Strategy to Manage Mature Oilfields with Renewable Energies

Abstract

In the case of the Venezuelan Maracaibo Lake Basin, the existence of mature represents a good opportunity to recover them using renewable energy, even worldwide exploration efforts become are almost inaccessible and environmentally sensitive places. Therefore, many companies have shifted his strategies to revitalize mature fields, increase their recovery factor and extend their life cycle. This study proposes an integrated approach to revitalize mature fields, but in a sustainable way. by incorporating renewable sources to supply part of the energy field consumption; thus, allowing monetizing more oil (usually used as fuel consumption), and improving asset management by implementing a production monitoring system (based on field automation and remote-control processes). The integrated approach to revitalize mature fields includes the following steps: Reserves management upon best practices recommended in PRMS 2018 and follow up based on performance and sustainability indicators.Artificial lift technologies to optimize production performance.Identification of potential opportunities to substitute fuel consumption with renewable energy sources; incorporated to production optimization, energy efficiency and remote monitoring programs.Implementation of energy transition programs focused on maximizing asset value and improving corporate reputation. It should be noted that Solar and Eolic energy sources were preliminarily identified as the best suited to contribute with revitalization of mature fields, by substituting in between 10 to 15% of fuel consumption; besides this, uncertainty in renewable energy supply, as well as "the state of the art" technologies to extend energy storage should be take into consideration for implementing energy transition programs. In addition, future applications of renewable energy sources in EOR projects may be further investigated considering the benefits in production performance and reservoir management.