Operational Challenges and Monitoring of a Polymer Pilot, Matzen Field, Austria

Abstract

Four main areas of uncertainty can be described in polymer injection projects:1. Are we able to deliver the polymer solutions at the required quality to the wellhead? 2. Are we able to inject polymers at the required quantity and quality? 3. Are we producing sufficient incremental oil? 4. Are we able to cost-effectively separate, and treat oil and water after polymer breakthrough?The monitoring program which was developed for the polymer injection pilot aims at reducing the uncertainty and at fast identification of operational difficulties -details are described below:interpretation of the pilot related to conformance of the pilot could be resolved using this data. 4. Polymer, oil, water treatment: the surface facilities are constantly monitored for separation efficiency and plugging owing to back produced polymers. Operating challenges are seen in all treatment steps for full field polymer injection implementation due to separation but also handling of the polymers in water treatment facilities.

Low Salinity Water Flooding (LSWF), Can We Move Forward? The Economic Case

“…As our economic analysis showed even small projects can be very profitable. Examples of pilot studies (Windalia and Matzan fields) can be used as templates for the pilot design and pilot simulation applications (Al-Murayri et al 2018, Haynes et al 2013, Lüftenegger et al 2016). Based on the information from the field pilots and economic models, deployment plans are more likely to be executed if they are driven by the economic aspects.…”