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Abstract Even in the relatively mature oil fields of Al Furat Petroleum Company, there is large scope for further increased recovery, predominantly related to optimisation of the waterflood sweep-efficiency through infill drilling and to application of enhanced oil recovery techniques. In either case, in-depth integrated study work using the latest subsurface technologies is required to understand the complex reservoir geology, to identify and quantify bypassed oil pockets and to propose activities for further field development with a resulting recovery improvement. In 2001, the Damascus Study Centre was set up by AFPC to create the additional study capacity required. Important advantages of a local study centre, as opposed to outsourcing of study work, are in the areas of technology transfer, communication with the company's operational departments, building-up and retaining company-specific expertise and national staff development. However, there is a risk that a local study centre gets overly involved in urgent operational activities and gets distracted from the long-term study objectives. A delicate balance between the Study Centre's short-term and long-term objectives is established through a combination of organisational ringfencing and application of a fit-for-purpose study methodology. The Damascus Study Centre, which started its activities in June 2001, has already made a significant contribution to the company's performance in terms of production, ultimate recovery, technology implementation and development of young Syrian staff.
Introduction Al Furat Petroleum Company (AFPC, a Joint Venture between the Syrian Petroleum Company, Shell and PetroCanada) operates a portfolio of mature oil fields with a declining production profile. The oil accumulations are in the Euphrates Graben of Eastern Syria, predominantly at a depth of 2000 to 4000 mss in the well-developed shallow marine Rutbah sandstone formation and the fluviatile channel sands of the Mulussa formation. The oil reservoirs are characterised by significant structural and stratigraphical complexity, leading to a high degree of compartmentalisation. Because of the typically favourable water-oil displacement conditions, most major fields are developed by water injection. However, in the majority of the reservoirs significant pockets of by-passed oil are left behind as a consequence of the geological complexity.
There is large scope for further increased recovery, related to optimisation of the waterflood sweep-efficiency through infill drilling and to application of enhanced oil recovery techniques (surfactant flooding, WAG). In-depth integrated study work is required to obtain an improved understanding the complex reservoir geology, to identify and quantify remaining oil targets and to propose activities for further field development. To be effective, this study work should be based the latest subsurface technologies including interpretation and 3D modelling tools and 4D time lapse seismic. The resulting recovery improvement enables AFPC to stop the production decline and sustain a production plateau at current levels.
The Damascus Study Centre was set up by AFPC to create the additional subsurface study capacity required. An important principle justifying a local Study Centre is the associated transfer of technology to AFPC and Syria. As Operators in numerous EP ventures, the private shareholders of AFPC have achieved a strong position globally in the application of subsurface technology. Examples are technological edges in the areas of seismology, static and dynamic reservoir modelling, carbonate modelling, EOR techniques and 3D visualisation. Through the private shareholders, AFPC has access to these technologies. The Study Centre is equipped with a Virtual Reality Room, which in addition to state-of-the-art 3D visualisation enables collaborative work sessions with expert staff in various Centres of Excellence around the world.
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