Maximising Enhanced Oil Recovery Opportunities in UKCS Through Collaboration

Abstract

Abstract The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) is one of the most mature offshore basins in the world. Achieving optimal recovery from the basin is demanding, but as the anticipated ultimate recovery factor is 46% (1) of oil initially in place, there is still significant opportunity to optimise recovery from the existing oil fields. PILOT, a partnership between the UK Oil and Gas industry and the UK Government, has been re-focussing its efforts on maximising North Sea recovery. There are currently only two Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) schemes operational within the UK North Sea. The principal barriers to implementing EOR projects are believed to be (1) incomplete subsurface understanding; (2) supply of secure, low cost injectants; (3) the challenge of implementing EOR retrospectively on a brownfield site; (4) concerns over project economics. The PILOT EOR Work Group was set up in 2012 to co-ordinate industry and government attempts to tackle these challenges. A three phase programme was identified to: (1) systematically screen the UKCS fields for EOR potential; (2) engage industry and look for synergies and collaborative opportunities to progress EOR understanding; (3) where possible, initiate new EOR projects with operators. The UKCS EOR screening exercise confirmed that there is still a significant realistically achievable EOR prize of up to 1 billion barrels of oil. The second phase of work focussed on developing collaborative ways of working to tackle the technical and commercial challenges associated with EOR projects, with particular focus on offshore ‘brownfield’ environments. Three EOR techniques were progressed and high graded on the basis of their prize and do-ability in an offshore environment: (a) Low Salinity Waterflood EOR; (b) Chemical EOR; (c) Miscible Gas Injection. Industry workshops were held for each EOR type and prioritised work programmes were implemented via operator "clusters", facilitated by the PILOT EOR Work Group. Examples of deliverables include (i) generation of a low salinity coreflood protocol to ensure that laboratory studies are performed in a consistent manner; (ii) initiation of a Joint Industry Project and an industry call for proposed facilities solutions for implementing low salinity on brownfield platforms; (iii) identification of industry resource to support UKCS operators with planning of chemical EOR opportunities. Successful completion of these collaborative activities will increase the chance of implementing further EOR schemes in the UKCS, unlocking the significant EOR prize.