Comparative Analysis of ESP-Assisted Dump-flooding and Conventional Water Injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Case Study of Field ABX2 in the Niger Delta

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of dump-flood and water injection techniques for enhanced oil recovery in Field ABX2 of the Niger Delta basin. Using advanced numerical reservoir modeling, the performance of ESP-powered dump-flooding was compared against conventional water injection over a 20-year period. Both methods successfully maintained reservoir pressure above the critical bubble point of 3471 psi, preventing excessive gas production. Primary recovery extracted only 15% of original oil in place (OOIP), while ESP-powered dump-flooding and water injection improved recovery to 34% and 35% of OOIP respectively after 20 years. Both secondary recovery methods exhibited excellent areal sweep efficiency and kept oil above the oil-water contact. The dump-flood approach achieved comparable results to water injection but with lower infrastructure requirements and costs. The models indicate the substantial aquifer in Field ABX2 can sustain dump-flooding for the full 20-year period. This study demonstrates ESP-assisted dump-flooding as a promising and economical enhanced oil recovery technique for Niger Delta reservoirs. The modeling approach developed here integrates reservoir characterization, well completion design, and long-term production forecasting to optimize recovery strategies.