SPE Improved and Enhanced Oil Recovery in Offshore Environments

In the drive to reduce unit development costs and maximize estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) in offshore assets, some operators are trialing improved oil recovery/enhanced oil recovery (IOR/EOR) techniques with varying success. If this technology application is successful, it could change the game for offshore development and more specifically for deepwater assets. It could potentially enable radically new development concepts. The challenges to successful application of EOR concepts in offshore environments are many and diverse. Primary concerns include weight and space constraints, well count, availability and cost of injectants, completions, and the need for high reliability. On top of those limitations, higher operating and capital costs associated with the offshore development make EOR implementation even more challenging. Other considerations include hydrates, scale and corrosion concerns, environmental regulations for overboard water disposal, and facilities processing concerns. To properly address these challenges requires an integrated approach to field development. Such an approach would consider enhanced recovery scenarios during the initial development of the basis of design for the field. By bringing the entire development team including facilities, production, drilling and completions (D&C) and subsurface in early on the process, the team can consider which enhanced recovery techniques fit the development and the initial feasibility. Reliable reservoir characterization and modeling is known to be key to successful EOR projects, but in the offshore environment, the compatibility of the facilities and wells are just as critical.