Engineering Research Centre in Reservoir and Production Management

Abstract

The present proposal is divided into four research lines, namely: 1) Production Optimization (RL1) - Reservoir Modeling; 2) Production Optimization (RL2) - Artificial Lift and Flow Assurance; 3) EOR/IOR (RL3); and 4) Water Handling (RL4). In the Reservoir Modeling plan, the initial application (first years of project) will be in a reservoir with the characteristics of the Peregrino field and, depending on the results, some tests will also be done in Carbonate reservoirs. The goal is to obtain the best methodologies and tools for improving the recovering factor. In the Artificial Lift and flow Assurance plan, also considering the scenario of the Peregrino field, the biggest challenges are flow assurance problems and the behavior of subsea deepwater equipment such as separators and pumps. Investigations will concentrate on improving the performance of Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP), modelling thermidynamical and thermophysical properties of petroleum fluids and testing new separator concepts. In the EOR/IOR plan, the proposal is to investigate key aspects of the CO2 injection process in a heavy oil reservoir such as the swelling factor of the oil with varying concentrations of CO2 in the injected gas, the variation in the oil transport properties such as viscosity and density with different proportions of CO2 in the gas phase, effect on the interfacial tension between water and oil and also the effect on the contact angle with the rock -which ultimately means the rock preference for each fluid- for various concentration of the gas. The plan is to carry the investigation at the pressure and temperature of the target reservoir. In the Water Handling plan, the proposal involves addressing different aspects of the general water handling concept, which are divided into the use of divergent flow as a methodology for reducing the volume of produced water; assessment of scaling formation and of the produced nanoparticles as risks of blockage and for the environment; development of analytical techniques for the monitoring of specific ions, most importantly sulfate, in high salinity solutions, the monitoring of polymer degradation into conditions of polymer flooding and the analyses of different aspects involved in the formation and break-down of oil-in-water emulsions for oil removal. A common concern of the four research teams is to find the most effici for a given application. In the present context of the oil & gas industry, the best technologies are those consistent with high efficiency, low energy demand, low cost and low risk. The periodical organization of workshops involving the four research teams, as described in the Governance, Management and Structure Plan file will be crucial to establish connections between the researchers and to integrate people into a single prospect. (AU)