremental oil to date.

A member of the EORI Technical Advisory Board, Peterson also has been a great supporter of the EORI through his outstanding contribution to the institute. His participation on the board has not only benefited EORI through his insight in to the operational aspects of CO2 flooding and reservoir engineering in general, but also through his conviviality, Murrell says.

Peter Wold, of Wold Oil Properties in Casper and a former Enhanced Oil Recovery Commission member, received this recognition at the 2012 CO2 Conference.

The EORI works to help the state of Wyoming and its energy producers to recover large resources of stranded oil in depleted oil reservoirs as rapidly, responsibly and economically as possible. EORI is the only institution devoted entirely to enhanced oil recovery in Wyoming oil fields.

The institute is primarily focused on application of new technology through field demonstrations, and supports additional development work as necessary to support commercial-scale implementation. As part of this commitment, the institute has adopted a culture consistent with that of the state’s oil producers. EORI’s priorities and values align with the oil industry’s priorities and values; the institute talks industry language; and its projects meet industry standards, Murrell says.

CO2 enhanced oil recovery contributes about 7.15 million barrels of oil per year (12.5 percent of total oil production) in Wyoming. Contributions of EOR to total state production are increasing. UW economists have determined that the CO2 EOR industry supports 1,600 jobs and contributes $140 million to the state fund in the form of taxes.

The annual CO2 Conference is a collaboration among large and small operators, local and federal government representatives and industry stakeholders. The majority of the costs for the conference are covered by industry sponsors who support and invest in enhanced oil recovery.

More than 250 industry professionals from across the state and country convene in Casper to learn about, and discuss new and emerging research and technologies relevant to carbon dioxide flooding for enhanced oil recovery in existing Wyoming fields.

The conference is open to the public and free of charge. For more information about the conference or to register, visit the EORI website at https://www.uwyo.edu/eori/conferences.

The EORI is one of several centers of excellence of the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER). SER is an interdisciplinary entity tasked with developing the fundamental knowledge, technologies and human resources necessary to solve the critical energy challenges society faces today. Each School of Energy Resources center of excellence serves as a hub to unite academia, government and industry in cooperation for the advancement of its focus area.

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