Scientists in Perm have discovered a method to enhance oil flow in complex reservoirs.

The efficiency of oil and gas field development is contingent upon their energy state, which includes current reservoir and bottomhole pressures, as well as their dynamics. When there is a "lack of energy," there is a high likelihood that the target oil recovery factor will not be achieved. In such cases, water or other agents are injected into the reservoir to enhance production rates. Researchers from PNIPU and experts from Gazprom Neft have identified the most effective flooding method for heterogeneous reservoirs and assessed its economic viability. This study will enable the extraction of oil from the most challenging areas, thereby increasing revenue without significant financial investment.

2024-11-26 10:00:08https://naked-science.ru/article/column/debit-nefti-v-slozhnyh-ko

The article was published in the journal "Oil Industry." Currently, the study of low-permeability reservoirs is relevant, as they contain a significant amount of residual reserves. Scientists from Perm Polytechnic, in collaboration with experts from Gazprom Neft, have analyzed an oil field characterized by low reservoir coverage. The analysis revealed that increasing injection volumes sharply raises the water cut of the produced products. Water is distributed unevenly and filters through the most washed-out zones, resulting in the reserves of low-permeability layers remaining undeveloped.

According to experts, a more efficient and cost-effective technology of cyclic waterflooding may solve the problem.

“The essence of the cyclic impact method is that it creates non-stationary pressure within the reservoirs. This means that the operation mode of the production wells is periodically altered by stopping and resuming operations. This will redistribute the pressure and change the filtration flows, ensuring the extraction of oil reserves,” explains Nadezhda Sannikova, lead engineer at the Scientific and Educational Center for "Geology and Development of Oil and Gas Fields" at PNIPU.

“In the conditions of the considered field, this technology has high potential due to the use of technical water from surface sources. If formation water were used, the feasibility of implementing the technology would drop to zero due to issues with its distribution during stoppages in fluid injection,” adds Kirill Ravelev, chief specialist at Gazprom Neft, a graduate of Perm Polytechnic.

As explained by experts from the Scientific and Technical Center of Gazprom Neft, Danil Shuvaev, project manager for product development, and Vladimir Klimov, director of product development programs, the results of predictive calculations in a hydrodynamic simulator demonstrate high efficiency in implementing the cyclic waterflooding technology. The application of this method in heterogeneous reservoirs will ensure the extraction of oil reserves from poorly drained zones of the layer.

According to Tatiana Baldina, first deputy director of MIP "Forecast RNM," the results showed that any variant of the proposed method increases oil production efficiency compared to the current method. The most optimal development indicators are provided by the variant with a semi-cycle of injection lasting 30 days. To enhance well performance under the existing regime, scientists also propose treating the near-wellbore zone of the reservoir with acid formulations to increase the volume of the working agent injected per unit of time by 30 percent.

“The dynamics of the main development indicators demonstrate a significant effect from the implementation of the proposed project: by the end of the development period, oil extractions will be 439 thousand m³ higher compared to the baseline option. The economic efficiency in the first year of the 10-year project implementation period exceeds 2.993 million rubles. This confirms the feasibility of implementing the proposed measures,” says Pavel Ilyushin, director of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization "Perm Scientific and Educational Center for Rational Subsurface Use," and associate professor at the Department of "Oil and Gas Technologies" at PNIPU.

The application of cyclic waterflooding technology by scientists from Perm Polytechnic and experts from Gazprom Neft will increase the yield of low-permeability reservoirs and the technical and economic efficiency of oil field development.