ADDING HEAT WITHOUT EMISSIONS: IMPROVING RECOVERY OF NORTH SLOPE VISCOUS OIL BY HOT SOURCE WATER INJECTION
URBAN, Dennis, VENDL, Larry, NING, Samson Xiuxu, and MATHEWS, William, BP Alaska Exploration, 900 E. Benson Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99507, [email protected]
The Schrader Bluff Reservoir in Milne Point Unit contains 2 billion barrels
of oil in place. Recent early injection breakthrough events may reduce the
expected recoveries in the S-pad waterflood development area. These events were
initiated by injecting at pressures that exceeded the fracture gradient in order
to match the voidage rate of the high-PI multilateral
producers. Injection
pressure limits have been imposed to prevent future breakthroughs, but have
significantly restricted the ability to replace the production voidage and
optimize production potential. An innovative solution was developed to provide
clean hot water by drilling a
well
to the deep aquifer which directly underlies
S pad. Increasing the temperature of the injection water is expected to increase
injectivity by 50%, reduce fracture propagation and result in recovery of
reserves. The project is consistent with BP's commitment to the environment. The
hot source water will require minimal surface equipment and no additional
surface heaters. The project is an innovative solution to the problem of adding
clean hot fluids for injection management at a relatively low cost, without
consuming fuel or increasing air emissions. This project is vital to the
performance expectations of viscous oil developments in Alaska as a bridge to
Alaska gas production. A source water
well
was drilled and completed
successfully into the Ivishak formation in November 2005. Startup is planned for
June 2006