Specifics and Challenges of Heavy oil Production in Northen Siberia Illustration Based on Biggest Heavy Oil Project in Russia

Abstract

Russkoye heavy oil field is located in the northern part of Siberia. The field was discovered in 1968. It is characterized by the huge reserves: more than 1.3 billion tonn of oil in place and remote location (the field is located to the north from the polar circle). Main challenges for the field development are: unconsolidated formation, gas cap, high heterogeneity of formation, permafrost zone and heavy oil. This paper covers latest experience (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) obtained during field development pilot project implementation at the representative part of the Russkoye field. Pilot stage results will be used for the further field development strategy building. Effectiveness of different approaches has to be estimated, considering specifics of the field. Traditional field instrumentation did not provided reliable data for the analysis. New technologies (such as fiber optic distributed temperature sensors, specifically adopted multiphase metering etc.) were implemented for the building of the proper data acquisition system. During the pilot stage specific injection schedules, cold and hot water injection, various well completion applications were implemented. Depletion rate estimation based on real production data, determination of critical drawdown and numerous well testing activities including conventional buildup/drawdown pressure transient analysis and interference testing were made. Special attention is paid to the comparison of the cold and hot water injection and to the methods of control/monitoring of the well production. Monitoring and effectiveness estimation of the tested technology should be based on flow rate measurements data (MPFM), distributed pressure and temperature sensors (DP/TS) in horizontal production wells. Numerous new technologies were used for the pilot project. Paper describes approaches for integrated data acquisition implementation; development techniques comparison and new technologies adaptation workflow to the specific field conditions. New technologies application allowed to see specific field behavior and to estimate effect of various field development and management approaches tested. The results obtained during the pilot project will be used for the Russkoye field development planning, technical solutions will be implemented for the field monitoring and managing. Successful development of the first biggest heavy oil field should lead to initiation of development of other numerous challenging heavy oil fields in Russia.

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