Chevron and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have embarked on a joint research project to improve the recovery of hydrocarbons trapped in oil shales and slow-flowing oil formations. The idea is to develop an ‘environmentally responsible and commercially viable process’ to recover crude oil and natural gas from Western US oil shales—with focus on the Piceance Basin in Colorado. The work will include reservoir simulation and modeling and experimental validation of new recovery techniques such as in-situ processing—a technique that has the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
BLM
Chevron has also applied to participate in the Bureau of Land Management’s research, development and demonstration leasing program in the Piceance Basin to evaluate these technologies in the field. The R&D will be shared between LANL and Chevron’s technology center in Houston.
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