The Institute for Northern Engineering’s Petroleum Development Lab at the University of Alaska Fairbanks conducted new research that demonstrates the potential for commercial production of the estimated billions of barrels of heavy oil under existing oil fields on Alaska’s North Slope. UAF engineers and Hilcorp Alaska have successfully deployed an enhanced oil recovery method using a process known as polymer flooding to pull the thick, viscous oil to the surface at Milne Point. The latest results of the research were presented at a press conference at UAF Friday afternoon.
“This research was initially supported by the federal government, but then, once again, because of changing attitudes, the funding went away,” according to Governor Mike Dunleavy. “The state, therefore, stepped in and we’ve helped fund this technology and we’ll probably keep funding this technology because there’s a lot of frontiers with regard to oil recovery here in the state of Alaska and this is just but one.”
The process injects a mixture of polymer and seawater into the reservoir, increasing the production of heavy oil compared to traditional water injection. The research demonstrates the technology works on the North Slope, and the results are promising, according to the office of Governor Dunleavy. UAF researchers are encouraged by the progress they are making and believe higher production can be achieved over the next decade.
“We have been working on heavy oil for many, many years, but the real opportunity actually came our way back in 2018,” Dr. Abhijit Dandekar, Professor and Chair, Department of Petroleum Engineering, UAF College of Engineering and Mines. “We found a very good industry partner in Hilcorp, and the project was funded and now if I fast forward it to late 2022, that is basically our claim that heavy oil polymer works in the challenging Alaskan arctic environment.”
The Dunleavy Administration directed $5 million for the next phase of the research project in its FY23 state budget after the U.S. Department of Energy eliminated funding for all heavy oil research earlier this year.
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