Total pilot project set for fourth quarter at Abu Al Bukhoosh offshore field

Abu Dhabi: Total ABK, Total’s wholly owned affiliate operating the Abu Al Bukhoosh field at offshore Abu Dhabi, is planning to implement a chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) pilot project on one of the field’s reservoirs. “The pilot project should start during the last quarter of 2013 and is the first of its kind in the UAE. This pilot project has been welcomed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Jean-Luc Guiziou, President of Total UAE, told Gulf News.

The president added: “Practically, this chemical EOR pilot will consist in the injection of a polymer and surfactant solution in the well to measure the enhancement of oil recuperation. Results should be available by mid-2014.”

He added that temperature and salinity levels within offshore and onshore oil reservoirs in Abu Dhabi do not allow for any existing chemical EOR solution to be implemented.

“This pilot project illustrates Total’s commitment to constant innovation in order to develop leading-edge technologies to serve Abu Dhabi’s needs,” Guiziou added.

Groundbreaking technology

He pointed out that on the Abu Al Bukhoosh field, Total ABK has already been able to reach record recuperation level on some oil reservoirs — reaching levels of 55 per cent of the oil in place.

“This was done thanks to technologies that were groundbreaking when implemented in the 80’s and 90’s, such as gas-lift or full-field injection of tertiary gas,” Guiziou explained.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director of Gas Directorate at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Chairman of Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition Conference 2013 (Adipec) told Gulf News: “Adnoc and its companies had invested Dh147.2 billion ($40 billion) in oil, gas, refining and petrochemical projects, of which $25 billion is dedicated to gas over 5 years in oil and gas projects, with a major focus on expanding gas projects in Habshan 5 and Shah.”

Simon Mellor, Senior Vice President of DMG-Events, Adipec organisers, said that the Adipec 2012 had witnessed deals worth Dh22.08 billion ($6 billion) and the number of international companies in Adipec 2013 participating in the event will witness a remarkable increase.