The carbonate oil field studied is a currently producing field in U.S., which is named “PSU” field to remain anonymity. Discovered in 1994 with wells on natural flow or through artificial lift, this field had produced 17.8 × 106 bbl of oil to date. It was noticed that gas oil ratio had increased in certain parts and oil production declined with time. This study was undertaken to better understand and optimize management and operation of this field. In this brief, we first reviewed the geology, petrophysical properties, and field production history of PSU field. We then evaluated current production histories with decline curve analysis, developed a numerical reservoir model through matching production and pressure data, then carried out parametric studies to investigate the impact of injection rate, injection locations, and timing of injection, and finally developed optimized improved oil recovery (OIR) methods based on ultimate oil recovery and economics. This brief provides an addition to the list of carbonate fields available in the petroleum literature and also improved understandings of Smackover formation and similar analogous fields. By documenting key features of carbonated oil field performances, we help petroleum engineers, researchers, and students understand carbonate reservoir performances.

References

1.
Al Haddad
,
S.
, and
Mancini
,
E. A.
,
2013
, “
Reservoir Characterization, Modeling, and Evaluation of Upper Jurassic Smackover Microbial Carbonate and Associated Facies in Little Cedar Creek Field, Southwest Alabama, Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States
,”
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.
,
97
(
11
), pp.
2059
2083
.
2.
Mancini
,
E. A.
,
Parcell
,
W. C.
,
Ahr
,
W. M.
,
Ramirez
,
V. O.
,
Llinás
,
J. C.
, and
Cameron
,
M.
,
2008
, “
Upper Jurassic Updip Stratigraphic Trap and Associated Smackover Microbial and Nearshore Carbonate Facies, Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain
,”
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.
,
92
(
4
), pp.
417
442
.10.1306/11140707076
3.
Alhuthali
,
A. H. H.
,
Datta-Gupta
,
A.
,
Yuen
,
B. B. W.
, and
Fontanilla
,
J. P.
,
2013
, “
Field Applications of Waterflood Optimization Via Optimal Rate Control With Smart Wells
,”
SPE J.
,
13
(
3
), pp.
406
422
.10.2118/118948-MS
4.
Langston
,
E. P.
, and
Shirer
,
J. A.
,
1985
, “
Performance of Jay/LEC Fields Unit Under Mature Waterflood and Early Tertiary Operations
,”
J. Pet. Technol.
,
37
(
2
), pp.
261
268
.10.2118/11986-PA
5.
Lawrence
,
J. J.
,
Maer Ret
,
N. K.
,
Stern
,
D.
,
Corwin
,
L. W.
, and
Idol
,
W. K.
,
2002
, “
Jay Nitrogen Tertiary Recovery Study: Managing a Mature Field
,”
Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference
, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 13–16.10.2118/78527-MS
6.
Wilkinson
,
J. R.
,
Genetti
,
D. B.
,
Henning
,
G. T.
,
Broomhall
,
R. W.
, and
Lawrence
,
J. J.
,
2004
,“
Lessons Learned From Mature Carbonates for Application to Middle East Fields
,”
Abu Dhabi International Conference and Exhibition
, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 13–16.10.2118/88770-MS
7.
Verma
,
M.
,
Michel
,
B.
, and
Lucienne
,
B.
,
1994
, “
Evaluation of Residual Oil Saturation After Waterflood in a Carbonate Reservoir
,”
SPE Reserv. Eng.
,
9
(
4
), pp.
247
253
.10.2118/21371-PA
8.
Melster
,
T.
,
Valenti
,
N.
,
Geiger
,
P.
, and
Townsend
,
M.
,
2014
, “
Right-Sizing the Jay/LEC Field—Commercial 30 Year EOR Project
,”
SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium
, Tulsa, OK, Apr. 12–16.
9.
Mancini
,
E.
, and
Blasingame
,
T.
,
2004
, “
Improving Recovery From Mature Oil Fields Producing From Carbonate Reservoirs: Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation, Womack Hill Field (Eastern Gulf Coast, USA)
,”
AAPG Bull.
,
12
(
12
), pp.
1629
1651
.
10.
Feng
,
X.
,
Wen
,
X.-H.
,
Li
,
B.
,
Liu
,
M.
,
Zhou
,
D.
,
Ye
,
Q.
,
Huo
,
D.
,
Yang
,
Q.
, and
Lan
,
L.
,
2013
, “
Water-Injection Optimization for a Complex Fluvial Heavy-Oil Reservoir by Integrating Geological, Seismic, and Production Data
,”
SPE Reserv. Eval. Eng.
,
12
(
06
), pp.
865
878
.
11.
Mamghaderi
,
A.
,
Bastami
,
A.
, and
Pourafshary
,
P.
,
2012
, “
Optimization of Waterflooding Performance in a Layered Reservoir Using a Combination of Capacitance–Resistive Model and Genetic Algorithm Method
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
135
(
1
), p.
013102
.10.1115/1.4007767
12.
Vaz
,
A. S. L.
,
Bedrikovetsky
,
P.
,
Furtado
,
C. J. A.
, and
de Souza
,
A. L. S.
,
2010
, “
Well Injectivity Decline for Nonlinear Filtration of Injected Suspension: Semi-Analytical Model
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
132
(
3
), p.
033301
.10.1115/1.4002242
13.
Cheng
,
C.
, and
Li
,
K.
,
2014
, “
Comparison of Models Correlating Cumulative Oil Production and Water Cut
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
136
(
3
), p.
032901
.10.1115/1.4026459
14.
Shirman
,
E.
,
Wojtanowicz
,
A. K.
, and
Kurban
,
H.
,
2014
, “
Enhancing Oil Recovery With Bottom Water Drainage Completion
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
136
(
4
), p.
042908
.10.1115/1.4028691
15.
von Hohendorff Filho
,
J. C.
, and
José Schiozer
,
D.
,
2014
, “
Evaluation of Explicit Coupling Between Reservoir Simulators and Production System
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
136
(
4
), p.
044501
.10.1115/1.4028860
16.
Heydari
,
E.
, and
Baria
,
L. R.
,
2006
, “
A Microbial Smackover Formation and the Dual Reservoir-Seal System at the Little Cedar Creek Field in Conecuh County of Alabama
,”
GCAGS Trans.
,
55
, pp.
294
320
.
17.
Mancini
,
E. A.
,
Parcell
,
W. C.
, and
Ahr
,
W. M.
,
2006
, “
Upper Jurassic Smackover Thrombolite Buildups and Associated Nearshore
Facies, Southwest Alabama,”
GCAGS Trans,
56
, pp.
551
563
.
18.
Ridgway
,
J. G.
,
2010
, “
Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) Smackover Facies Characterization at Little Cedar Creek Field, Conecuh County, Alabama
,”
M.S. thesis, University of Alabama
,
Tuscaloosa, AL
.
19.
Jennings
,
J.
, and
Lucia
,
F.
,
2003
, “
Predicting Permeability From Well Logs in Carbonates With a Link to Geology for Interwell Permeability Mapping
,”
SPE Reserv. Eval. Eng.
,
6
(
4
), pp.
215
225
.10.2118/84942-PA
You do not currently have access to this content.