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Permalink Reply by dbob on October 10, 2012 at 14:39

Ben INA Geologist, but I think the problem in the unconventional formations is the small size of the voids through which gas flows.  regardless of computing power, its going to be pretty hard to find them.  On the frac side itself however, seismic, micro-seismic, and computer modeling will probably advance radically in the next 10 years.  The number of stages, control of pressure and flow of propant that is already being done is astounding.  I was told by one operator that a particular change that increased costs 20% increased recovered gas 40%

In the conventional reservoirs, computer power is already driving the drill bit.  Worked on a project a while back in which the geologist described the target as a living room buried 7000' below the surface.  Deviation beyond that box would likely mean missing the pool of oil.  Other nearby wells were marginal, from the same depth, but they've now put 4 wells into different parts of that the house, and all of them have been excellent.  

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Permalink Reply by Benjamin Hall on October 11, 2012 at 6:10

Thanks for sharing that experience. This is truly amazing to watch the progress of science. The Baker Hughes rep at the conference mentioned their progress in nanotech which will allow them to insert components into the well and then make them dissolve on command. He didn't elaborate further. 

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Permalink Reply by Hopeful About Natural Gas on October 11, 2012 at 10:55

This is quite interesting. Scientists could target a formation or area for the best place to drill and drain the formation. That's a lot less impact on the land.

thanks for posting this. I am always interested in future tech.

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