WAGS shows promise.(Brief article)

A three-year research project mostly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy investigated and identified optimum methods to produce North Slope viscous oil, techniques that could assist North Slope producers.

The $750,000 project conducted by the University of Houston concluded in late 2004 included testing of WAG-a production process that involves injecting slugs of water alternating with gas into reservoirs. According to DOE researchers, the gas acts as a solvent to reduce oil viscosity, while the water front helps sweep the reservoir, pushing crude to producing wells.

The project's goal was to find the optimum solvents, injection schedules and well architecture for the WAG process specifically for North Slope viscous reservoirs.

Researchers also found that carbon dioxide injection works better than injection of Prudhoe Bay natural gas liquids, according to a summary of the report. In addition, horizontal wells were found to deliver more heavy oil than vertical wells. Finally, researchers found that use of electromagnetic heating of the reservoir can double recovery.

"The combination of new technologies and a better understanding of what methods work best in Alaska heavy oil reservoirs can stimulate increased heavy oil production on the North Slope and provide continued flow on the trans-Alaska (oil) pipeline system," the summary report stated.

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