Taking on the Worlds Toughest Energy Challenges .
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CO2 EOR Operational Considerations
Case Study
James D. Rose
Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific
Introduction
China has fields that should benefit from gas injection.
Gas injection is a key element of US EOR success and
provides significant operational experience in gas
injection.
Leveraging past experience, while employing leadingedge technology and innovation, will maximize recovery
and reduce cost.
EXXONMOBIL EOR EXPERIENCE
ExxonMobil has involvement with a significant portion of industrys gas injection
projects, one-third of the additional oil production. Significant portion in US.
Loudon:
Surfactant Flood
Prudhoe Bay:
HC Gas Injection
Pembina:
Polymer Flood
17 Canadian Fields:
HC Gas Injection
Judy Creek, Wizard
Lake, Penbina
Nisku, Rainbow
River, Hibernia
Snorre, Statfjord:, Grane
HC Gas Injection
Ruhlermoor,
Georgsdorf:
Steamflood
Tengiz:
Sour Gas Injection
Battrum and
Fosterton :
Insitu Combustion
Cold Lake:
Cyclic Steam
Stimulation
Iron River and Celtic:
Single-Well SAGD
5 California Projects:
Steamfloods and
Insitu Combustion
Abu Dhabi: Gas Injection
(under evaluation)
Hawkins:
Gas Injection
Malaysia:
Gas Injection
(under evaluation)
Jay:
N2 Injection
19 West US Projects:
CO2 Injection
Means, Salt Creek, Aneth,
Slaughter, Wasson, among
others
South Pass 89: HC
Gas Injection
Gas Injection (Miscible, Immiscible)
Chemical Processes
Thermal Processes
W. Yellow Creek:
Polymer Flood
Polymer Flooding
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ExxonMobil Permian Basis Example: Means Field
Miscible CO2 pattern flood
Miscible / WAG
Means, USA
Streamline
Analysis
Lithology
Perm
Well spacing
Thickness
EOR Displaceable Oil
(Sorw - Sorm) PV
Dolomite
20 md (0.1-200)
10-acre/20-acre
300 ft
Improved recovery over waterflood by 15%
through infill drilling, waterflood
improvements and CO2 miscible flooding
Integrated Reservoir Management a Key to Success
Fundamental
Studies at
Rock-Pore Level
Geologic
Modeling
EOR
Laboratory
Studies
Reservoir / Process
Simulations
Surveillance and
Flood Management
Field Pilots
Enhanced recovery at Means has grown significantly beyond initial expectations due to efficient CO2
utilization, extended field life, and improved sweep efficiency (focused reservoir management).
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Other Operational Considerations
Dehydration System
Glycol dehydration of CO2 more difficult than natural gas
Requires higher heat loads for regeneration
Higher foaming tendencies can potentially lower dehydration capability
Compressor Cylinder Lubrication System
CO2 scavenges lubricants from cylinder walls
Separate force fed system using high viscosity oil
Corrosion Mitigation Upgrades
Tanks have Vapor Recovery Units to maintain gas blanket pressures
Wellhead & Tree: Injectors 316 stainless steel
Injection Tubing - Duoline 20
Filament-wound Glass-Reinforced Epoxy liner
Low cost alternative to CRA
Rod pump rods - Spray metal with
plastic coating
Duoline 20
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Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology
Labarge pilot testing Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology
Operational Advantage: Separation of high pressure gas without reducing pressure
(recompression for injection not required)
Figure 2, Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology for Developing Sour Gas Reserves, as presented in Abu Dhabi
at May 2009 GasTech Conference.
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Conclusions
China can increase resources significantly if it can fully
exploit oil recovery potential from gas injection
When CO2 injected, carbon capture also a result
Maximum recovery, at reduced cost, possible by
leveraging industry experience while employing leadingedge technology and innovation
ExxonMobil has significant world-wide experience that
can help China in efforts to achieve its gas injection
potential whether miscible or immiscible.
Addendum
Biography - James D. Rose
Currently Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific, ExxonMobil
Upstream Ventures (East) Limited
Diversity of global upstream experience with ExxonMobil since 1981
Exploration, Development and Production
Engineering, Operations, Commercial, Business Development
Asia-Pacific, Nigeria, North Sea, Venezuela, USA
Experience related to topic:
Participated in reservoir studies of inert gas and polymer
injection. Successfully pilot tested CO2 injection (immiscible)
Estimated additional recovery and developed business case for
world-scale gas Injection project (miscible, 4 fields)
Managed 2 BCFD gas injection program (miscible, 20 fields)
Education:
BS Engineering - Texas A&M University, 1981
MBA - Webster University London, 1992
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