Highlights of Recent Activities 2011 has been a busy year for Dauben International Energy Consultants, Inc. (DI) as clients are shifting toward the recovery of additional oil from older fields. The increased focus toward oil has arisen due to the higher oil prices and the relatively low value of natural gas. DI has been actively involved in the use of horizontal wells and gravity assisted gas injection technology in improving recovery from the older oil fields. DI frequently uses a reservoir simulator to model the various development alternatives and to determine the particular strategy that will lead to the optimum recovery plan for the field. DI has also been busy in 2011 with the application of miscible gas and chemical technology to improve oil recovery from the older fields. A gas such as carbon dioxide is useful in some of the lighter and deeper reservoirs to improve oil recovery by developing miscibility with the crude oil. DI is also working with Reservoir Solutions, Inc., Needville, Texas, in the application of a surfactant flood process in a relatively shallow mid-continent reservoir. Surfactant flooding has the potential of increasing oil recovery by lowering the interfacial tension between the oil and driving water phase. DI continues its long term relationship with Grand Resources, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the application of horizontal well technology to improve waterflood performance from Bartlesville sandstone reservoirs in northeast Oklahoma. Grand has achieved outstanding success in reservoirs that have been 100% depleted by conventional primary and secondary recovery methods. About the Company Dauben International Energy Consultants, Inc. (DI), was founded by Dwight L. Dauben, PhD, Petroleum Engineer in July, 1993 to provide a diversified range of services to the oil and gas industry. Dr. Dauben brought to the new organization over 35 years of experience with Amoco and major consulting organizations in reservoir engineering applications and improved oil recovery methods. A strong international focus was incorporated into the company, as reflected by the name. DI, along with associated personnel, provides specialized technical expertise in the following areas of petroleum engineering: Reservoir engineering Reservoir simulation Waterflooding Improved oil recovery Economic evaluations Training DI is best known for its experience in the improvement of oil recovery from existing fields. The first step in this process is to evaluate the reservoir and the current production operations. The next step is to employ an improved operation or process to increase producing rates and recovery. Economics is always an integral part of any evaluation. DI is also well known for its ability to bring state-of-the-art technology for the improvement of oil recovery in a way that is both practical and cost-effective. DI has in-depth experience in the United States and throughout the world. The international experience has been concentrated in the Asian and Middle East regions, including Japan, Indonesia, China, India, Philippines, Morocco, Myanmar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Major clients in recent years have included: American Energy LLC, Apache Corporation, Asian Development Bank, BDM Corporation, Calumet Oil Company, Chaparral Energy, Inc., China National Petroleum Corporation, Denbury Resources, Inc., U. S. Department of Energy, ICEP (Japan), Grand Resources, Inc., JMI Energy, Inc., Japan National Oil Corporation, Japan Oil Development Corporation, Kerr-McGee Corporation, Knowledge Reservoir, Marathon Oil Company, Mathtech International, Newfield Exploration Company, Owl Creek Production Company, Pennzoil, Petco Petroleum Corporation, Sharpe Energy Company, U. S. Trade and Development Agency, United Nations, Vintage Petroleum Inc., Warren American, and the World Bank. Dr. Dauben was the past General Chairman of the Thirteenth SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 13-17, 2002. This is the premier conference in the United States on the emerging technologies for the improved recovery of oil. He is actively involved in the next symposium scheduled for April 2012. He received the prestigious “IOR Pioneer Award” at the SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium held April 19-23, 2008, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He, along with four other recipients, received this award in recognition of his long-tern efforts in the development and application of technology to improve recovery from mature oil fields. He is greatly honored to be included among the outstanding industry professionals that have received this award in the past. The Future of Improved Oil Recovery Technology Improved oil recovery technology is expected to play an ever increasing role in the future due to an array of factors. These include increased world-wide demand, increased difficulties in replacing reserves using conventional technologies, higher oil prices, and increased awareness of environmental factors. The appeal of improved oil recovery methods is that the location and size of the resource are known, and few additional environmental factors are introduced when applying new recovery methods. World-wide efforts to curtail carbon emissions also make available carbon dioxide which can be profitably used to increase oil recovery. Carbon dioxide is a very useful gas for improving oil recovery. The gas is useful in light oil applications to improve recovery under miscible, immiscible conditions, and in gas-assisted gravity drainage applications. The gas is useful in heavier oils to stimulate production from cyclic operations and in applications involving the use of immiscible WAG (water-alternating-gas) operations with horizontal injection and horizontal producing wells. Much of the improved oil recovery technology was lost in the mid 1980s with the collapse of oil prices. Activity is now beginning to increase. Unfortunately, some of the lessons learned from the past have been forgotten. Some new projects are being implemented using methods that have not worked in the past. DI is one of the few remaining consulting organizations that were involved in the development of enhanced oil recovery technology in the 1970s and 1980s. DI along with its affiliated professionals is uniquely qualified for the challenging opportunities that lie ahead because of its long-term experience and expertise. This expertise and expertise helps to reduce the risk factors involved in the application of new projects. Last update : 3th January 2012 | Home | Top of Page | Contact |