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WEL-PREP 5™ OIL RECOVERY FLUID

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Q:   How does Wel-Prep 5 work? What does it do to recover more oil?

A:   Research indicates that micro-organisms are present in every oil-bearing formation.   The metabolic processes of these indigenous organisms produce biochemicals and/or gasses; many of which are beneficial to oil production. Wel-Prep 5™ acts as a biocatalytic agent to stimulate the production these biochemicals and/or gasses thereby releasing more oil that would otherwise remain trapped in the oil-bearing formation.

Q:  Do these biochemicals cause production problems such as corrosion or plugging, etc.?

A:   None that we are aware of.

Q:   Does Wel-Prep 5 help control paraffin problems?

A:   Yes. Although Wel-Prep 5 was not developed to address paraffin buildup problems, it has been used successfully to mitigate paraffin problems.

Q:  Can WP-5 be used in high water producers?

A:   Yes. WP-5 has been used in wells with oil/water ratios of 1:20 and higher.

Q:  Are high water producers treated differently than low water wells?

A:   The treatment methodology for single wells [cyclic injection] is the same regardless of the oil/water ratio. However, the amount of WP-5 is increased to accommodate the higher oil/water ratios. Enhanced water-floods are engineered on a case-by-case basis. The total amount of WP-5 required over the life of the EOR field flood project is subject to multiple variables.

Q:  Does Wel-Prep 5 help other production problems; i.e., iron precipitate, sludge, sour gas, BS&W, etc.?

A:   WP-5 was developed to increase oil production. However, oil producers have reported lead lines and tank bottoms cleaned and freed of sludge buildup, reduced paraffin problems, increased hydrocarbon gas production, as well as other beneficial results apart from increases in incremental oil production.

Q:  Where does WP-5 work best; a) paraffinic, b) asphaltic, c) naphthenic, or d) olefinic based oils?

A:   Field trial data indicates successful WP-5 treatments follow the order of the types of oil listed above; with paraffinic oils enjoying the greatest success, and olefinic oils the least.

Q:  What is the API Gravity range where WP-5 can be used?

A:   API Gravity > 15°   See: Candidate Selection Criteria

Q:  What is the cost of a typical treatment?

A:   From 1988 through 1992, WP-5 product costs per treatment per well ranged from $120 to $200.

Q:  How fast do wells respond and how long will a single treatment last?

A:   Positive responses are typically noted as soon as the well is turned back into production after recovery of flush production. The duration of positive responses varied from 10-15 days to over 45 days. RAM recommended a 30-35 day treatment program in our Field Application Guide. However, oil producers typically established their own treatment regimen based on each well's response. Enhanced water flood treatments involve a continuous feed of WP-5 and do not follow the treatment schedule for cyclic injection of individual wells.

Q:  What is a typical response to WP-5 treatment?

A:   Field trials have documented everything from no response to dramatic increases in oil production (over 100%), as well as increased hydrocarbon gas production from single well treatments. While difficult to pin down, a 'typical response' would range between 20-40% increased oil production lasting from 20 to 30 days. Less than 10% of the wells treated showed no response at all.

Q:  Is WP-5 compatible with other oil field chemicals?

A:   WP-5 treatments are not compatible with acid or biocide treatments.
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Q:  Does every well respond the same?

A:   No. Each well is unique in its response even when production is from the same formation. However, a positive response from a well is an indicator that other wells producing from that formation will also respond positively.

Q:  What characteristics make up the typical candidate well or reservoir?

A:   See: Candidate Selection Criteria

Q:  Which of these characteristics are the most important?

A:   Field data indicates that down-hole temperature and oil type are the most important. However, recent data indicates that the effective temperature range can be moved significantly higher. Further research needs to be conducted on deeper, higher temperature wells. RAM's field trials have thus far been limited to < 6,000 ft.

Q:  Do treatments with WP-5 qualify as tertiary recovery for tax purposes?

A:   Yes. There are also other beneficial tax considerations. RAM is in the process of updating its report on EOR/MEOR Tax Considerations.

Q:  What tax incentives are in place at present for qualified tertiary projects?

A:   See: EOR/MEOR Tax Considerations. Note: This report is presently being updated to comport with the 2006 Tax Code.

Q:  What would disqualify a well or reservoir from treatment with WP-5?

A:   See: Candidate Selection Criteria


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