TITLE: ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY BY NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF LOW

SALINITY WATER INJECTION OF AN ECUADORIAN OILFIELD.

Authors: Chávez Ormaza Wladimir Patricio; Ganán Aillón José Andrés

Tutor: Msc. Víctor Huerta

Introduction

The present study was focused on numerical simulation of reservoirs for the construction
of static and dynamic models in order to simulate low salinity water injection and the
estimation of the incremental recovery factor as an EOR method in a black oil field, for
possible opportunities based on the efficacy of low salinity water injection.

This work identifies and analyzes a new opportunity in the management of mature fields
with high water production and provides a new approach to convert disadvantages into
opportunities, using available resources in the field.

The general objective of the work was the mathematical simulation in order to analyze
the opportunity to apply an Enhance Oil Recover method in the field of study.

Objectives

General objective

• Analyze the pre-feasibility of the application of low salinity water injection to the "U" formation
by numerical simulation, on a field of Ecuador

Specific objectives

• Build the structural model of the U formation.

• Perform the historical production adjustment of the U formation of the study field.

• Run simulation runs using low salinity water in certain prospective areas according to the
analysis performed.

• Determine the incremental percentage of the Recovery Factor with respect to the base case.

Methods procedures

The first step is the quality control of the basic information for the construction of the geological
model such as well coordinates, rotary table elevation by well, depths, etc., then electrical logs
are analyzed to be interpreted, a geostatistical grid is constructed in which the information is
scaled and the one that best represents the field is selected and the POES is calculated

Subsequently, a historical adjustment of production and pressures is made. Then the possible
candidates for wells are selected for the reinjection of low salinity water. Runs are made with
several scenarios injecting low salinity water.
Figure 1 Location of Injector Wells over the Pilot Area

Conclusions

A static and dynamic high-definition model was built by validating the data, in addition, all
available information was used such as: checkshots, new velocity model, real rotary table values,
use of geostatistics in order to obtain the characterization of rock and fluid most likely in the
deposit, reinterpretation of electrical records, etc.

The historical production adjustment of oil producing formations was carried out as they are;
"Um" and "Ui", which was reviewed and approved by the end user of this work.
Based on the results of the analytical and numerical Screening carried out, it is concluded that the
deposit "Um" and "Ui" is feasible to implement two methods of improved recovery, such as the
injection of bacteria and the injection of water of low salinity.

Through simulation runs, it was possible to identify the best well to convert it into an injector,
which was the YNEA-016, which sweeps oil more efficiently and achieved an increase in oil
production.

The Factor of Recovery (FR) by injection of water of low salinity plus a new producer well is
16.48%, and the FR of the base case is 15.88% projected for the year 01/01/2030.

Benefit To A Practicing Engineer

The present study identifies and analyzes a new opportunity in the management of mature
fields with high water production and provides a new approach to convert disadvantages
into opportunities, using available resources in the field, and numerical simulation of
reservoirs in order to make forecasts.

The general objective of the work was the mathematical simulation in order to analyze
the opportunity to apply an Enhance Oil Recover method in the field of study.

References

Alotaibi, M., & Nasr-El-Din, H. (2009). Chemistry of Injection Water and Its Impact on
Oil Recovery in Carbonate and Clastics Formations. SPE International
Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry. Texas.

Al-Shalabi, E., & Sepehrnoori, K. (2016). A comprehensive review of low salinity/

engineered water injections and their applications in sandstone and carbonate
rocks. Austin Texas: Elsevier.

Al-Taq, Mohammed, & Alrustum. (2017). Maintaining Injectivity of Disposal Wells:

From Water Quality to Formation. SPE. Manama.

Austad, T., Rezaei, D., & Puntervold, T. (2010). Chemical Mechanism of Low Salinity
Water Flooding in Sandstone Reservoirs. OnePetro.

Bailey, B., Crabtree, M., & Tyrie, J. (2010). Control del agua. Oilfield Review.

Barandiaran, L. (2006). INGENIERIA DE RESERVORIOS. Ciudad de Mexico.

Baviere, M. (1991). Basic concepts in Enhanced Oil Recovery Process. Michigan:

Elsevier Applied Science.

Buckley, J., Takamura, K., & Morrow, N. (1989). Influence of Electric Surface Charges
on the Wetting Properties of Crude Oils. OnePetro.
Cuong, M. (2015). New Insights into the Critical Role of Geology in Modeling and
Prediction of Low Salinity Waterflooding. Madrid. SPE. OnePetro.

Doust, A., Puntervold, T., Strand, S., & Austad, T. (2009). Smart water as wettability
modifier in carbonate and sandstone. European Symposium on Improved Oil
Recovey. Paris.

Forrest, F., & Craig, J. (1993). The Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Waterflooding. New
York.

Harsh, A. (2017). Critical Role of Wettability Alteration in Improved Oil Recovery by

Low-Salinity Water in Sandstone Rock . OnePetro.

Lager, A., Webb, K., Black, C., Singleton, M., & Sorbie, K. (2006). Low salinity oil.
International Symposium of the society of Core Analysts, (pág. 12). Trondheim.

Martin, J. (1959). The effects of clay on the displacement of heavy oil by water.
OnePetro.

Moghadam, A. M., & Salehi, M. B. (2018). Enhancing hydrocarbon productivity via

wettability alteration.

Nasralla, R., & Nasr-El-Din, H. (2011). Impact of electrical surface charges and cation
exchange on oil recovery by low salinity water. OnePetro.

Nichols, G. (2009). Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Oxford.

Paris de Ferrer, M. (2009). Fundamentos de Ingeniería de Yacimientos. Maracaibo.

Paris de Ferrer, M. (2010). Fundamentos de Ingeniería de Yacimientos.

Pérez, M. (2012). Conferencia sobre petrofísica. Quito.

Petroleum, B. (Dirección). (2014). Low salinity water brings award for BP [Película].

Pineda, E. (2015). Manuales BestEnergy. Quito, Ecuador.

PTS-GPE, S. (2012). SLB LSWI Training program. Texas.

Quan, X., Desheng, M., & Jiazhong, W. (2015). Low Salinity Waterflooding in Low
Permeability Sandstone: Coreflood Experiments and Interpretation by
Thermodynamics and Simulation. OnePetro, 15.

Raza, S., Treiber, & Archer. (1968). Wettability of reservoir rocks and its evaluation.

Seccombe, J. C., Lager, A., Webb, K., Jerauld, G., & Fueg, E. (2008). Improved
Waterflood Recovery: Losal EOR Field Evaluation. (SPE, Ed.) OnePetro, 19.
Sharma, M. M. (2008). Produced Water Re-injection. Opportunities and Challenges.
Texas.

Smith, M., & Ferro, B. D. (2012). Global Onshore and Offshore Water Production. Oil &
Gas.

Tang, G., & Morrow, N. (1997). Salinity temperature, oil composition and oil recoveryby
waterflooding. OnePetro.

Vledder, P., Carrera, J., & Wells, T. (2010). Low Salinity Water Flooding: Proof Of
Wettability Alteration On A Field. Low Salinity Water Flooding: Proof Of
Wettability Alteration On A Field. SPE.

Webb, K., Lager, A., & Black, C. (2008). Comparison of High/Low Salinity water/oil
Relative Permeability. International Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts
held in Abu Dhabi. OnePetro.

Yin, R. (1994). Estudio de caso de investigación: diseño y métodos. Londres: SAGE.

Yousef, A., Al-Saleh, S., Al-Kaabi, A., & Al-Jawfi, M. (2011). Laboratory investigation
of the impact of injection-water salinity and ionic content on oil recovery from
carbonate reservoirs. OnePetro.