Cavitas Energy, a thermal enhanced oil recovery specialist, has received funding support from the technology accelerator, the Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC).
Image: Cavitas Energy is the most recent innovative technology firm to receive the funding support from the OGTC. Photo: Courtesy of The Oil & Gas Technology Centre.
The company has been awarded funding support to develop an industry-changing technological solution for heavy oil.
Cavitas Energy is said to be the most recent innovative technology firm to receive the funding support from the OGTC, for the fast-track development of the 3rd Thermal Heavy Oil Recovery (THOR) prototype.
In traditional methods, steam is generated at surface and pumped into the reservoir leading to large energy losses, whereas THOR acts as a downhole heating device, and allows bypassing fluid to be heated at source as opposed to the traditional methods.
THOR is designed with a smaller equipment footprint and has a yielding potential to unlock previously discounted heavy oil reserves.
Cavitas MD Steve Johnstone said: “As we continue to push the boundaries with our technology, we are exceptionally pleased to have the support of OGTC. THOR is approaching market entry, and with the help of OGTC we can realise this much sooner”.
The Cavitas Energy’s OGTC funded project was included as part of its Marginal Developments Solution Centre initiative to transform the approach to developing marginal fields.
The project is expected to last 18 months over two phases, establishing the true value of THOR to the UKCS. The phase-1 of the project is expected to help Cavitas conduct further reservoir modelling in collaboration with a UK based heavy oil operator.
Johnstone added: “With the UK’s OGA predicting that by 2025 42% of daily North Sea production will be heavy oil, we recognise that THOR has the potential to play a very large part in the future of the UKCS. Releasing this technology to the marketplace will help operators to increase recovery of heavier crudes, potentiall y unlocking some 400 million barrels stranded within marginal developments.”
Under the phase-2 of the project, Cavitas will be involved in designing, building and lab testing the THOR 3, the version that is well deployable THOR tool and leads to a land based heavy oil well field trial.