A GLOBAL LOOK AT RECOVERY
EFFICIENCY IN 450
MATURE CLASTIC FIELDS
By Rod Sloan
A
review of ultimate recovery efficiency
in 450 mature clastic fields from around
the world provides a series of b enchmarks
for evaluation of the redevelopment potential
of old fields. Key determinants of ultimate
recovery are fluid type/viscosity, matrix
permeability and reservoir architecture.
Development strategies and reservoir
management techniques play crucial roles
in maximizing expected ultimate recoveries
for given reservoir/fluid parameters.
Five main fluid type/permeability clastic-reservoir
classes, with characteristic ultimate
recovery distributions and controls,
are: (1) heavy oil/tar reservoirs, in
which RF is controlled by well spacing/reservoir
depth, reservoir connectivity and the
application of tertiary recovery techniques;
(2) low-permeability oil reservoirs,
in which RF is controlled by permeability
variations, well spacing and application
of waterflooding/miscible flooding, fraccing
and horizontal drilling; (3) intermediate-permeability
oil reservoirs, in which RF is controlled
by fluid viscosity variations, reservoir
heterogeneity/architecture and application
of waterflooding; (4) high-permeability
oil reservoirs, in which RF is controlled
by natural drive strength/type and control
of aquifer and gas-cap encroachment;
and (5) gas/condensate reservoirs, in
which RF is controlled by permeability
variations, aquifer encroachment and
condensate drop-out. Examination of actual
case histories improves confidence in
predevelopment predictions of recovery
efficiency and shows what is possible
in new or old fields.
|