Montana: Magellan eyes carbon dioxide pilot at Poplar field

Magellan Petroleum Corp., Denver, said it could eventually add 50 million bbl of oil reserves to its books by bringing an existing oil field at Poplar, Mont., to full-scale carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery operation.

First step in this process is a CO₂-EOR pilot program that Magellan plans to begin this summer with five new wells. The pilot could cost as much as $20 million, the company said.

The evaluation period will take 12-24 months, after which the company hopes to move to a full-field development. Magellan is in final stages of permitting the pilot program and close to securing a CO₂ supply source for the pilot.