Acquiring Offshore Project Sanction during Low Oil Price Environment: Rejuvenating Reservoir with Depleted Reservoir Energy via Innovative Low Capex Gas Injection Project

Abstract

Maturing a secondary recovery project in an offshore multi-fault complex reservoir is challenging because considerable investment is required, especially in a low oil price environment and/or when the asset can no longer produce. However, an 85% reduction in cost with no reduction in reserves was achieved for such a reservoir through de-risking the opportunity and revising the development concept, allowing the project to be sanctioned during a low oil price environment. A water injection project with an estimated cost of 165 MMUSD was initially envisaged during the feasibility stage to increase the oil recovery of a depleted reservoir, and contractual expectations were agreed accordingly. This is due to the availability of seawater offshore and water injection being the standard improved recovery approach in the region. Without adhering to the familiarity, a reservoir simulation study was performed comparing multiple options of secondary recovery. The reservoir simulation indicated that gas injection would provide higher incremental recovery while the investment can be significantly reduced by utilizing the existing gas lift system as a gas injection system. Several improved oil recovery schemes were evaluated with the history matched dynamic model to address the depleted energy. This includes water dumpflood, water injection, and gas injection with recovery factors of 32%, 56%, and 58%, respectively, in comparison to the depletion drive recovery factor of 30%. The gas injection scheme provides the highest recovery factor and expected fastest response and thus was prioritized as the main focus over water injection. The existing gas compressor with ullage, gas source from current associated gas production, and existing idle wells are key enablers for the project. The existing assets also enable the acceleration and further de-risking by a pilot gas injection before drilling infills. The paper highlights the numerous examples of cost-saving initiatives while maximizing the oil recovery from the reservoir. This value-focused approach enabled the project to be sanctioned during a period where most offshore improved recovery projects were abandoned due to the low oil price.