Data

A successful reservoir model requires the right kinds of data as well as accurate data.

3D reservoir modeling is useful for petroleum reservoir production forecasting and for developing a methodology to optimize recovery.  Reservoir modeling requires a commitment to assimilating accurate information in the proper format and this document outlines the requirements, descriptions and importance of key data.

At Rozet Field, the lack of abundant core analyses or modern logs necessitates the adoption of more assumptions than usual in order to estimate OOIP and remaining recoverable reserves. Two different methods for calculating the recovery efficiency of the waterflood were applied withinnine 5-spot patterns resulting in maximum rates of 40% and 30% respectively. Average recovery factors in the combined 5-spot patterns are 27.5% and 24.4% respectively. Both values indicate the waterflood is probably not as effective as it could have been when compared to similar fields producing from the Muddy Formation.

The calculated OOIP for the Muddy Formation at Rozet is about 74.7 million barrels, of which a little over 19 million barrels have been recovered. The recovery factor for the field is then about 25.5%. If a 40% recovery factor is achievable with an efficient waterflood, then the remaining recoverable oil reserves from the Muddy Formation at Rozet Field are approximately 10.8 million barrels. This magnitude of a target should warrant further investment in improved and enhanced recovery methods there.

At nearby Windmill Field, secondary recovery has yet to be implemented in the Muddy reservoir. Wireline log suites containing porosity logs in this field enable more confidence in the geologic mapping and OOIP calculations than at Rozet. Cumulative oil production there is 677,735 barrels, resulting in a recovery factor of about 14.8%. Assuming the clay content does not vary significantly from that observed at the adjacent Rozet Field, a well-designed waterflood should be effective at increasing production in Windmill Field. If a recovery factor of 40% could be achieved by implementing secondary recovery efforts there, it could result in the production of an additional 1,157,465 barrels of oil.

• Nine different reservoirs in seven fields have employed fieldwide CO2 EOR in Wyoming.
• Between 2010 and 2020, incremental oil recovery from the nine CO2 EOR projects accounted for over 10% of Wyoming’s total oil production.
• Wyoming is not constrained by CO2 sources that can be used for EOR projects.
• Wyoming is also not constrained by fields potentially amenable to CO2 EOR.
• Wyoming is not constrained by pipeline capacity for additional CO2 transport, but is hampered by the existing pipeline system not reaching many of the best-potential fields, especially in the Big Horn Basin.
• The most successful CO2 floods resulted from proper reservoir characterization and associated optimized project design. Wyoming has seen incremental oil recovery from individual CO2 EOR projects as high as 18% of OOIP and volumes as high as 30 million barrels.
• Where net CO2 efficiencies could be calculated, CO2 efficiency is as low as 6 Mcf/bbl of incremental oil recovered, which compares very favorably to other successful projects around the world.

The results of EORI’s sponsored test of Viper Drill’s ultrashort radius (USR) drilling technology could be a sound investment for Wyoming operators.

Ultrashort radius drilling technology was successfully tested in two wells (an injector and a producer) at Thompson Creek Field in northeastern Wyoming that were experiencing problems due to near-wellbore formation damage.  Both wells exhibited marked improvement in performance after the drilling of four short (<30’ long) USR laterals from each borehole, indicating that this method should be considered in other wells throughout the state that are experiencing similar problems.

Reservoir characterization and predictive modeling has provided options for enhancing production in a recently discovered trend in the Muddy Formation near Hirsch Field, in northeastern Campbell County, Wyoming. This report outlines the procedures followed to develop a detailed 3-D geologic model of the Muddy Formation in the Hirsch area and provides the results of simulations run on 73 different scenarios for developing the reservoir. This study can serve as a template for operators interested in exploring possible ways to improve production in their own fields.

Advanced Resources International has published the U.S. CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery Survey for end-of-year 2020.

The Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute’s Acting Director, Lon Whitman, is a contributor to an important and anticipated publication of the U.S. CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery Survey.

The purpose of this updated survey is to provide a comprehensive status report of the 142 active CO2-EOR projects in the U.S., including enhanced production totals, reservoir characteristics, and other project parameters.

Throughout a challenging year, incremental oil production from CO2-EOR declined about 8% to 273,000 barrels per day -- this total is on par with the overall decline in U.S. crude oil production in 2020.

Despite a significant decrease in the volumes of CO2 available for injection and storage the CO2-EOR industry was able to maintain production by recycling CO2 rather than having to shut in wells. This strategy shows the resiliency of CO2-EOR during challenging economic conditions, and further supports the viability of this method as a means of storing CO2 and producing lower carbon intensity oil in the U.S.

Background and objective

How do the high K strikes in core data possibly impact oil production Ash Creek field in Pilot 3?

Outline:

• Introduction & model settings
• Comparison of the simulation results
• Primary analysis of Ash Creek data
• Conclusions

Conclusions

1. The synthetic models of Pilot 3 area are generated and the simulations are completed.
2. The high values of core permeability do impact the production, injection efficiency, and sweep efficiency.
3. In general, an uniform permeability distribution over the entire field is better for high production, high injection and high sweep efficiency over the entire field.
4. However, in a small local area, cells having high permeability seems better for production. seems better for production.
5. High heterogeneity of the field made a high remaining oil in place and a high homogeneity field will produce a high amount of oil.

Summary of Executive Orders Actions taken by the Biden administration in January 2021 which will have a direct impact on Wyoming’s economy. 

The purpose of this survey is to provide a comprehensive status report of active CO2 EOR projects in the U.S., as of end-of-year 2019. This survey provides the first update of CO2 EOR project data since the final publication of the Oil & Gas Journal (OGJ) EOR Survey in 2014.

The 2019 U.S CO2 EOR survey shows that incremental oil recovery from CO2 EOR in the U.S. has held steady at approximately 300,000 barrels of oil per day. A total of 3.0 Bcf per day of CO2 is purchased for CO2 EOR, including 1.0 Bcf per day from “industrial” sources, which represents an increase of 30% over the last seven years.

Carbon management, in the form of CO2 capture and storage, is the most viable pathway to meeting significant carbon emission reduction targets over the next several decades. This survey demonstrates the value and potential of CO2 EOR to the overall carbon management strategy in the U.S.

Periodic updates will be made to this survey to include the latest CO2 EOR project data available. This publication is intended as a public resource for petroleum and energy industry stakeholders, and is offered free of charge by ARI. The next survey update is anticipated for Fall 2021.

The 2019 Presentation to the Joint Minerals Commitee by Bryan Hassler Executive Director of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority. Topics covered include a functional approach to Wyoming's energy resources, observations, impediments to development, and planning for future success.