Optimising the transition from CO2 EOR-EGR towards CCS for a mature oil and gas reservoir
Ilaina H. Rakotondrazaka A * , Raymond L. JohnsonA School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
B Centre for Natural Gas, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
C Central Petroleum, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
D Rock Flow Dynamics, Perth, WA, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 63 321-335 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22112
Submitted: 9 December 2022 Accepted: 22 February 2023 Published: 11 May 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
This study evaluates carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2 EOR) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), enhanced gas recovery (EGR) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) purposes in the mature Mereenie Oil and Gas Field (‘Mereenie’). Mereenie consists of a rim oil and gas cap reservoir with low aquifer activity. We evaluate the microscopic and macroscopic displacement efficiencies of CO2 EOR techniques after determining the minimum miscibility pressure of the CO2 and reservoir oil system. Investigations on EOR, EGR and CCS are then conducted on a sector model containing the main pay zones. The CO2 flood, water alternating gas (CO2 WAG) and Huff ‘n’ Puff methods are evaluated within three strategies: unstructured well placement, five-spot pattern configuration and gravity-assisted flood. The sector model shows performance of an immiscible process in oil and gas recovery and CO2 storage potential. The CO2 flood is efficient in oil recovery but less efficient in CO2 utilisation, making it a good option for a half oil recovery–half CO2 storage objective. The CO2 Huff ‘n’ Puff is more efficient for oil recovery at early stages of operation, and also very efficient for gas recovery. The CO2 Huff ‘n’ Puff technique is not a good option for the CO2 storage objective. The CO2 WAG could be a good technique for oil recovery and CO2 storage with proper CO2 slug size and WAG ratio. The five-spot pattern configuration enhances sweep efficiency. The gravity-assisted flood strategy can be appropriate for the rim oil reservoir with gas cap in Mereenie.
Keywords: Amadeus Basin, Australia, CCS, CCUS, CO2 EOR, CO2 storage, Enhanced Gas Recovery, mature oil and gas field, reservoir simulation.
Ilaina Herimampianina Rakotondrazaka is currently a PhD Candidate in Petroleum Engineering at the School of Chemical Engineering of the University of Queensland. His research focusses on the application of CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and/or enhanced gas recovery (EGR) and for underground carbon storage in oil and gas reservoirs. He had previously worked for a government body in charge of the petroleum E&P industry in Madagascar with over 5 years of experience in monitoring oil and gas exploration and production operations’ compliance with the laws, regulations and production sharing contracts. He also has experience with cross-sectoral issues relating to the petroleum industry including environment, social and economic. He holds a Master of Petroleum Engineering from the University of Queensland and a BSc (Hons) in Mining Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Engineering of the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar. |
Prof Raymond Johnson Jr. is currently Professor of Well Engineering and Production Technology at the University of Queensland, Centre for Natural Gas. He has a PhD in Mining Engineering, a MSc in Petroleum Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology and a BA in Chemistry. Prof Johnson is a Life Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), past Queensland SPE Section Chair, twice Co-Chair of the SPE Unconventional Reservoir Conference Asia Pacific, 2019 Co-Chair and 2021 Advisor of the URTeC Asia Pacific Conference, and twice SPE Regional Technical Award Recipient (Production Operations and Management and Information). He has served in a number of technical and management positions in service, operating and consulting companies in the United States and Australia. Prof Johnson is a Fellow of Engineers Australia. |
Xiaoling Li is a Reservoir Engineer with over 30 years of global oil and gas industry experience. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Petroleum University of China in 1991. Currently, she is a Senior Reservoir Engineer with Central Petroleum Ltd based in Brisbane, Australia. |
Andres Bracho is a Reservoir Engineer at Rock Flow Dynamics in Perth. He has over 7 years of experience in reservoir simulation and integrated asset modelling. Andres has a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master’s degree from Curtin University. His primary focus is on finding interesting applications to well-established reservoir engineering techniques to improve existing workflows. |
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