Improving Oil Recovery in Mature Field With Innovative Completion Solution Dumpflood Application

Abstract

Maximize oil production at the lowest cost, reduce the process facilities used for secondary recovery water injection projects and increase the static pressure of mature reservoirs was a need in Chichimene Field due to the challenging oil market conditions and the declining oil production rates. The legacy solution used by Ecopetrol consisted in producing water with artificial lift and then re-injecting it through horizontal pumping systems. This water injection method did not maximize oil recovery with the available resources. Ecopetrol and Baker Hughes implemented the Dumpflood completion with electrical submersible pumping to address the challenges encountered in Chichimene field. The Dumpflood completion is a closed loop concept where water is produced and injected in a single well avoiding surface processes. This implementation allowed Ecopetrol to develop secondary oil recovery in a simplified and cost effective completion. This paper will present the results of the first pilot of Dumpflood completion in Chichimene Field in Colombia. This Promoted enhanced oil recovery in the target injection zones, in addition, significant savings in capital expenditures were obtained due to the reduction of surface production tubing and required licenses for the oil industry in Colombia. Operating expenditures such as maintenance, water treatment, and energy costs were also reduced. The success of the Dumpflood completion with electrical submersible pumping permitted the initiation of a change in the legacy water injection method in Chichimene field. It was demonstrated that the oil market is continuously in need of innovative completions solutions to optimize resources and oil recovery.