Welcome to an interview with Randy Crow, whose new enzyme product can help clean up wells that have problems with flow. He is looking for test wells, so if you have a well that you're about to plug because it seems to have insurmountable paraffin, flow, and pressure problems, you might evaluate this opportunity.

We are interviewing Randy because he is an example of innovation during a downturn. We do not know if the product works, but we are impressed with the entrepreneurial, problem-solving spirit. If you have a new technique, product, or idea, contact Dr. Susan Nash (). Our goal is to encourage as much interaction as possible.

This is a part of the AAPG Learn! Interview Series. This is an interview series with AAPG members and participants in AAPG events so that you can learn about what they're doing and potentially get in contact, collaborate, and advance your knowledge. Our interviews also tie to our events such as a great new workshop that addresses ways to be profitable in a downturn.

What is your name and your experience in the oil industry?

Randy Crow, my family has been in the investment end of oil for numerous years. With the passing of my father in June, I now manage the oil accounts for the Trust. My background is in market research and product development. About two years ago I was asked by an associate to market a newly EPA approved EOR. Unfortunately, the business organization was under developed and they need 30-40 thousand dollars up front to install the equipment without any guarantee. With oil at 30 dollars a barrel this was not going to work. During that time I connected with Hao, CEO of ZFA Technologies to market their product Bero in the United States. After some research and understanding of the science I was very excited to represent this dynamic product.

How did you become interested in revitalizing wells?

When I asked to market an EOR product I quickly educated myself in this area. The beauty of the internet you can educate yourself on any subject. The more I learned the more I came convinced that Bero has a great opportunity and can play a vital role in the US market

What have you identified as some of the most prevalent problems in old wells?

When a well decreases in production it is not because it is running low on oil. The problem is that the wellbore is becoming clogged with pollutants such as paraffin wax and asphaltene. The problem worsens over time as it becomes a log jam at the well bore.

For example if the initial production (IP) of a well is 80bpd and 10-15 years later it is 8bpd this decrease in production is an example of this. A figure we use is one half of the first three years of production. If the first three years average is 60bpd and now the well is pumping 5bpd we should at least see an increase to 30bpd which is an increase of 25bpd.

What is a product that you have developed? What does it do?

The product was developed by ZFA Technologies after ten years of research. In short it solves the above problem; it cleans out the well bore to restore production to its original state.

First since Bero is a bio-organic it cannot harm the environment or cause further damage to the well. It is 100 Percent green and easy to apply.

It is mixed with hot water and injected into the well. It is water flooding on steroids.

After being injected into a well, BERO will:

Efficiently release hydrocarbon (oil) on the surfaces of solid particles, BERO will continuously deform and split oil drops until oil drops are released from rock formation, thus not only being able to loosen the crude oil of retention layer, but also making oil drops become smaller and more easily exude through the pores of rock formation until they are recovered.

Rapidly strips wax and asphalt crystallized and accumulated on rock particles in the area of a reservoir close to well. It breaks down the molecule chains of the pollutants so they can be flushed out with the formation water.

Adheres to rock surface to make the wettability of the rock become water-wetting, lower the flowing resistance of crude oil in formation voids, thus releasing crude oil from rock particle surface and being separated out from microspores.

The molecules entering into water can be transported deep into the sandstone formation and form new oil outlet passages.

When Crude oil is trapped in porous sandstone and the water driving force could not drive out the crude oil that is retained between the pores of formation.

BERO will surround around the outer membrane of oil drop and cause oil drop to deform, split and released from the tight pores.

Can you describe a few examples of success?

This product has been successful in over 200 wells in Asia. The consistently increase current production by 100 to 1200 percent, The wells we have analyzed in Orange County, TX, we predict we can increase current production by 200% or more.

There are 1000’s of operating wells in the US that meet our criteria.

Is there a way for a company to try out the product without putting a lot of money down?

Yes, it is the Bero Solution. If we agree to treat the well we will ship to product to the operator at zero cost to the operator. Then we have a revenue sharing program that will not confuse the investor but excite them because everyone will be making more money without any upfront capital costs.

The Bero Solution increase production by 200%+ with zero capital costs to the producer and zero costs to the environment.