Optimized production strategies for improved oil recovery in a caronate oil field

Open Access
- Author:
- Gan, Quan
- Graduate Program:
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- April 05, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Yilin Wang, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
- Keywords:
- numerical simulation
carbonate oil field
production optimization
formation damage - Abstract:
- LCC field is a conventional oil field producing from the Smackover carbonate formation at a depth around 12,000 ft and was discovered in the state of Alabama in 1994. The whole field had produced 1.17 million barrels of oil by 2005 and 7.6 million barrels of oil by 2008. It helped reverse the declining oil production in the state of Alabama. However, so far, the field was on primary production with wells on natural flow or artificial lift. It was noticed that gas oil ratio has increased in certain part of the field and oil production declined with time. Although, it is normal, better understanding of the wells leads to better reservoir management and increased oil and gas recovery ultimately. This study was undertaken to evaluate the producing wells in this field and to quantify individual well performances. We first developed a fit-for-purpose single-well numerical simulator capable of automatically history matching production data, then the simulator was validated with published data in the petroleum literature and real field data, then seventeen producing wells were evaluated by quantifying effective drainage, skin, permeability, effective fracture length, and future performances, and finally optimized production strategies were developed for possible improved reservoir management and increased oil recovery ultimately. The methodology developed in this thesis could also be used in evaluating similar wells and fields in other parts of the world.