Case Studies

PetroTrace Bottom-Hole Heating Application For Heavy Oil

Some of the largest heavy oil reserves in the continental United States are located in California's Central Valley oilfields north of Los Angeles. The reservoirs in this area are estimated to be a 40-billion-barrel resource, primarily of heavy crude approximating 13 to 9 API located in shallow reservoirs not deeper than 2,300 ft (701 m) in depth. Tyco Thermal Controls has been supplying PetroTrace Downhole Heating Systems to oil companies in this region since 2005.

PetroTrace Bottom-Hole Heating Application For Heavy/Extra Heavy Oil

One of the world's largest accumulations of natural bitumen and heavy oil is the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt in Venezuela. It has been estimated that there are about 270 billion barrels of recoverable oil in place. These reservoirs hold a heavy to extraheavy oil with API range of 16 to 8 API with high viscosities that inhibit the mobility of the crude. The use of diluents have become standard practice to move this oil, resulting in an expensive maintenance process, not only to procure but to treat (separate). In 2008, Tyco Thermal Controls supplied and installed a PetroTrace Downhole Heating System for use in the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt. Tyco Thermal Controls engineered a PetroTrace MI Downhole Heating System for these onshore low-flow, shallow wells to deliver bottom-hole type heat to improve the mobility of oil in the near wellbore area and allow for an increase in production.

PetroTrace Flow Assurance Application For Waxy Oil Offshore

Crude oil reserves, equal to about 90 million barrels, straddle most of New Zealand's coastline. Until recently, much of this oil was inaccessible the reservoirs were deep, far offshore and the oil was very waxy. In early 2009, "first oil" was announced from the Maari oilfield located more than 80 km off the south Taranaki coast. Tyco Thermal Controls worked with a principle oil and gas company to understand the electro- thermal requirements, and then engineered and supplied the PetroTrace Downhole Heating Systems used in this field.