SPE 69905 SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING-STEAM-PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY

V. Ramlal, SPE, Petrotrin; K. Sono Singh, SPE, Petrotrin

Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc. This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2001 SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium held in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, 12-14 March 2001. This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.

projects at Petrotrin were placed on the wateralternating-steam-process (WASP) and another, Central Los Bajos was converted in August 1999. The four (4) projects are in close proximity each exploiting the Lower Morne L'enfer sandstone and their operating and reservoir characteristics are quite similar. In two (2) of the schemes, selected patterns were converted to WASP, the other patterns being kept on continuous steam. criteria for pattern selection were temperature, steam-oil-ratio, produced The WOR,

ABSTRACT The recent period of depressed oil prices which reached as low as $US 5.97/bbl for heavy oil drove major reviews in heavy oil recovery economics, and led to a substantial shift in the operation of four (4) of Petrotrins thermal projects. The shift was predicated upon key factors such as: (1) experience derived from the North Fyzabad project, a mature steamflood which was converted to a heat scavenging project in 1996 (2) the need to assure project viability by maintaining a reasonable lifting cost. (3) at least sustain the present level of decline rates associated with each project. In February 1999, North Palo Seco, Apex Quarry and Bennett Village, three (3) mature thermal

pattern

susceptibility to steam breakouts, and minimal alteration to main piping system. The paper discusses capital expenditure for the conversion which was kept to an absolute minimum, operating cost which was subsequently reduced; profitability which increased; reservoir response to water injection which resulted in an increase in oil production rate and problems associated with implementation. discusses techniques of The paper also flood day-to-day

monitoring, highlights operational problems and presents future operating strategies. INTRODUCTION Steamflooding was first used in the late 1950s in the United States. It is still the major form of secondary recovery accounting for about 60% of

VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE 69905

EOR production in the United States. In Trinidad, it was introduced in 1966 in the Palo Seco field to recover viscous oil. Over the years it has proven to be the most successful EOR method in on-shore Trinidad and at present accounts for 80% of EOR land production. 26% of Petrotrins oil production is derived from active steamfloods. Although the steam process has undoubtedly proved itself, there were associated characteristic problems such as steam gravity override, steam channeling and occasional surface breakouts. Steam gravity override is a result of the large density difference between injected steam and the reservoir fluids. conformance It reduces the reservoir vertical and leads to early steam The injected

Fyzabad. This paper describes the application of this fairly new technology and discusses the pilot project, WASP implementation, project economics, reservoir performance and the forward plan for WASP at Petrotrin.

CASE HISTORY REVIEW The earliest published trial of WASP was in the West Coalinga Field, San Joaquin Valley, California by Chevron USA Production Company (SPE 21579). The steamflood began in 1973 in the three lower most sands of the middle Miocene Temblar formation. maturity, After eleven (11) years of continuous high SOR and high flowline steam injection the steamflood showed signs of temperatures. A pilot WASP field test was done in Coalinga Section 13D in six (6) patterns in April 1988 in the same three sands. Four-month alternate cycles of water and steam were used with gross, nett oil and temperature being monitored. The two-year pilot project produced the following results: (1) WASP controlled steam breakthrough

breakthrough at production wells.

fluid moves along the path of least resistance and in time propagates through high permeability channels resulting in poor vertical conformance, direct well communication or surface breakouts. Also, surface and subsurface lines must be lagged in order to minimize heat losses. Quite often, steam losses are so large that steam condenses to hot water by the time it gets to the perforations. As a steamflood matures, there is an optimum time for conversion to waterflood. There are several reservoir indicators such as gross fluid production leveling off, oil production showing a straight line decline, an upward linear increase in WOR, the slope of the curve of average reservoir pressure, the shape of the cumulative nett oil curve, and increasing SOR. Most of Petrotrins steamfloods can be classified as very mature having been on continuous steam injection since late 1970s or early 1980s. Four (4) steamfloods were chosen for water-alternating-steam-process (WASP) after examining the results of a pilot project in North

problems. (2) The process was successful because the water phase partially collapsed the steam chest and improved the vertical conformance of the flood front. (3) There was an increase of in sales oil well

production

because

improved

productivity and reduced fuel consumption for steam generation.

SPE 69905

SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

This

pilot

project hot

was

later

converted steam

to

As can be seen from Figure 1 a decline rate of 30% per annum for oil production during 1994-1996 was reduced to 18% per annum when injection began. The incremental increase could be attributed to the partial collapse of the steam zone and under-running of the reservoir by cold water. Oil zones which were inefficiently swept because of steam gravity override were now contacted by water. Direct lifting cost was reduced significantly

continuous 29665).

waterflood

after

(SPE

A WASP pilot was also attempted by Chevron USA Production Company in the Cymric field in July 1992. Here static temperature profile surveys in and observation wells indicated producers

extensive steam channeling in the Amnicola sand (SPE 27794). After two cycles of four months of steam injection followed by four months of water injection, sub-surface temperature data showed that WASP was effective in controlling steam breakthrough to the downdip producers. WASP was found to be effective in maintaining reservoir pressure, sustaining pattern oil production and improving thermal efficiency. The WASP trial was very economic and transformed an uneconomic area into a profitable one by reducing operating cost and increasing oil production.

between August 1996 and June 1998 because nett oil had increased and there were substantial savings in natural gas for generator fuel. barrels of oil were recovered through It is water estimated that during this period 35,000 more injection than if steam injection had continued. Based on the relative success of the Fyzabad pilot project and the uncertainty of international oil prices, it was decided in November 1998 to investigate other mature steamfloods for

PILOT FIELD TEST The first conversion of steamflood to waterflood in Trinidad was the North Fyzabad Steamflood. The North Fyzabad steamflood was a very mature flood at the time of conversion having produced a cumulative 5.4 million barrels of oil from an injection volume of 16.5 million barrels of steam in the Cruse and Forest sands. conversion. Water cut had reached 90% and steam-oil ratio 10 prior to

conversion to waterflood. The factors considered in the screening process were: (a) Profitability of steamflooding in a

competitive environment (b) Subsurface temperature profile of injector and producers (c) (d) water cut of pattern SOR of pattern Cumulative steam injected in pattern Reservoir properties

The

project

called

the

North

Fyzabad

Heat (e) (f)

Scavenging Pilot covered an area of 100 acres and consisted of eight (8) patterns. injection pressure Steam injection process was discontinued in March 1996 and the water maintenance commenced in September 1996. Injection rate was maintained at 1800 bwpd using ten (10) injectors.

Hence with the focus being business efficiency and operating efficiency, four (4) active steam floods

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were recommended for WASP in January 1999 North Palo Seco, Central Los Bajos, Apex-Quarry and Bennett Village steamfloods. The steamfloods are 2). situated in close proximity, in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad (Figure The reservoir being steamed comprises three of the lower Morne Lenfer (LMLE) Their reservoir elements

million bbls steam). (Figure 3). Apex Quarry Steamflood This steamflood is located five (5) miles east of the North Palo Seco steamflood and just north of the Los Bajos fault. Continuous injection started in This January 1981 with four (4) patterns.

horizon, viz D, E and F sands. properties are very similar.

Table I list average

increased to twenty-nine (29) active patterns in 1990. However, injection in the eastern part of the scheme has been hampered by several surface eruptions. Today there are just sixteen (16) active patterns (Figure 4). Steam channeling and viscous fingering in most patterns have caused areal sweep to be non-radial, and resulting water-cuts are in excess of 80%.

reservoir properties of the four (4) steamfloods and compares them with Chevrons West Coalinga 13D pilot at its time of conversion to WASP. As can be seen from Table 1, the reservoir characteristics of West Coalinga 13D and Trinidad steamfloods are similar in most aspects.

STEAMFLOODS FOR CONVERSION TO WASP North Palo Seco Steamflood Continuous steam injection began in May 1975 in North Palo Seco with two inverted seven spot patterns increasing to four patterns by June 1976. Steam injection has been in the D, E, and F members formation. of the Lower Morne Lenfer sand

Steam injection was reduced from 6000 bspd to 3000 bspd in 1995. oil production, low The active steam patterns reservoir pressures and were recommended for WASP because of declining marginal profitability. Central Los Bajos Steamflood This steamflood is bounded on the south by the North Palo Seco steamflood. Continuous injection began in 1977, but operational problems forced the curtailment of steam injection in the area until 1981. Today there are 20 patterns covering an area of 280 acres (Figure 5). Steam injection in the shallow eastern part was discontinued because of high water cuts or surface breakouts. Eight (8) patterns were recommended for conversion to WASP, which includes some of the patterns in which injection was discontinued.

The sand units are at subsea depths

ranging from 500 ft to 1800 ft with average nett and gross sand thickness of 180 ft and 335 ft respectively. Additional patterns have been added over the years and the flood now covers 278 acres, has 26 active patterns, 140 producing offtakes and 40 active injectors. It has produced a cumulative 57.3 million bbls of thermal oil. In January 1999, nine (9) patterns were chosen for WASP, the other patterns to be kept on continuous steam. The patterns were chosen on the basis of high water cuts (>75%), high offtake temperatures (>130o F) and large cumulative steam injection (>1

Bennett Village Steamflood

SPE 69905

SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

Continuous steam injection began in 1985 in six (6) patterns over an area of 150 acres. Since 1994 steam injection has been at low rates and has been on and off because of regular surface breakouts. Three patterns were recommended for WASP in February 1999, the other three patterns to be kept off injection. An additional pattern was put on

(3)

Maintain

very

close

scrutiny

on

the

issuance of all work contracts. (4) Reorganisation of Production Units into Business Units. Profitability declined in the steamfloods during 1998. gas Routine and preventive maintenance of prices impacted viable negatively several on options steam were steam generators also declined. Sustained natural

WASP in July 1999.

ECONOMIC SCENARIO Since the last oil price collapse of 1986/7, The dramatic

generation cost. be economically

For these mature steamfloods to

available to Petrotrin: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) do nothing and hope for better oil prices shut down all steam generators reduce steam rates, or reduce cost of steam use no-steam-alternating-steam process

considerable order had prevailed and oil prices averaged $US 15-20 per barrel. developments in late 1997 in the Far East on the supply side and a decline for crude oil on the demand side caused a slide in oil prices worldwide. Trinidad land crude price fell from $US 15.00 per barrel in 1997 to $US 9.00 per barrel in March 1998. The average price of Trinidad land crude during 1998 was $US 7.75 per barrel, while Guapo crude fetched $US 5.97 per barrel. Figure 7 shows the oil price trend for land crude and the direct lifting cost for Petrotrins land oil during 1998 and 1999. Initially steam injection volumes were reduced This depressed oil price scenario presented an economic challenge to Petrotrin. How did Petrotrin deal with the challenge given the actual situation? Some of the measures implemented were aimed at reducing capital expenditure and operating costs, such as: (1) a decline in workover and drilling rig activity (2) Replace the three-shift system in during 1998 in North Palo Seco, Central Los Bajos and Apex-Quarry but this soon had adverse effects on reservoir pressures and nett oil. In order to maintain reservoir pressures and nett rates, and based on the success of the North Fyzabad pilot, Petrotrin management decided in early 1999 to attempt conversions to WASP in four (4) steamfloods. A cost savings of $US 2.2 million per (v) use (WASP) water-alternating-steam-process (NASP)

year it was estimated would be realized from just reduced natural gas usage as fuel. IMPLEMENTATION An initial operating strategy was formulated to efficiently convert the steamfloods to water

Production and Well Servicing with a twoshift system.

VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE 69905

injection. The first steamflood to be put on water injection was the North Palo Seco steamflood on 18th February 1999. The initial operating strategy was as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Close in all injectors to be converted Allow steam lines to cool for one week Recalibrate meters for water injection Establish a baseline temperature profile of injectors to be put on water Set injection target rates Put wells on water injection Monitor wellhead pressures and injection rates Conduct follow-up temperature surveys of water injectors Monitor gross production, water cuts, temperatures and fluid level of offtakes on a regular basis 10. Feedback on project performance to be done every two (2) weeks and adjust strategy if necessary. The conversion of the four (4) steamfloods to water injection required minimum capital expenditure, the main cost being repairs to steam lines. By March 1999, approximately 6000 barrels of water was being injected in North Palo Seco and Apex Quarry. This later increased to 7500 bwpd by May when Bennett Village was brought on. Central Los Bajos came on in October 1999 because steam lines, valves and flanges had to be replaced. being injected in the four projects. Water for injection is obtained from Petrotrin water wells. It is filtered to remove suspended solids greater than 25 microns by passing through sand bed filters, then treated for removal of oxygen and bactericide, and a pH-controlling agent added. By

Water is pumped using the generator pumps at a discharge pressure of about 100 psi. No mixing of water with steam occurs in the lines to the injectors. Facilities were dedicated to either water injection or steam injection. Upon commencement of water injection it was found that some injectors were taking water volumes greater than their target, others were experiencing back-pressures at the formation and a few were not taking any water at all. operational adjustments were made Hence, as such

chokes were regulated, injectors were backflowed, or discharge pressures were increased. Also, there were delays in calibrating steam meters to correctly interpret water injection rates; calibrated meters had to be moved from one injector to the other. Another problem encountered was shortage of water supply to North Palo Seco WASP during 1999. Logistically North Palo Seco is located last on the water line, further away from the booster pumps than the three other fields. It was not until February 2000 that the problem was resolved, by utilizing an existing line from adjacent Forest Reserve field to transport water from Forest Reserve water wells directly to North Palo Seco.

RESULTS AFTER ONE YEAR The WASP projects are monitored on a well by well, and pattern by pattern basis. Daily checks are made on wells by personnel from field. Bi-weekly meetings and quarterly field reviews are held between Unit. To evaluate the performances of WASP some of the the reservoir engineer in Technical Services and field personnel in the Production

end 1999, 10,000 barrels of water per day was

SPE 69905

SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

field parameters monitored are: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) oil production rate cost to produce a barrel of oil workover cost reservoir temperature reservoir pressure

have been decreasing since water injection began. Lower temperatures cause loss of mobility of oil in the reservoir 1999. and a resultant several decline patterns in oil production as is evident in some of the WASP wells during Hence, were returned to steam injection after approximately one year of water injection. Pump submergence was recorded in the ApexQuarry field. Figure 12 is a plot of average pump submergence for all WASP wells in Apex-Quarry during 1999. brought The graph indicates that constant a gradual increase in pump water injection at 3500 barrels per day in this field about submergence in most WASP patterns.

Figure 8 is a plot of total nett oil (fiscalized) for the four WASPs verses time. As can be seen, a decline rate of 12% per annum during 1997, 1998 changed to an incremental rate of 10% per annum when WASP started. This increase is due to by-passed oil being swept by cold water as the water underruns the reservoir. Oil zones that were insufficiently swept by steam because of steam channeling and overriding were displaced by cold water. The best response was obtained from the

THE WAY FORWARD WITH WASP The nett oil production from each WASP project is presented in Figure 13 North Palo Secos oil production has been showing a slight decline since water injection began in February 1999, mainly because injection rates were below target. A field review of the WASP patterns in North Palo Seco in March 2000 recommends that some patterns should be returned to steam because of declining gross, nett and temperatures. Hence, five (5) patterns were put on steam cycle in April 2000,

Bennett Village flood which showed a gradual increase from 306 bopd in February 1999 to 418 bopd in March 2000. A dramatic decrease in the cost to produce a

barrel of oil (cost/bbl) was realized with the conversions to WASP. Figure 9 shown the average cost/bbl for the four projects, before and after WASP. The reduction was due mainly to savings in natural gas purchases for steam generation. Since WASP started, there has also been a reduction in workover cost. Figure 10 is a plot of average workover cost for the four projects with time. Since conversion to water injection there has been fewer downhole pump changes, damaged liners or direct communication between injector and offtake. The average temperature of the North Palo Seco and Apex-Quarry WASP wells was plotted with time since the inception of water injection in February 1999. As can be seen in Figure 11, the temperatures of the WASP patterns in both floods

and their performance will be monitored on a continuous basis. It is planned to inject steam at 1500 bspd and water at 1600 bwpd in the WASP area. Apex-Quarrys oil production has been fairly

constant since WASP started, although gross has been increasing. Water cut has been on the Average wellhead increase and is now at 84%.

temperature has been constant at 106oF and pump submergence has increased slightly since water injection began. A field review held in March 2000

VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE 69905

recommends displaced. identified.

that

injection

points

should

be

CONCLUSIONS 1. Four (4) Petrotrins steamfloods were

changed so that unswept oil may be contacted and Nine (9) new injection points were It is planned to continue injecting at successfully converted to WASP during 1999 with a minimum outlay of capital expenditure. 2. Since WASP was initiated, there has been an increase in total nett oil from the four (4) steamfloods. An oil decline of 18% during 1998 was reversed to an increase of 12% in 1999. WASP was recommended so that oil bypassed during steamflooding could be contacted and displaced by cold water. The increase would have been greater were it not for a shortage of water supply for water injection. 3. Bennett Village, a field that had been off injection during 1994 and 1995 because of surface eruptions has shown a steady increase in nett oil since put on water injection. Fiscalized oil has gradually increased from 306 bopd in February 1999 to 418 bopd in March 2000. A new pattern was formed with PS 874 as the injector, and it has been responding since put on injection in August 1999. It is planned to continue injecting in Bennett Village at 1500 bwpd and then return to steam when nett oil and temperature show a decline. Other Petrotrin steamfloods such as Guapo, 5. It is planned to continue monitoring WASP performance and implement new strategy, as it becomes necessary. Other Petrotrin steamfloods will be evaluated for WASP trial. The experience gained from these conversions will be used in future trials. 4. WASP performance was monitored on a short term and long term basis from operational, reservoir engineering and profitability angles. Five (5) patterns in The direct operating cost to produce a barrel of oil (cost/bbl oil) of the floods was reduced by 33% since WASP began, mainly because of reductions in steam cost and workover cost. The steamfloods remain competitive in a soft oil environment.

3500 bwpd in Apex Quarry, and tailor down high water cut wells as necessary. Since water injection commenced in Central Los Bajos in August 1999, several of the wells are showing response. Also, the CL 123 pattern which had been off because of too high water cut, has been producing at increasing oil cuts since put on water injection. produced. One WASP pattern is to be returned to steam because of viscous oil being This field has shown a sharp drop in It is workover cost since WASP was started. 3000 bwpd in the WASP area.

planned to continue injecting at approximately

North Palo Seco and one (1) in Central Los Bajos were returned to steam in April 2000.

Parrylands and Cruse 'E' will be evaluated for WASP trial in future field reviews . The experience gained from conversions of the four (4) steamfloods discussed in this paper will be surely used in furture WASP trials.

SPE 69905

SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

6.

prototype

surveillance

system

to

and

Caribbean

Petroleum

Engineering

recommend cycles for water and steam for the respective WASP projects has been formulated and is being tested.

Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1994 April 26-29 6. Hong, K.C., to : "Guidelines Waterdlood", for SPE Converting Reservoir Steamflood

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank management of the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited for permission to publish this paper. We also thank those persons in Technical Services Department and Southern District Business Units for their cooperation.

Engineering (Feb 1987) 67-76. 7. Sufi, A.H., : "A Method of Alternating Steam and Water Injection for Recovering Heavy Oils, " paper SPE/DOE 20246 presented at SPE/DOE Seventh Symposium on enhanced Oil Recovery, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1990 April 22-25.

SI METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS REFERENCES Acres x 4.046856 * 1. Ramlal, V., Lewis, K. : "A Performance Analysis of Petrotrin's North Palo Seco Steamflood", paper SPE 36144 presented at Fourth Latin American Engineering and Caribbean Petroleum Port-of-Spain, Conference, Bbl x 1.589873 Cp x 10 * (degree F - 32)/1.8 ft. x 3.048 * in. x 2.54 * md x 9.869233 psi x 6.894757 E-01 E-01 E-03 E-00 E-01 E-00 E-04 = = = = = = ha m3 Pa.s C m cm um2 kPa

Trinidad, 1996 April 23-26. 2. Hong, K.C., Stevens, C.E. : "Water-AlternatingSteam-Process Improves Project Economics at West Coalinga L.S., Field, "SPE F. : Reservoir "WaterAlleviated Engineering (Nov. 1992) 407-413. 3. Bautista, Friedmann, Alternating-Steam-Process (WASP)

E+00 =

* Conversion factor is exact

Downdip Steam Migration in Cymric field", paper SPE/DOE 27794 presented at SPE/DOE Ninth Symposium of Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1994 April 17-20. 4. De Francisco, S. T., Hong, K.C., : Utilizing WASP and Hot Waterflood to Maximize the Value of a Thermally Mature Steam Drive in the West Coalinga Field", paper SPE 29665 presented at the Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, California, 1995 March 8-10. 5. Khan, J., Lewis, W., Maharajh, at D.H., : "Steamflooding Experiences Petrotrin

Historical and Technical Perspective", paper SPE 27056 presented at Third Latin American

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SPE 69905

RESERVOIR PROPERTIES Pattern Size, acre Gross Sand Thickness, ft Nett sand Thickness, ft Formation Depth, ft Porosity, % Reservoir Pressure, psi Reservoir Temperature, F Permeability, md Oil Gravity, API Oil Viscosity, cp @ 85F Steam Injection Rate, bspd

4 PETROTRIN'S STEAMFLOODS FOR WASP 3.5 - 5.0 100 - 300 60 - 130 700 - 2100 33 300 - 600 120 - 300 150 - 400 14 - 18 500 - 800 300

CHEVRON'S WEST COALINGA 13-D PILOT 5.4 90 60 1200 - 1700 35 100 240 2000 14 1900 350

Table 1 : Reservoir Properties

NORTH FYZABAD S TEAMFLOOD NET PRODUCTION VS TIME

PRODUCTION (BOPD) 400 300 200 100 0 Jun-94 Jun-95 Jun-96 Jun-97 Feb-95 Feb-96 Feb-97 Dec-94 Dec-95 Dec-96 Dec-97 Feb-98 Jun-98 Dec-98 Aug-94 Aug-95 Aug-96 Aug-97 Aug-98 Apr-94 Apr-95 Apr-96 Apr-97 Oct-94 Oct-95 Oct-96 Oct-97 Apr-98 Oct-98

Commencement of Water Injection

DATE

Figure 1 : North Fyzabad WASP Pilot Project. Nett Oil vs Time

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SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

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12

VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE SPE #

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SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

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14

VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE SPE #

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SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

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VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE SPE #

PETROLEUM COMPANY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LIMITED LAND PRICE AND DIRECT LIFTING COST
25 20 US$/BBL 15 10 5 0 Nov-97 Nov-98 Jan-98 Jun-98 Jan-99 Jun-99 Jul-98 Feb-98 Feb-99 Mar-98 Dec-97 Dec-98 Mar-99 Apr-98 Aug-98 Sep-98 Apr-99 Jul-99 Aug-99 May-98 May-99 Sep-99 Oct-97 Oct-98 Land Price Direct Lifting cost

Financial Years 1998 and 1999

Figure 7 : Land Oil Price and Direct Lifting cost

PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE TOTAL NET OIL ALL WASP PROJECTS

PRODUCTION (BOPD) 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 Jan-97 Feb-97 Mar-97 Apr-97 May-97 Jun-97 Jul-97 Aug-97 Sep-97 Oct-97 Nov-97 Dec-97 Jan-98 Feb-98 Mar-98 Apr-98 May-98 Jun-98 Jul-98 Aug-98 Sep-98 Oct-98 Nov-98 Dec-98 Jan-99 Feb-99 Mar-99 Apr-99 May-99 Jun-99 Jul-99 Aug-99 Sep-99 Oct-99 Nov-99 Dec-99 Jan-00 Feb-00 Mar-00 1997 JANUARY - 2000 MARCH
OIL (BOPD)

WASP started 99 Feb

Figure 8 : Total Nett Oil Production Performance for all WASP Projects

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SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

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AVERAGE COST / BBL PERFORMANCE ALL WASP PROJECT

COST PER BARREL (TTD) TOTAL COST/BBL 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Oct-95 Oct-96 Jul-95 Jul-96 Apr-95 Apr-96 Jan-95 Jan-96 Jan-97

WASP started 1999 February

Oct-97

Oct-98

Jan-98

DATE

Figure 9 : Average Cost/BBl Performance for all WASP Projects

AVERAGE WORKOVER COST ALL WASP PROJECT

W/OVER COST (TTD) 250 200 150 100 50
Feb-99 Mar-99

TOTAL COST/BBL

WASP started 1999 February

0
Nov-98 Dec-98 Jan-99 Oct-98

Aug-99

Sep-99

Apr-99

Jan-99

Nov-99

DATE

Figure 10 : Average Workover Cost for all WASP Projects

May-99

Dec-99

Jun-99

Jul-99

Oct-99

Oct-99

Jul-97

Jul-98

Apr-97

Apr-98

Apr-99

Jul-99

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VIJAY RAMLAL AND KEN SONO SINGH

SPE SPE #

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE PROFILE

WELL HEAD TEMPERATURE DE F 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 May-99 Mar-99 Sep-99 Nov-99 Apr-99 Aug-99 Jun-99 Oct-99 Jul-99 TIME

WHT - North Palo Seco

WHT - Apex Quarry

Figure 11 : Average Temperature for North Palo Seco and Apex Quarry WASP Projects

PUMP SUBMERGENCE FOR APEX QUARRY

(SUBMERGENCE) FEET 400 350 300 250 200
May-99 Mar-99 Aug-99 Oct-99 Apr-99 Sep-99 Nov-99 Jun-99 Jul-99

Pump Submergence

TIME

Figure 12 : Pump Submergence for Apex Quarry WASP

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SUCCESS OF WATER-ALTERNATING STEAM PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL RECOVERY AT PETROTRIN

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NETT OIL PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE FROM FOUR WASP PROJECTS

2500 APEX QUARRY BENNETT VILLAGE CENTRAL LOS ABJOS NORTH PALO SECO

PRODUCTION (BOPD)

2000 1500 1000 500 0

WASP started 1999 February

Sep-97

Sep-98

Sep-99

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Mar-97

Mar-98

Mar-99

Jan-00

Jul-97

Jul-98

Jul-99

Nov-97

Nov-98

May-97

May-98

1997 JANUARY - 2000 MARCH

Figure 13 : Nett Oil Production from four WASP Projects

May-99

Nov-99

Mar-00