On March 25, the Center for Carbon Management in Energy (CCME) at UH Energy hosted the Revitalization of Old Oil Fields: Risks and Rewards symposium at the UH Sugar Land campus, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners for a timely discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with redeveloping legacy oilfields. The event featured two expert panels and a networking luncheon, with strong engagement and participation from attendees throughout the day.
The symposium opened with welcoming remarks from Charles McConnell, Executive Director of CCME, who highlighted the strategic role of mature oilfields in supporting both enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). “It is a pivotal moment for CCUS and the benefits of EOR in the marketplace. Energy security, the production of low-carbon crude oil, the decarbonization of fossil fuel–based processes are all ripe for broad commercial deployment of CCUS/EOR. Old legacy oil fields can make development opportunities potentially less risky, less capital intensive, and attractive in the long term – but it is not true everywhere in every circumstance,” he noted, setting the stage for discussions on balancing economic opportunity with technical and operational risks.
The first panel focused on well integrity and the challenges associated with aging infrastructure. Steve Melzer (Melzer Consulting) and Sue Hovorka (Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin) discussed how historical drilling and plugging practices, along with evolving regulatory standards, continue to shape redevelopment efforts. Panelists, including Scott Wehner (Wehner Consulting) and Adam Dempsey (Hunton), emphasized the importance of understanding legacy well conditions, regulatory frameworks, and liability considerations to mitigate risk and support project development. Additional perspectives from Michael Roos and James Walsh (Marsh McLennan Insurance Agency) highlighted the role of due diligence, monitoring, and insurance in managing uncertainties associated with legacy wells. In summary, the opportunity is large and broad-based, the technical diligence is paramount to successful development, and the insurability of such investments has matured and been codified in the market as a known component of projects.
The second panel discussed field revitalization strategies, including waterflooding and CO2-EOR. Steve Guillot (Energy & Environmental Research Center) shared operational perspectives on integrating CO2 injection into mature assets, while David Eyler (The McDaniel Company / Milagro Resources) discussed economic and operational considerations in redeveloping mature fields. Case histories and practical examples highlighted both the opportunities and complexities associated with extending the life of legacy fields. The operational excellence required for CCUS/EOR can yield a sound long-term investment opportunity and an important element in a portfolio of crude oil production techniques.
Audience engagement was a highlight of the symposium, with attendees actively participating in Q&A sessions. Questions focused on topics such as the allocation of 45Q tax credits across capture, transportation, and storage segments, as well as broader considerations around project economics, regulatory frameworks, and risk management. These discussions reflected a strong interest in the practical implementation and commercial framework of CCUS/EOR strategies.
The luncheon following the symposium provided attendees the opportunity to continue conversations around best practices, emerging technologies, and collaboration prospects.
The event reinforced UH Energy’s role as a platform for informed dialogue and knowledge exchange at the forefront of the energy transition.