CO2 EOR Researchin Saudi Aramco

Nabeel Al-Afaleg, PhDSaudi Aramco3rd CSLF WorkshopJanuary 27 – 29, 2008Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

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Resources

109 bil bbls (15%)Produced358 bil bbls (50%)

Probable,Possible,Contingent

260* bil bbls (35%)Current

50 %Recoverable

*with Condensates

Interest in CO2-EOR Research

Environmental concern Win-win Promote capture and sequestration technologies EOR Production is not needed for very long time

Long lead time R&D, studies and planning

109 bil bbls (15%)Produced

358 bil bbls (50%)Probable,Possible,Contingent

260* bil bbls (35%)Current

*with Condensates

Tertiary

Thermal Gas MiscibleImmiscible

Chemical Other

CombustionSteamHot water

HydrocarbonCO2NitrogenFlue Gas

AlkalinePolymerFoamMiscellar

MicrobialElectromagnetic

Primary Recovery

Natural Flow Artificial LiftPump Gas Lift

Secondary Recovery

Pressure SupportWater Gas

>50% and

Up to 80+%

GenerallyLess than 30%

30-60%

Oil Recovery

EO

RC

ON

VE

NT

ION

AL

(From SPE-SPE-84908, 87864)

Target mobile oilin the reservoir

Target immobile oilin the reservoir

Recovery Methods

CO2

Inject dense CO2 ‘liquid’ like Swells oil and reduces viscosity Applicable to light oil reservoir (miscible) Proven: number of commercial projects Estimated incremental recovery: 5-20%

Miscibility of CO2 + Oil

CO2 (Gas) CO2 (Liq like)

Oil (Liq)

Mixture(Liq)

AtmosphericConditions 2000 psi

150oF

CO2-EOR - Basics

oil

CO2

oil

CO2

Geological complexities Viscous fingering Gravity segregation Conformance , i.e. Placing CO2 into

the ‘right’ zones Monitoring technologies Corrosion and metallurgy Cost: CAPEX & OPEX

CO2-EOR: Technical Challenges

(Data from Oil & Gas J, SPE, and other sources)

EOR Production: World

0

500

1000

1500

2000

Thermal Chemical HC Gas CO2 Others

Pro

du

ctio

n(M

BD

)

69%

9% 10% 10%

2%

~ 3 Million b/d (4%)

Carbon Management at Saudi Aramco

Established a multidisciplinary team Developed carbon management technology

Roadmap Engaged with industry to increase awareness Enhanced collaboration

Lab Studies

ReservoirSimu lat ion

Pilot Project

Alliances

JIPs

Associat edStudies

CO2C apture FixedSources CO2 EOR

IndustrialApp licat ion

CO2C aptureMobile Srcs

CO2 Sequest .

SAUDI ARAMCO CARBON MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGYROAD MAP

Industrial & Research Alliances

CO2 from C ars

CO2 fromMarine

Capture fromAir

CO2B ased

CarbonBased

CO2 Storage

CO2Monitoring

CO2 Impact s

MIT-CSI ITC -PTRC Chal mers IEA- GHG IK R &D TNO, IFP

IK CO2Sources

AmineScrubbing

CLC for Petro-fuels

CDMApp licat ions

LabStudies

ReservoirSimulation

PilotProject

AlliancesJIPs

AssociatedStudies

CO2 CaptureFixed Sources CO2 EOR

IndustrialApplication

CO2 CaptureMobile Srcs

CO2Sequest.

SAUDI ARAMCO CARBON MANAGEMENTTECHNOLOGY ROAD MAP

Industrial & Research Alliances

CO2 fromCars

CO2 fromMarine

Capturefrom Air

CO2Based

CarbonBased

CO2Storage

CO2Monitoring

CO2Impacts

MIT-CSI ITC-PTRC Chalmers IEA-GHG IK R&D TNO, IFP

IK CO2Sources

AmineScrubbing

CLC forPetro-fuels

CDMApplications

eg, Weyburn

EOR Research Program

ScreeningStudies

EOR PilotCandidates

EORMethodsResearch

Evaluateand

Assess

Chemical

Thermal

Gas(CO2)

Microbial

SiteSelection

DetailedReservoirStudies

Pilot TestImplementation

Preliminary

Detailed Assessment

EvaluationPeriod

CO2-EOR: Research Plan

SwellingMMP

CoreFlooding

AsphaltenePrecipitation

Simulation

Fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interactions Complex CO2-oil-water phase behavior CO2 interaction with reservoir rock CO2 interaction with cements Cap rock integrity

Corrosion Viscosity and miscibility controls Increase capacity to inject more CO2

Flood performance monitoring, diagnosticssurveillance and surveillance technologies

Field studies and pilots -- Weyburn

CO2-EOR: Research Topics

Saudi Aramco is addressing concern overglobal climate change by promoting R&D incarbon capture and storage

Established a Carbon Management team with atechnology road map

Active in conducting R&D studies in CO2-EOR

Concluding Remarks