One of RAM's most successful case histories is the 9-well Osborn lease located in Hamilton County, Illinois which produces from
the Tompsonville Pool formation. Two wells on the lease (the #2 and #4 Osborn) had a history of heavy paraffin build-up which required frequent
workovers (pulling and steam cleaning the rods). Both wells were treated for paraffin problems on 11/15/1990 with 1/2 drum (27 1/2 gallons) of Wel-Prep 5.
Normally, the #2 and #4 wells combined would have required 3 to 4 workovers during the field trial period. Neither well required a workover during the
entire field trial period. Additionally, and quite unexpectedly, the Osbourn #2 developed substantial gas pressure where none had existed before.
Pre-treatment oil production for the #2 and #4 wells averaged 2 BOD and 3 BOD respectively; post-treatment production increased 100% to 4 BOD and 6 BOD.
Although no unusual maintenance was performed on this lease during the the field trial, total lease production which had averaged 10 BOPD pre-treatment increased to
20 BOPD in the immediate post-treatment period. Total oil production from the Osborn lease was still holding at 18 BOPD as of 6/15/1991 - the last date that data
was available from the producer.
Total WP-5 treatment costs were approximately $800. Payout took 17 days calculated as follows:
Net return per barrel of incremental oil produced = $8.00 ($19.00 Avg. Price per Barrel - $11 lifting costs)
7 days to recover 70 barrels of oil not produced during the week-long shut-in period
10 days to recover the $800 treatment cost (10 BOPD incremental oil x 10 days = 100 x $8.00 net = $800)
As of 6/15/1991, the last day that field data was available, the lease was $14,500 ahead on increased oil production and had saved
approximately $6,000 on what would have been normal workover costs for paraffin build-up. Unfortunately, the declining price of oil forced the
producer into bankruptcy and no additional MEOR treatments were made on any of their producing well.
Field trial data provided to RAM Biochemicals by the producer Greater Midwest Oil Company.