The recent period of depressed oil prices which reached as low as $US 5.97/bbl for heavy oil drove major reviews in heavy oil recovery economics, and led to a substantial shift in the operation of four (4) of Petrotrin's thermal projects. The shift was predicated upon key factors such as:experience derived from the North Fyzabad project, a mature steamflood which was converted to a heat scavenging project in 1996the need to assure project viability by maintaining a reasonable lifting cost.at least sustain the present level of decline rates associated with each project. In February 1999, North Palo Seco, Apex Quarry and Bennett Village, three (3) mature thermal projects at Petrotrin were placed on the water-alternating-steam-process (WASP) and another, Central Los Bajos was converted in August 1999. The four (4) projects are in close proximity each exploiting the Lower Morne L'enfer sandstone and their operating and reservoir characteristics are quite similar. In two (2) of the schemes, selected patterns were converted to WASP, the other patterns being kept on continuous steam. The criteria for pattern selection were pattern temperature, steam-oil-ratio, produced WOR, susceptibility to steam breakouts, and minimal alteration to main piping system. The paper discusses capital expenditure for the conversion which was kept to an absolute minimum, operating cost which was subsequently reduced; profitability which increased; reservoir response to water injection which resulted in an increase in oil production rate and problems associated with implementation. The paper also discusses techniques of day-to-day flood monitoring, highlights operational problems and presents future operating strategies.
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractAt the state oil company of Trinidad and Tobago, (Petrotrin) and its predecessor companies, Field Rejuvenation has evolved through time from single well targets to the more highly detailed and complex field reservoir characterization project currently underway.Initially single well target selection would be done by individual engineers operating their specific field. Generally, the benefit of these actions were not long term and did not significantly affect or arrest the declining production trends. At a more formal level there were studies undertaken in the process of the implementation a secondary or enhanced oil recovery project. This had the effect of arresting field declines and improving overall recoveries in the target fields.The foregoing activities were carried out by the operating companies of the day. In the late eighties because of limited capital resources, a program of leasing blocks of idle wells to small independent local operators was initiated. This program proved successful in increasing indigenous oil production from idle assets as well as generating positive cash flows. It was therefore expanded and has since included farmouts and joint-venture arrangements with foreign companies participating also.Currently Petrotrin is concluding a detailed field reservoir characterization study of one of its most mature fields on land which began production in 1913. The preliminary results have demonstrated the crucial role of reservoir characterization in evaluating the true potential of mature fields, and its potential for increasing production even from these fields.
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