Global Experience in Enhanced and Improved Oil Recovery

As the worlds energy needs grow, recovering hard-to-reach oil reserves left behind by traditional recovery methods will be one of the keys to meeting global energy demand. The International Energy Agency estimates that increasing global oil recovery from 35 percent to 50 percent would double todays proven remaining oil reserves. ExxonMobil has global expertise and experience in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) methods that maximize oil recovery and increase global energy supplies. Through our history of long-term investment in technology, ExxonMobil has led the way in development of EOR/IOR techniques. ExxonMobils technological integration allows for full evaluation of new and existing techniques, from laboratory experiments to simulation modeling to field pilots and, ultimately, field implementation. As a result, many ExxonMobil operated oil fields achieve greater than 50 percent recovery with some approaching 70 percent of the original
Fundamental Studies

oil-in-place.
New EOR Process Commercialization Laboratory Experiments

Combining Technology with Expertise for Optimal Field Implementation When assessing the deployment of EOR/IOR, ExxonMobil uses a comprehensive process that applies our technology and expertise

Field Pilots

in a manner specific to each project. ExxonMobil engineers and geoscientists start with an understanding of physics at the rock-pore level, and use this knowledge to conduct subsequent laboratory studies and perform initial simulations.

Process Simulations

Field pilots are often deployed to conduct definitive evaluations of recovery processes. Pilot results form the basis for field simulation models and the development of a comprehensive plan to increase recovery. Throughout the process, we consult with stakeholders to get input and achieve an optimal long-term outcome. ExxonMobils state-of-the-art technological capabilities are based on decades of research and development and span the range of laboratory experiments to field pilots to process simulations. We have a full suite of specialized lab capabilities to evaluate new and existing recovery processes, including polymer and chemical flooding labs, miscible and immiscible gas injection labs, and more than 25 in-house special core analysis (SCAL) labs. Additionally, we have well-developed pilot design principles based on experience with more than 50 field pilots. Finally, our in-house simulator, EMpowerTM, has the full suite of modeling capabilities needed to evaluate EOR/IOR processes. Our EOR/IOR portfolio includes expertise and experience in all commercial EOR/IOR processes, as well as demonstrated leadership in new process development. The majority of our production involves injecting water or gas for pressure support, or enhanced recovery utilizing miscible gases, chemicals, or steam. In particular, ExxonMobil has established experience from participating in 25 percent of the worlds miscible gas injection projects.

Gas Injection Methods of gas injection include immiscible, miscible and near-miscible techniques. ExxonMobil has field experience in each of these categories, through CO2, Nitrogen, hydrocarbon gas and sour gas injection. For example, ExxonMobil has demonstrated success in Nitrogen injection at the Hawkins field. To increase field recovery, we used laboratory tests to select the best EOR/IOR technologies for that field, and conducted extensive surveillance to optimize gas injection rates and ultimate drainage well locations. Effective implementation of Nitrogen using a double displacement process (DDP) resulted in ultimate recovery up to 70 percent. We have also successfully implemented miscible CO2 injection at a number of sites, including demonstrated success at the Means field. Methods used in this field to increase recovery included staged pilots to select the optimal recovery plan and cost-effective surveillance with flood management tools. In this heterogeneous carbonate field, recovery has been increased by 15 percent above waterflooding through infill drilling, sweep improvements and CO2 flooding. Chemically Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods of chemical EOR include injecting surfactants and/or polymers. We demonstrated that surfactants combined with polymers could recover 68 percent of waterflood residual oil at the Loudon field through a series of surfactant flooding pilot projects. ExxonMobil also has pilot and/or field experience with polymer flooding of viscous oil at three U.S. fields and we are currently evaluating polymer flooding for application outside the U.S. Heavy Oil Recovery Having introduced several techniques widely used in the industry today, ExxonMobil has a
Worldwide Application of EOR/IOR

history of innovation in the recovery of heavy oil.

In addition to pioneering a number of thermal methods, including Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS), Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) and Liquid Addition to Steam for Enhanced Recovery (LASER), we are in the process of developing innovative non-thermal methods to recover heavy oil. Some of these recovery approaches have the potential to extract bitumen without the use of either steam or heat to recover bitumen from reservoirs where thermal methods are not efficient. By minimizing the use of steam and heat, these new methods could also significantly reduce energy use and CO2 emissions. ExxonMobil also has experience with cold flow techniques where heavy oil is produced under gas expansion drive to ultra-long horizontal wells with controlled inflow. ExxonMobils proven experience and expertise in EOR/IOR, along with state-of-the-art technological capabilities, enables successful long-term management of projects around the world. With integrated reservoir management, we help to bring the oil needed for global economic growth to markets worldwide.

exxonmobil.com

10/2009