Maintaining Oil Production from Marginal Fields A Review of the Department of Energy's Reservoir Class Program (1996) / Chapter Skim
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2 REVIEW OF PROGRAM BASIS AND COMPONENTS
2 REVIEW OF PROGRAM BASIS AND COMPONENTS
Pages 17-34
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From page 17... ...
The geological origin of a reservoir controls or strongly influences its geometry, internal structure, and other physical and chemical characteristics, which in turn control oil production performance. The extrapolation of primary heterogeneities among a reservoir class is based on the results of numerous studies of modern and ancient environments that show the range of processes present within a particular reservoir class.
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From page 18... ...
DOE has used the TORIS database to quantify remaining oil in place in different classes and has given priority in funding to classes with the greatest potential to improve oil recovery (Figure 2.1~. While the DOE Reservoir Class Program has a clear mission to apply the results of a project to other reservoirs in the same class, the projects generally do not define how that will be accomplished.
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From page 19... ...
The Reservoir Class Program has emphasized reservoir characterization from its inception. A major reason that reservoir classes 1-3 (Fluvial Dominated Deltas, Shallow Shelf Carbonates, Slope and Basin Clastics)
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From page 20... ...
The Reservoir Class Program has effectively emphasized reservoir characterization. The primary roles of reservoir characterization for most Class 1 and Class 2 projects are listed in Appendix C (Table Cog.
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From page 21... ...
Listed next are 11 projects which use reservoir characterization to better understand subsurface flow units and hence improve the efficiency of waterflooding and advanced flooding methods. The final three projects listed in Table C.1 emphasize recovery methods and do not include reservoir characterization as a significant component of the project.
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From page 22... ...
Findings and Recommendations Finding The DOE has correctly placed a substantial emphasis on reservoir characterization in the Reservoir Class Program. The quality of reservoir characterization in funded projects, however, has been difficult to evaluate, partly because of the lack of formal peer review of reservoir characterization throughout the project.
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From page 23... ...
DEMONSTRATING ADVANCED AND CONVENTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES A wide range of conventional and advanced technologies for reservoir characterization and oil recovery are being utilized in projects examined by the panel. Conventional techniques can recover mobile oil from untapped or uncontacted compartments in known fields.
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From page 24... ...
In the late 1960s, Crystal Field had only seven active producers, the best of which produced five barrels of oil and 170 barrels of water per day. The DOE Dundee project drilled a horizontal well in Crystal Field in October, 1995, which encountered oil at original reservoir pressure.
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From page 25... ...
Even though no field demonstration is involved in this project, operators in the area are shooting 3D seismic surveys and planning well deepenings which should result in increased production. Advanced Technologies Examples of advanced technologies for reservoir characterization in
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From page 26... ...
Examples of advanced technologies for recovery include the use of horizontal wells for injection and production, CO2 flooding, and combustion/gravity draining. The following projects illustrate the range of advanced technologies used in the Reservoir Class Program: · West Hackberry Field, Louisiana (Appendix B
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From page 27... ...
Findings and Recommendations Findings The projects examined employ an appropriate range of both conventional and advanced technologies in the areas of reservoir characterization, drilling, well completion, and production. Ultimate economic success of many projects will depend on the sophisticated use and integration of tech
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From page 28... ...
Both positive and negative results of sound scientific and operational merit discovered in the Reservoir Class Program must be efficiently and effectively communicated to producers in the marginal fields. If this part of the program fails, the DOE will be in a position of having partially funded oil companies to carry out applied research programs that did not benefit a large number of marginal domestic fields.
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From page 29... ...
To date, DOE staff have not assumed any overall technology transfer role that is an integral part of the Reservoir Class Program. Various methods of carrying out the technology transfer component are employed in the projects.
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From page 30... ...
The technological advisory group responsible for technological integrity within the PTTC structure at the regional level has not yet been formed. Although the PTTC is ideally suited to carry out technology transfer for the Reservoir Class Program, continued support for the PTTC is threatened by possible cuts in DOE funding and an apparent lack of financial commitment from industry.
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From page 31... ...
DOE should consider setting up cooperative agreements with such state agencies for future technology transfer activities. Findings and Recommendations In evaluating the technology transfer program of the Reservoir Class Program, the panel makes the following findings and recommendations: Finding One of the major strengths of the program is the requirement for tech
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From page 32... ...
A more centralized technology transfer program would allow DOE to more effectively evaluate the results of all Reservoir Class Program projects and transfer those results throughout the oil industry. Recommendation The DOE should accept the primary responsibility for technology transfer in the Reservoir Class Program.
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From page 33... ...
The peer review process must be conducted in a timely manner because of the threat of premature abandonment and the rapid pace of technological change. DOE should evaluate various mechanisms for obtaining timely peer reviews from qualified experts from outside the federal government and the contracting companies; one possible mechanism would be to establish an external peer review and technology transfer review panel for each project.
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