Once capped oil wells are now starting to see the light of day as technology works its magic. Once thought of as “empty”, closed oil fields are reopening and reaping the rewards of $100 per/barrel oil.
As oils prices continue to work on passing $100 per/barrel for good, USA Superior Energy Holdings, Inc. is working to take advantage. Nitrogen injection is their technology oriented method for recouping untapped oil reserves once thought unreachable with old technology. The new technology caps the “old” well and pressurizes it so that any oil remaining can be claimed.
Current operations at oil fields between Houston and San Antonio, Texas have begun to produce results, in line with company expectations. Although overall barrel output has not been high as of yet, initial findings are positive. Future production options, at similarly closed fields, are currently being assessed by independent engineering firms.
Production increases through infill drilling and nitrogen gas injection suggests that the “empty” fields could experience increases of 2 or 3 fold production over time. The company also indicates that it is not just relying upon its early nitrogen injection successes to power its future profit potential. Additional testing has found several other opportunities to increase production at once thought “empty” wells.
Paraffin reduction and elimination has shown significant potential at some test fields. Where paraffin can cause wells to become clogged, and thought of as unproductive, technology can “clean the well”, providing new sources of production in the “empty” well. New technology is opening opportunity in the oil production arena when prices are soaring.
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