FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

MOCO T Midway-Sunset field

After Gates and Sklar (JPT, Aug. 1971)

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

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FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

MOCO T Midway-Sunset field

Air injection at 8,000 Mscf/D

ISC initiated in Jan. 1960

injecting air at 2,000 Mscf/D
into two wells
Spontaneous ignition occurred
after 18 days.
Immediate production response
by increasing the production
to 2,850 BOPD in Feb. 1960.

Peak at 4,200 BOPD

Four additional wells added to

distribute air better.

After Curtis, SPE 18809

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

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FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

MOCO T Midway-Sunset field
Ultimate rec. Estimated = 50-57 % OOIP
at cumulative iar of 85-90 Bscf
Remaining life 12-15 years at the rate of
5,000 Mscf/D

After Curtis, SPE 18809

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

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FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA: Largest in-situ combustion project

ISC selected as steam generators were not available

PILOT: Eight ~10 acre 9-spot patterns

After Carcoana, SPE 20248

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

File-11

FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

Combustion front = 5 miles by 1990

120,000 MMscf/D of air being
injected into 100 injectors

Expanded towards north and line drive

After Carcoana, SPE 20248

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

File-11

FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

PLAN: To displace the combustion front downdip

Production well converted into injectors when
combustion front breaks into the production well.

After Carcoana, SPE 20248

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

File-11

FIELD CASES DRY IN-SITU COMBUSTION

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

Oil production=10,400
B/D in 1987, 600 wells
were affected by ISC

Average A/O = 9.511.3 Mscf/bbl in 19731989

It increased to 14.2
Mscf/bbl after 1985

Ultimate recovery
expected = 53 %
OOIP

After Carcoana, SPE 20248

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

File-11

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

SPE 100346
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Clastic, NW Romania
Drilled first in 1956, heavy viscous oil
First production 1961
1960-1970 most wells drilled
1963-1970 steam and fireflood tested

800 wells
1,200 tones/day production
In 35 years, cumulative oil = 17.8 million tones
RF = 44.6%
Primary expectation was 9% in 80 years
In-situ combustion = 60% recovery in pilot (to improve, water injection, air rate optimization, bette
control of combustion front.
EXPECTATIONS and CONCLUSIONS after the PILOT:
Need well stimulation
40% ISC recovery
Continuous combustion is better than pattern
Sweep from top to bottom (parallel to isobaths)

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

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SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

SPE 100346
RESERVOIR
D = 35-200 m
Dip = 5-8 degree
Net pay = 4-24
Initial pressure = 4-22 bar
Initial T = 18 C
Porosity = 32%
Initial oil = 85%
K=2D
Oil vis. = 2,000 cP
Oil density = 960 kg/ cu m.
Area = 1,700 ha
PRODUCTION
Initial rates, 2-5 cu m/d decreased quickly to 0.1-0.3 cu m/d
ISC started in 1970
Production wells were on cyclic steam stimulation

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

File-11

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

SPE 100346
Highest production

60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0

61

63

65

67

69

71

73

75

77

79

81 83 85
Years

87

89

91

93

95

97

99

01

03 05

Total air injection rate maximum

7,000
6,000

120,000

5,000

100,000
4,000

80,000
3,000

60,000
2,000

40,000

1,000

20,000
0

61

63

65

67

69

71

73

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

75

77

79

81 83 85
Years

87

Short Course - EOR

89

91

93

95

97

99

File-11

01

03 05

10

Air / Oil Ratio, s cu m / cu m

140,000

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

SPE 100346
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0

61

63

65

67

69

71

73

75

77

79

81 83 85
Years

87

89

91

93

95

97

99

01

03 05
7,000

Air / Oil Ratio, s cu m / cu m

140,000

6,000
Since
1979 : Linear ISC front was propagated down, parallel to isobaths and the process
120,000
5,000
expanded
towards the west.
100,000
4,000

80,000

10 km
E-W air injection wells are included, I-P distance = 100 m.
60,000
RF 40,000
fro the entire pool = 50% estimated

3,000
2,000
1,000

20,000

0
1983: Second linear ISC front, parallel to the main one, was started in the middle portion
and
0
61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05
eastern part.
Years

1996: Second ISC front abandoned.

Since 1998:
reduced
started.
Tayfun capacity
Babadagli, PhD,
PEng and decline
Short
Course - EOR

File-11

11

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

SPE 100346
LABORATORY
Oxidation cell
To study the phenomenon around the combustion front
To determine the parameters needed to design the project
To determine
Air consumption per volume of rock
Deposited fuel per volume of rock
Ignition temperature
H/C ratio
Combustion tube tests
Basic data
Possibility to initiate and maintain a combustion front
Advancement speed of the combustion front
Spatial conformance of the burnt zone
Influence of operating parameters ( air flow, ignition temperature, oxygen concentration etc.)

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

File-11

12

SUPLACU de BARCAU FIELD ROMANIA

SPE 100346
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

Well ignition:
Requirements are saturation with oxygen of the ignition zone and generating T
higher than 400 C
Ignition methods are (a) combustible gases, (b) electrical, (c) chemical,
(d) chemical + electrical

KEY TECHNICAL CHALLENGES

Optimize injection rate

Maximize oil rate
Reduce operation cost
Assess steam drive potential

Tayfun Babadagli, PhD, PEng

Short Course - EOR

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