FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GlassPoint Solar, the global leader in solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR), today announced it has published two technical papers on its flagship Enclosed Trough solar EOR system with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). The technical papers, co-authored with PDO, evaluate the performance and construction of the 7MWth solar steam generation pilot project, which was successfully commissioned in February 2013. Data from the first four months of the project’s operation demonstrate that GlassPoint’s Enclosed Trough technology is a viable alternative to burning natural gas for thermal EOR.
Both papers were presented at SolarPACES, the world’s leading technical conference on concentrating solar power (CSP) and chemical energy systems, in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 17-20.
A paper titled “Performance of an Enclosed Trough EOR System in South Oman” examines the performance metrics to date of the solar EOR project, describing plant reliability, rate of steam, and uptime during the first four months of operation. A second paper, “Construction of an Enclosed Trough EOR System in South Oman” provides an overview of the unique challenges posed by the construction of a concentrating solar power (CSP) system in a remote oilfield environment.
Key findings from the papers include:
- The system injected a total of more than 5,000 tons of steam into the oilfield reservoir during the study period, exceeding contracted performance by an average of 10 percent.
- The Once Through Steam Generator (OTSG) design allows the use of feed-water with total dissolved solids as high as 30,000 ppm to produce 80% quality steam at 100 bar, matching typical fuel-fired EOR OTSG specifications.
- During a dust storm observed in early April when winds exceeded 40km/hour for more than 24 hours, the GlassPoint system continued to operate, producing 48 tons of steam.
- The construction of the plant in Oman was completed in 11 months, on time and on budget, with zero lost time injuries.
“These results show that solar steam is a viable, proven option for thermal enhanced oil recovery in oilfields around the world,” said Ben Bierman, VP of Engineering for GlassPoint and lead author of the two papers. “The demonstrated build time, performance and smooth integration with oilfield operations have validated GlassPoint’s Enclosed Trough architecture and cost reduction roadmap.”
Papers are available here:
- “Performance of an Enclosed Trough EOR System in South Oman”
- “Construction of an Enclosed Trough EOR System in South Oman”
About GlassPoint Solar
GlassPoint is the leading provider of solar steam generators to the oil and gas industry for applications such as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Oil operators worldwide deploy EOR to loosen heavy oil and boost well productivity by up to 300 percent. By replacing gas-fired steam generation with solar, GlassPoint can reduce EOR gas consumption by up to 80 percent. The gas saved can be exported as LNG or redirected to the private sector to promote economic growth and job creation. GlassPoint’s projects operate in global markets ranging from the Middle East to California. For more information, visit GlassPoint.com.
