Increased hydrocarbon recovery and CO2 management, a Croatian example

Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery based on CO2 injection is expected to increase recovery from Croatian oil fields. Large quantities of CO2 are generated during hydrocarbon processing produced from gas and gas condensate fields situated in the north-western part of Croatia. First CO2 injection project will be implemented on the Ivanic Oil Field. Numerical modelling based on Upper Miocene sandstone core samples testing results have shown the decrease of oil viscosity during CO2 injection. Some of the characteristics of the testing samples are porosity 21.5–23.6 %, permeability 14–80 × 10−15 m2 and initial water saturation 28–38.5 %. Water alternating foam (WAF) and water alternating gas (WAG) simulations have provided satisfactory results. The WAF injection process has provided better results, but due to the process sensitivity and costs WAG is recommended for future application. During the pilot project 16 × 106 m3 CO2 and 5 × 104 m3 of water were injected. Additional amounts of hydrocarbons (4,440 m3 of oil and 2.26 × 106 m3 of gas) were produced which confirmed injection of CO2 as a successful tertiary oil recovery mechanism in Upper Miocene sandstone reservoirs in the Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System.