Design of Gravity Drainage Processes in Fractured North Sea Reservoirs
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- The objective of this report is to investigate the feasibility of low interfacial tension gas gravity drainage in the low permeability heterogeneous chalk reservoirs of the North Sea. Production rates and final recoveries of North Sea chalk fields are typically very low. Large areas are left poorly drained due to low matrix permeability and the occurrence of major flow paths along the numerous, highly permeable, natural fracture zones. As a result considerable reserves remain in the reservoirs as unrecoverable. Additional recovery of this oil would have a large economic impact. Unlike oil in the fractures, the oil in the matrix is difficult to recover, and in fractured reservoirs, this relatively inaccessible matrix oil generally represents more than 95% of the oil in place. Increasing the efficiency of the matrix flood by just a few percent can then dramatically increase the final recovery. The fields are currently being investigated thoroughly to evaluate the possibility of utilizing enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However finding the right EOR method is important. Reservoir properties, fluid properties and especially the influence of the heterogeneous fracture network must be taken into account. New theories and experiments investigating near-critical, low interfacial tension (I n ) gas gravity drainage indicate that this process might, contrary to what has been previously assumed, prove to be very well suited for North Sea fields. The aim of this report is therefore to investigate what evidence exists that indicates whether gas gravity drainage can be used to recover additional oil from the North Sea chalk fields. The research is based on physical observations and data, a review of laboratory experiments and theory, and examination of time scales for oil recovery by means of simulation of drainage curves.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | December 1994 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Ditlevsen, Annemette |
|---|---|
| Primary advisor | Orr Jr., Franklin M. |
| Degree granting institution | Stanford University, Department of Petroleum Engineering |
Subjects
| Subject | School of Earth Energy & Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| Genre | Thesis |
Bibliographic information
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Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Ditlevsen, Annemette. (1994). Design of Gravity Drainage Processes in Fractured North Sea Reservoirs. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/nx294zy2046
Collection
Master's Theses, Doerr School of Sustainability
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