PET 630 Course

Natural Gas Advance Production Project Course 2017

Oil and Gas Reservoirs
Field Optimization
Well and Reservoir Modelling, Gas Lift, and
WAG/Tapered WAG EOR methods

Project Description

You have been assigned to simulate and optimise the production from an oilfield containing two oil
reservoirs. In addition to the two oil reservoirs there exists a gas reservoir nearby that have been
producing since 1982, which production are expected to end shortly. It is suggested that the gas from
this gas reservoir should be used for gas lift if necessary. The production aim to meet contract
agreements for the two oil reservoirs needs to be higher than 110 MMSTB combined, within the period
from 05/01/2016 to 01/01/2030 (mm.dd.yyyy).
Figure 1 shows a schematic of the oil field. The field consists of two sandstone reservoirs that were
discovered in year 2000. The estimated initial oil in place is 500 and 400 MMSTB for reservoir A and
B, respectively.
Production from reservoir A was initiated in 2010, reservoir B was connected to the established
production system in 2011. Production histories are available, and the field is currently being produced
with a separator at 500 psig. The export lines pressure range of 300 to 500 psig limits the separator, and
separator pressure has to be 500 psig until 1/1/2020.
The reservoirs are naturally depleted with aquifer support. The simulations are predicting steep pressure
decline and an increase in the water cut. Gas lift operations are expected to be needed, but cannot be
implemented sooner than 2017. If gas lift are needed, an estimated maximum of 5 MMSCFD/well of
gas lift gas is proposed, which needs to be confirmed through gas lift sensitivity analysis.
Other EOR methods may be necessary in order to reach the target cumulative production. It is already
established that water alternating gas injection (WAG) is a viable option, but it is necessary to investigate
its efficiency through sensitivity studies. Tapered WAG has also been discussed as a potential EOR
method. Tapered WAG with a 20-month cycle needs to be compared to a previously obtained best case
for a 15-month cycle, as well as compared to conventional WAG. Tapered WAG for a 15 months cycle
has already been investigated and the schedule for the best of those cases is available in the provided
spreadsheet.
Implementation of the WAG system is by 1/1/2020. The pressures of the injection manifolds are 2000
and 4000 psig for water and gas, respectively.
Data from all participating disciplines of the development of the field is obtainable in oilfield_data.xlsx
 Figure 1 Oil Field

Objectives
1. Use PROSPER to construct models of the production and injection wells, the fluids in the oil
reservoirs need to be matched with well tests to ensure that the model is robust.

2. Use PROSPER to construct gas lifted wells (match fluid), investigate gas lift curves and evaluate
the gas lift stability. The amount of gas needed for optimum production must be determined.

3. Use MBAL to model the tree reservoirs, history matching is necessary in order to ensure the
validity of the models.

4. Do a preliminary investigation of the gas reservoir and determine, with the use of decline curve
analysis, whether it is a possible option to use the gas for gas lift or not.

5. Use GAP to build the production and injection systems, and link MBAL and PROSPER models
to the systems. (The gas from the gas reservoir do not need to be physically linked to the gas
lift wells.)

6. Do the same investigation of the gas reservoir as in point 4, using GAP, PROSPER and MBAL,
with material balance, and compare the result with the decline curve analysis. This model will
determine the gas available for gas lift at a particular time. Separating the production from the
two oil reservoirs is an option if the gas lift gas is too limited, construction of a second
production system may be completed, at the earliest, in July 2017. It is important to investigate
the response the whole system in detail, in order to make the correct decision at this point.

7. Schedule the implementation of gas lifted wells, possible alterations of the production systems
injection schedules. Schedule injection for EOR and run full simulations. Do sensitivity on both
the conventional WAG schedule and the tapered WAG schedule. Optimise with respect to
recovery and amount of injected gas. This point is a large part of the project.
a. Find the best schedule for 20-month tapered WAG and compare it to the previously
found best case 15-month cycle WAG. Study the reservoir responses during the
optimisation, e.g. GOR, pressure, water cut, oil production.
b. Draw conclusions and state the gained experience during the project.

PRODUCTION SYSTEM
WATER INJECTION SYSTEM
GAS INJECTION SYSTEM