Optimizing Water Disposal: Case Study of an Integrated Multi-Disciplinary Project in the Jasmine Oil Field

Abstract

The multiple challenges associated with a large scale offshore water disposal project are set out in this paper, which goes on to describe how these challenges have been overcome using an integrated multi-disciplinary approach that optimizes disposal well performance, while at the same time significantly reducing the OPEX associated with produced water handling. The difficulties associated with maintaining injectivity in the disposal wells have been overcome through a combination of strategies, including targeting alternative aquifer intervals, which lie above existing oil-producing zones, modifying the completion design, improving the water treatment process and implementing topside modifications. A comprehensive surveillance program has also been implemented to ensure that well and flowline integrity is maintained, and to understand the distribution of injection between the aquifers. A key outcome of this project has been to scale back the requirement for high pressure water disposal (HPWD). The resulting low pressure water disposal (LPWD) strategy has achieved a cost saving of approximately $0.5 per barrel of oil produced which is highly significant in the prevailing low oil price environment.