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Focus on technology to raise oil productivity
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology can help Gulf states increase productivity at their oil fields, particularly the ageing ones, Val Brock, the Business Development Manager - EOR for Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., said on Wednesday.
- By Himendra Mohan Kumar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:32 November 5, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology can help Gulf states increase productivity at their oil fields, particularly the ageing ones, Val Brock, the Business Development Manager - EOR for Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., said on Wednesday.
"EOR technology can improve recovery rates by 5 per cent to 20 per cent on average, depending on the reservoir," Brock said in a presentation at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec-2008) here.
He said EOR technology currently deployed by Shell in Oman on a commercial scale is producing the desired results.
"We are using the EOR technology at our own fields and now, are offering it to our potential partners," said Brock, adding that the technology has already been discussed with the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO), where Shell has a participating interest.
"The EOR technology helps stop the decline of a producing field. It helps in extracting the oil trapped in rock pores. The demand outlook for oil in the coming decades is very strong, so over the next decade we could see a number of onshore and offshore EOR projects, worldwide," Brock added.
He said the EOR was first implemented in the 1930s and now, because of the increasing oil prices, the technology has become very attractive because its proven and cost effective.
Some 70 per cent of current world oil production comes from fields that are past their peak production. And, typically only 30-35 per cent of their oil will actually be recovered. Developing and applying new technologies to produce more from such fields is essential for meeting the world's expanding energy needs.
For example, a global increase of 1 per cent in the average recovery factor of mature fields would yield an additional 20-30 billion barrels.
"North Sea is a classic example, where the deployment of EOR technology can improve recovery rates and arrest the decline in overall oil production," said Brock.
Some 70 per cent of current world oil production comes from fields that are past their peak production. And, typically only 30-35 per cent of their oil will actually be recovered.
Developing and applying new technologies to produce more from such fields is essential for meeting the world's expanding energy needs.
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