Gordon R. Moore

DR MOORE'S primary research experience is in the application of in situ combustion as an improved oil recovery process for light, conventional, and heavy oils. He co-supervises a research team which has performed 274 in situ combustion tube tests on 35 reservoirs located in eight countries. Oil gravities have ranged from 6 to 40 °API and pressures have been up to 21 MPa. Approximately 60 of these tests have involved 95 percent oxygen enriched air. Extensive kinetics measurements have resulted in the development of models describing the thermal cracking, low temperature oxidation, and high temperature oxidation of Athabasca Oil Sand bitumen.

Experience on laboratory testing under elevated temperature and pressure conditions has been applied to the development of equipment and techniques for investigating high pressure flammability limits, high pressure flame speeds, gas phase combustion within porous media, and emulsion burning characteristics. Gas injection expertise has been applied to the design of mixing systems for combustible gases.

Current research activities are as follows:

1. In situ upgrading of heavy oils using oxygen containing gases and additives.

2. Application of "High Pressure Gas Injection" (in situ combustion) as a recovery technique for light oils.

3. Development of a high power down-hole electric heater which can operate at sufficiently high temperatures to provide for stabilization of clays.

4. Development of kinetics models which are suitable for incorporation in numerical simulators for field scale prediction of in situ combustion processes.

5. Measurement of flammability limits for sweet and sour reservoirs for application to under-balanced air drilling.

6. Application of low temperature oxidation as a means for the in situ remediation of flare pits.

Professional Activities:

A member of the Petroleum Society Board of Governors, and a principal in Hot-Tec Energy Inc.

Formerly Head of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.