Petroleum Recovery Processes

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Introduction
Primary Primary Recovery Recovery Secondary Secondary Recovery Recovery
Artificial Lift
Conventional Oil Recovery Enhanced Oil Recovery

Natural Natural Flow Flow

Pump Pump Gas Gas Lift Lift Other Other

Pressure Maintenance

Waterflood Waterflood

Tertiary Tertiary Recovery Recovery

Water

Dry Hydrocarbon Gas Injection

Thermal Thermal
In-situ Combustion Cyclic Steam Steam Drive/Flood Hot Water Drive

Gas Gas Miscible/Immiscible Miscible/Immiscible

Hydrocarbon CO2 Nitrogen Flue Gas

Chemical Chemical
Alkaline Polymer Micellar/Polymer Foam

Other Other
Microbial

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Hydrocarbon production is resulting from natural reservoir energy

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Reservoir Energy Sources

Liberation, expansion of solution gas Influx of water from aquifer Expansion of reservoir rock into pore space Expansion of original reservoir fluids - Free gas - Interstitial water - Oil, if present Gravitational forces
5

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Oil Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

Solution-gas drive Gas-cap drive Water drive Combination drive Gravity-drainage drive

Gas Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

Volumetric reservoir (gas expansion drive) Water drive

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Solution-Gas Drive In Oil Reservoir

Oil-producing wells

Oil
A. Original Conditions

Oil-producing wells

tedn a r io e t b Li olu as s g

B. 50% Depleted

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Solution-Gas Drive In Oil Reservoir Wellbore
tio u l so d te e ra g a s n

Lib

ves e o s m ctur a G stru up

Secondary gas cap

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Solution-Gas Drive In Oil Reservoir
Rapid and continuous pressure drop, rate of decline falls at bubble point pressure. Rs (solution gas oil ratio) low until p=pb, then increases to maximum and declines. Absent or minimal water influx (water cut). Well production declines rapidly, early pumping required. Rsi Water Cut

Pressure

GOR (R)

Time 9

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Estimating Oil Recovery Factors

Solution-gas drive - API study

E R = 41.8

(1 - S wi )
B ob pb pa

0.1611

ob

0.0979

(S wi )

0.1741

0.3722

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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Gas Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Oil-producing well Oil zone Gas cap Oil zone

Cross Section
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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Gas Cap Drive In Oil Reservoir
Pressure drops continuously, but slowly. Rs (solution gas oil ratio) increases continuously. Water influx (water cut) absent or minimal Wells have long flowing life (depending on the size of the gas cap).
Rsi Water Cut Pressure

GOR (R)

Time 12

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs Edgewater Drive

Oil-producing well

Oil Water

Zone Water

Cross Section
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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs Bottomwater Drive

Oil-producing well

Oil

Zone

Water Cross Section

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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Water Drive In Oil Reservoir
Pressure remains high, small drop. Rs (solution gas oil ratio) remains low. Water influx starts early and increases to appreciable levels. Residual oil may be trapped behind the advancing water. Wells flow freely until water production (water cut) becomes excessive Rsi Water Cut Pressure

GOR (R)

Time

15

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs Effect of Production Rate on Pressure
Pressure, psia 2000 1900 1800 1700

Reservoir pressure
2 1 0 Gas/oil ratio, MSCF/STB

Gas/oil ratio Water

60 40 20 0

Oil production,

20 MSTB/D 15 10 5 0

Oil

Time, years

Production data - lower oil production rate 16

Water Cut, %

Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Estimating Oil Recovery Factors

Water drive - API study

E R = 54.9

(1 - Swi )
Boi pi pa

0.0422

k w oi

0.0770

(Swi )

0.1903

0.2159

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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
Combination Drive in Oil Reservoirs Gas cap

Oil zone

Water Cross Section

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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery
PRESSURE TRENDS
100

Reservoir pressure, Percent of original

80 60 40 20 0 0

Water drive

Reservoir pressure trends

Gas-cap drive Solution-gas drive
20 40 60 80 100

Cumulative oil produced, percent of original oil in place

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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Summary of Source(s) of Reservoir Energy

Oil Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

Solution-gas drive Gas-cap drive Water drive Combination drive Gravity-drainage drive

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Petroleum Recovery Processes

Primary Recovery

Average Recovery Factors

Oil Reservoirs
Average Oil Recovery Factors, % of OOIP Range Average 5 - 30 15 15 - 50 30 40 30 - 60
16 - 85 50
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Drive Mechanism

Solution-gas drive Gas-cap drive Water drive Gravity-drainage drive