Application of Reservoir Management and Reservoir Simulation to Monitor and Improve the Performance of the M4/7/N1 Reservoirs in the Samarang Field, Offshore Sabah, East Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract The Samarang field was discovered in 1972, offshore south west Sabah, East Malaysia. The field was declared commercial in 1974, and first production commenced in 1975. The M4/7/N1 cluster of reservoirs is one of the main groups of reservoirs in the Samarang field, containing some 23% of the field's expected ultimate recovery. The observed basal/edge natural water drive and the gascap expansion drive are expected to recover about 50% of the M4/7/N1's original oil in-place. However, the combined drive was not anticipated to fully sweep the reservoir. Hence, the need for a field wide review of the reservoir. To actively manage the remaining hydrocarbon resource a detailed 3D full field simulation project was initiated. A comprehensive geological study of the M4/7/N1 reservoirs was first conducted to formulate the geological input to the simulation model. The model was validated by history matching the reservoir's seventeen years of production data, This model was then used to actively manage the hydrocarbon resource base by: predicting future oil recovery under various development options, locating potential infill well locations, and by optimising the reservoir management strategy. Reservoir management of this mature field through the utilisation of reservoir simulation tools, has helped to maximise hydrocarbon recovery by determining the optimum depletion strategy with respect to the remaining hydrocarbon resource. Future infill drilling locations have been identified and the results from the model have been used to support the operator's development strategy for the pool.