Reservoir Management in Tertiary CO2 Floods

Abstract

Abstract Since 1984, Amoco has operated four major enhanced oil recovery projects using CO2 in West Texas. Due to the high cost of CO2 injectant, the economic success of these floods depends on the ability to properly monitor and manage CO2 utilization. This paper describes a new approach to the surveillance and management of the Slaughter Estate Unit CO2 flood. The method described here involves real-time monitoring on a well-by-well, pattern-by-pattern basis by displaying raw as well as processed data using the "Montage" concept. Using this concept, injection, production, and other data from a well or a group of wells can be viewed simultaneously by zooming into any area of the field. Inter-well communication and gas cycling can be recognized quickly and changes in operating variables can be made. As a result, the economic performance of a CO2 flood can be optimized by making prompt adjustments to gas-water ratio, CO2 and water half-cycle slug sizes, and injection and production well pressures.