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Closed loop well designs and control for extraction of subsurface geothermal power
Background
Dr. Eric van Oort and his team have developed a deep, closed-loop geothermal well design to improve upon traditional enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Dr. van Oort is the Joe J. King Chair of Engineering No. 2 and B. J. Lancaster Professorship in Petroleum Engineering and a professor at UT Austin, with primary interests in drilling/completion...
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FaultSeg3D: Fast and accurate 3D fault delineation
Problem statementAccurate 3D mapping of faults from seismic images is essential for seismic structural interpretation, reservoir characterization and well placement. Current methods for fault delineation depend on calculating attributes that estimate seismic reflection continuities and discontinuities. These methods are slow and can take days to process....
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RAPIDClean: fast, accurate real-time simulations for hole cleaning operations
Problem statementImproper hole cleaning is a major cause of non-productive time (NPT) in drilling. Current hole cleaning practices are mostly based on experience, rules of thumb and simplistic calculations, and do not necessarily work as expected in all scenarios. Available models do not include parameters such as fluid compressibility, pipe rotation...
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Automated real-time optimization of formation fluid sampling using artificial intelligence
BackgroundFor capital-intensive exploration and production projects, understanding the chemical and physical properties, phase behavior, compatibility, spatial distribution, and hydraulic connectivity of reservoir fluids is critical for long-term planning and operation. Often, reservoir fluid samples acquired via formation testing represent the only...
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A robust tool for full in-situ rock characterization
Problem statement Pore-throat-size distribution is one of the most basic properties of porous media, which controls fluid flow and many physical properties of reservoir rocks (Fig. 1). Accurate, real-time, safe, and in-situ assessment of this property, however, has always been a challenge for the petroleum industry. Reliable assessment of this property...
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Advanced sensors for RT determination of mud density and flow rate in high-pressure conditions
Problem statementLost circulation can have disastrous consequences including blowout (uncontrolled kicks) and loss of life, so close monitoring to quickly assess and control such events is essential. Market estimates indicate that over $2 billion USD is spent annually to combat and mitigate these events. Real-time measurement of mass flow is critical...
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A cost-effective downhole strain sensor tool for retrofit or new installation
Problem statement Hydraulic fracturing involves fracturing of bedrock formations by pressurized liquids and is one of the key technologies used for unconventional oil production. Usually strains on the order of 10–5 to 10–6 propagate ahead of the fractures. Monitoring and characterizing the strain on wellbores can be a formidable challenge,...
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Simple drill system process for accurate determination of formation properties
Problem statementKnowledge of rock mechanical properties at subsurface conditions is essential to hydrocarbon exploration and production industry. Current methods to obtain this data include seismic amplitude measurements prior to drilling, while-drilling methodologies (LWD and MWD) using drill acoustics and post-drilling methods that use wireline logging...
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Injection or production of fluids from a single horizontal or deviated wellbore
A versatile system for oil well injection and productionProblem statementRecovering hydrocarbons from low permeability reservoirs is challenging due to low mobility of fluids in pore spaces. Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) efforts, including steam injection and chemical flooding, for such reservoirs depend on fluid injections to recover oil unavailable...
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