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CO2 EOR Operational Considerations

Case Study
James D. Rose
Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific

Introduction
China has fields that should benefit from gas injection.
Gas injection is a key element of US EOR success and
provides significant operational experience in gas
injection.
Leveraging past experience, while employing leadingedge technology and innovation, will maximize recovery
and reduce cost.

EXXONMOBIL EOR EXPERIENCE

ExxonMobil has involvement with a significant portion of industrys gas injection
projects, one-third of the additional oil production. Significant portion in US.
Loudon:
Surfactant Flood
Prudhoe Bay:
HC Gas Injection

Pembina:
Polymer Flood

17 Canadian Fields:
HC Gas Injection
Judy Creek, Wizard
Lake, Penbina
Nisku, Rainbow
River, Hibernia

Snorre, Statfjord:, Grane

HC Gas Injection

Ruhlermoor,
Georgsdorf:
Steamflood

Tengiz:
Sour Gas Injection

Battrum and
Fosterton :
Insitu Combustion
Cold Lake:
Cyclic Steam
Stimulation
Iron River and Celtic:
Single-Well SAGD
5 California Projects:
Steamfloods and
Insitu Combustion

Abu Dhabi: Gas Injection

(under evaluation)

Hawkins:
Gas Injection

Malaysia:
Gas Injection
(under evaluation)

Jay:
N2 Injection

19 West US Projects:
CO2 Injection
Means, Salt Creek, Aneth,
Slaughter, Wasson, among
others

South Pass 89: HC

Gas Injection

Gas Injection (Miscible, Immiscible)

Chemical Processes
Thermal Processes

W. Yellow Creek:
Polymer Flood

Polymer Flooding
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ExxonMobil Permian Basis Example: Means Field

Miscible CO2 pattern flood
Miscible / WAG
Means, USA

Streamline
Analysis

Lithology
Perm
Well spacing
Thickness

EOR Displaceable Oil

(Sorw - Sorm) PV

Dolomite
20 md (0.1-200)
10-acre/20-acre
300 ft

Improved recovery over waterflood by 15%

through infill drilling, waterflood
improvements and CO2 miscible flooding

Integrated Reservoir Management a Key to Success

Fundamental
Studies at
Rock-Pore Level

Geologic
Modeling

EOR
Laboratory
Studies
Reservoir / Process
Simulations

Surveillance and
Flood Management

Field Pilots

Enhanced recovery at Means has grown significantly beyond initial expectations due to efficient CO2
utilization, extended field life, and improved sweep efficiency (focused reservoir management).
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Other Operational Considerations

Dehydration System
Glycol dehydration of CO2 more difficult than natural gas
Requires higher heat loads for regeneration
Higher foaming tendencies can potentially lower dehydration capability

Compressor Cylinder Lubrication System

CO2 scavenges lubricants from cylinder walls
Separate force fed system using high viscosity oil

Corrosion Mitigation Upgrades

Tanks have Vapor Recovery Units to maintain gas blanket pressures
Wellhead & Tree: Injectors 316 stainless steel
Injection Tubing - Duoline 20
Filament-wound Glass-Reinforced Epoxy liner
Low cost alternative to CRA

Rod pump rods - Spray metal with

plastic coating
Duoline 20
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Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology

Labarge pilot testing Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology
Operational Advantage: Separation of high pressure gas without reducing pressure
(recompression for injection not required)

Figure 2, Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology for Developing Sour Gas Reserves, as presented in Abu Dhabi
at May 2009 GasTech Conference.
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Conclusions
China can increase resources significantly if it can fully
exploit oil recovery potential from gas injection
When CO2 injected, carbon capture also a result
Maximum recovery, at reduced cost, possible by
leveraging industry experience while employing leadingedge technology and innovation
ExxonMobil has significant world-wide experience that
can help China in efforts to achieve its gas injection
potential whether miscible or immiscible.

Addendum

Biography - James D. Rose

Currently Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific, ExxonMobil
Upstream Ventures (East) Limited
Diversity of global upstream experience with ExxonMobil since 1981
Exploration, Development and Production
Engineering, Operations, Commercial, Business Development
Asia-Pacific, Nigeria, North Sea, Venezuela, USA
Experience related to topic:
Participated in reservoir studies of inert gas and polymer
injection. Successfully pilot tested CO2 injection (immiscible)
Estimated additional recovery and developed business case for
world-scale gas Injection project (miscible, 4 fields)
Managed 2 BCFD gas injection program (miscible, 20 fields)
Education:
BS Engineering - Texas A&M University, 1981
MBA - Webster University London, 1992
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