NanoSensors Going Underground to Boost Oil Production

NanoSensors Going Underground to Boost Oil Production



January 2008  - A multimillion-dollar research 
consortium that will develop micro and nanotechnology devices to increase 
oil and gas production is taking shape in Texas. 
The consortium's primary goal is to develop intelligent subsurface micro 
and nanosensors that can be injected into oil and gas reservoirs to help 
improve the recovery of existing and new hydrocarbon resources. 
These tiny sensors would migrate out of the well bores and into the pores 
of the surrounding geological structure to collect data about the physical 
characteristics of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The data collected could enable 
the more efficient exploitation of hydrocarbon resources. 
Using current technology, about 60 percent of oil remains underground 
after primary, secondary and in some cases even third level recovery 
methods. But with oil touching $100 per barrel already this year and 
national and international demand for energy growing, oil companies are 
seeking ways to get the most out of each geologic structure. 
By using existing surface infrastructure, the technology attempts to 
minimize environmental impact. 
Some of the world's largest energy companies are involved in creating the 
Advanced Energy Consortium, which will be based in Houston and managed 
from the University of Texas at Austin's Bureau of Economic Geology at the 
Jackson School of Geosciences. 
Members of the privately funded consortium include BP America Inc., Baker 
Hughes Incorporated, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton Energy Services Inc., 
Marathon Oil Corp., Occidental Oil and Gas, and Schlumberger. 
According to consortium officials, each founding company will contribute 
$1 million each year for the first three years of the project. 
The U.S. Department of Justice's Anti-Trust Division said in August that 
it does not intend to challenge the proposal.

"The petroleum industry realizes there are exciting possibilities for the 
application of nanotechnologies that will provide a more comprehensive 
picture of existing oil and gas reserves," said Scott Tinker, director of 
the Bureau of Economic Geology. 
Tinker and Jay Kipper, also of the Bureau of Economic Geology, are the 
consortium's managing directors. 
The Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology at 
Rice University, which has extensive nanotechnology expertise, will be a 
collaborative technical partner. 
The Advanced Energy Consortium held its first workshop at the Baker 
Institute on the Rice University campus in Houston January 8 and 9. More 
than 40 technologists representing UT, Rice University, and consortium 
members Baker Hughes, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon attended. 
Tinker, Kipper and others from the Bureau participated in the two day 
workshop as materials scientists and electrical engineers shared their 
latest nanotechnology sensor and materials advances with petroleum 
engineers and geoscientists, who reciprocated with the latest in enhanced 
oil recovery and reservoir characterization technologies. 
The exchange improved understanding of the potential for near-term and 
longer term applications for nanotechnologies in the harsh conditions that 
typify oil and gas exploration. 
A regional workshop is now being planned for March, with the intent to 
include more university research groups working in the nanotechnology 
field. 
The goal is to develop a technology roadmap which will target and narrow 
the focus of future project solicitations. 
"We look forward to working with the world's leading energy companies and 
oil field service firms and with Rice University as a technical partner to 
make this research program a success," Tinker said. 
As part of the agreement between the university and consortium members, 
the University of Texas will own all research and inventions that are spun 
out of the work, and the companies can make and distribute any patented 
technology. 
The consortium will solicit leading universities and researchers worldwide 
for competitive project proposals and the most promising will be funded. 

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