In
addition to the application of conventional oil production technology and
enhanced secondary and tertiary recovery methods for heavy oil, UE will utilize
underground construction and mining techniques to provide access to oil bearing
deposits for installation of precisely located production wells. The methodology is to mine
near or into oil deposits with shafts or tunnels from which high density horizontal wells will be optimally installed in the reservoir. The higher cost to construct the underground
access facilities and structures is offset by the economical method of
installing a high density horizontal well field in all pay zones or lenses within
the reservoir. In heavy oil reservoirs,
enhanced recovery methods using thermal and other techniques will be used
within the underground facilities. In
1982, mining for access to heavy oil deposits was deemed feasible for several
heavy oil reservoirs in the US [1].
Constructing
underground access to oil reservoirs provides the ability to recover stranded
oil from non-recovered oil reserves, immobile oil reservoirs or inaccessible
oil resources. The underground access
provides the advantage of reduced structures and facilities on the surface
which enhances the permitting and environmental compliance aspects of
production projects. The underground
facilities provide the ability to more efficiently handle ground water
associated with oil recovery using high capacity collection, separation, pumping, treatment
and re-injection systems. A high oil
recovery factor can be achieved with high density horizontal wells combined
with efficient water handling facilities, thereby reducing operating costs per
barrel of oil.
[1] An Evaluation of Heavy Oil Mining, US
Department of Energy, 1982
Underground Construction of Tunnels, Shafts and Caverns
The Underground Energy management team has over 60 years combined experience in heavy civil and underground construction - in oil and public infrastructure projects. This experience includes underground construction of tunnels, shafts and caverns in many different applications including: water pipeline projects, sewer outfall projects, subway transportation and multi-lane underground highways. This technology has been proven safe and reliable.
Tunnels in various ground conditions
Large diameter shafts
Soft ground tunnels and caverns
Underground operations
Tunnels, shafts, caverns and horizontal wells can be combined in various ways to develop the best recovery solution for each different oil-bearing formation.
