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Collaborating Authors
Results
Development of an Improved Waterflood Optimization Program in the Northeast Savonburg Waterflood
Schoeling, L.G. (University of Kansas) | Barnett, G.B. (Russell Petroleum, Inc.) | Michnick, M.J. (University of Kansas) | Walton, A.W. (University of Kansas) | Green, D.W. (University of Kansas) | Willhite, G.P. (University of Kansas)
Abstract The Savonburg Field, a shallow reservoir located in southeastern Kansas, has production problems which are common in fluvial dominated deltaic reservoirs and other areas of the country where stripper-well production is important. The problems relate to poor waterflood sweep and lack of an integrated reservoir management program. The poor waterflood sweep efficiency is due toreservoir heterogeneity, channeling of injected water through high permeability zones or fractures, and clogging of water injection wells with solids as a result of poor water quality. Reservoir management suffers from the lack ofsufficient data collection and organization, integrated analysis of existing data by geological and engineering personnel, and identification of optimum recovery techniques. A project to increase oil recovery from the Savonburg Field is being conducted under the DOE Class 1 Program. The objective is to improve waterflooding through integrated reservoir management. To date, two technologies have demonstrated positive economics. An air flotation unit has demonstrated that the poor water quality can be improved economically with reduced costs compared to previous operations. Permeability modification treatments plugged channels and increased oil recovery. Earlier treatments yielded five barrels of incremental oil per pound of polymer injected and recent treatments have improved injection profiles. Reservoir characterization studies identified unswept oil in the lower B3 zone and as a result two waterflooding patterns were modified and a new injection well was drilled. Incremental oil is expected to result from this change. Introduction The Savonburg Field (Nelson Lease) is located in Allen County, Kansas, one mile northeast of Savonburg, Kansas. The first well drilled was in 1970. A total of 59 producing wells and 49 injection wells have been drilled and completed since 1970. A pilot waterflood was initiated in March, 1981. The flood was expanded in 1983 and full development was completed in 1985. Only 49 wellbores are active in the current waterflood. Cumulative production to January, 1996 was 384,000 barrels. Primary production was estimated at 131,500 barrels. Figure 1 presents waterflood recovery through 1994. Reservoir properties are presented in Table 1. They are representative of many reservoirs under secondary recovery in southeastern Kansas. The waterflood is plagued with channeling, poor water quality and poor waterflood sweep efficiency when compared to predicted response. In 1986 and 1987, eleven gel polymer treatments were implemented in injection wells to improve waterflood sweep efficiency. Overall incremental oil recovery was 12,500 barrels, which was a yield of about 5.2 barrels per pound of polymer placed. Total polymer solution injected was 1,363 barrels or 2,384 pounds of polymer. The production increase was not sustained due to wellbore plugging as a result of poor water quality. Treatment sizes varied between 100 and 200 barrels per well depending on the severity of the channel. In 1992, the waterflood was near it's economic limit, producing approximately 16 B/D of oil. The operator and the University of Kansas teamed up and wrote a proposal to DOE in response to the Class 1 solicitation for proposals. P. 221
- Geology > Sedimentary Geology > Depositional Environment (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline (1.00)
- Geology > Mineral (0.94)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock (0.48)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Disposal/Injection (0.34)
- South America > Argentina > Neuquen > Neuquen Basin > Ne Field (0.99)
- North America > United States > Kansas > Savonburg Field (0.99)
SPE Members Abstract This paper describes the development of the Kansas Technology Transfer Model (KTTM) which is proposed as a regional model for the development of other technology-transfer programs for independent operators throughout other oil producing regions in the United States. The KTTM is an expansion and adaptation of the University of Kansas Tertiary Oil Recovery Project (TORP) concept of oilfield technology transfer to independent oil producers. The KTTM is the product of a grant from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) in August 1992 to the Kansas University Energy Research Center to develop a technology transfer model which could be utilized nationwide. The focus of the KTTM is to assist in reducing the rate of well abandonment in the near term and to increase oil recovery using conventional technology. Included is the linkage of the regional model with the national technology transfer plan, and the methodology to adapt the model on a regional basis. The technology transfer plan also includes an evaluation technique to measure the process. Background In 1992, the Energy Research Center at the University of Kansas was awarded a contract by the United States Department of Energy to expand and adapt the Kansas University Tertiary Oil Recovery Project model of technology transfer so that it could be utilized as a model technology transfer program in the oil producing regions throughout the United States. The TORP technology transfer program assists independent operators in Kansas to resolve oil production problems through a transfer of ideas, applications, methods, processes and information about equipment. The program is problem driven and attempts to match the operator's needs with the proper technology, expertise and oil industry services to solve the problem. Where appropriate, TORP strives to help an operator quickly enhance operations and cash flow to extend the economic limit of the property while more comprehensive methods are developed. Independent operators are becoming a larger portion of producers of domestic oil reservoirs. Major oil companies are selling their domestic reserves to independent oil producers who have lower operating overhead and can produce these fields to an extended economic limit. The result is that the percentage of U.S. production operated by independent operators (operators smaller than the largest 25) has risen from 29% in 1970 to 43% in 1990, as presented in Figure 1. This figure also presents the decline in oil production resulting from decreased capital expenditures by the major oil companies. The expanded technology transfer model, which is termed the KTTM (Kansas Technology Transfer Model), incorporates the collaborative efforts of the Tertiary Oil Recovery Project, the Kansas Geological Survey, and the Department of Geology at the University of Kansas. P. 555^
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)