US’ oil, natural gas production could be maximized with highly-advanced lab’s new method

 Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are developing a new method to significantly enhance the recovery of oil and natural gas from unconventional formations such as shale. This innovative approach aims to increase the amount of hydrocarbons extracted, ensuring a more stable energy supply for the United States.

• Recovery Statistics: Currently, only a small fraction of oil and gas is recovered from these unconventional formations after primary recovery operations, with oil recovery rates between 3-10% and gas rates between 5-30%. The NETL's goal is to safely and cost-effectively increase these percentages.

• NMR Technology: The NETL team employs nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze subsurface cores. This technology quantifies fluids by determining rock properties such as porosity and pore size, even for pores as tiny as 1 nanometer. NMR can differentiate between various fluid types and assess the rock's ability to absorb water, oil, gas, and CO2.

• Research Methodology: The process begins by saturating rock cores with hydrocarbon oil. When subjected to a magnetic field, the hydrogen nuclei align, allowing researchers to study fluid interactions and properties within the rock. The NMR technique can simulate subsurface conditions with pressures of up to 10,000 psi and temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius.

• Huff-and-Puff Technique: The NMR technology facilitates experiments that involve injecting fluids such as natural gas and CO2 into the oil-saturated rock core under pressure. This method generates 3D digital maps of fluid distribution, illustrating how injections influence the movement of oil and water through rock pores.

The advancements made by NETL in oil and gas recovery could lead to the extraction of previously unreachable hydrocarbons, contributing to a more abundant and reliable energy source for the U. S. As this research progresses, it promises to enhance understanding of fluid dynamics within geological formations, setting the stage for more effective energy extraction methods.

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/us-oil-natural-gas-production-maximize