Arcanjo Wacunzo - 3021399 Phase 1 Project
Arcanjo Wacunzo - 3021399 Phase 1 Project
Arcanjo Wacunzo - 3021399 Phase 1 Project
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[Phase 1] Technical Report: The Gullfaks Oil and Gas Field Final Year Project
Module title: SCE-3-000 Petroleum Engineering Design Project LSBU
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Abstract
This work was undertaken under the request of Dr.Abusham following the final year
phase 1 project which is a research on the north sea field called The Gullfaks oil and
gas field. The work will demonstrate the technical challenges and the geological
information of the field specially the faults and structural formations of the field.
The Gulfaks oil and gas field, currently owned and operated by the Statoil, was
discovered in 1978 in block 34/10 at water depth of 130 – 230 metres. The field
production was initially estimated to have 2.1 billion of barrels recoverable reserve. The
field has reached its highest production in 2001 having registered of 180 thousand
barrels per day. However it is currently producing approximately 40,000 barrels of oil
per day. Although it has been previously discovery productions started only in 1986.
Our study set out to analyse the technical challenges of the Gulfaks and also to discuss
the economic factor on this field based on the information obtained during research and
the assumptions. Firstly, research was undertaken to study the geological structures of
the field which was focused on the lithology, stratigraphy, rock formation, Sedimentary
Depositional Environments of the Field, Geological uncertainties and finally a study on
the processing facilities of the oil and gas field.
Today the field is capable of producing up to 70,000 stb/d from the three platforms. The
reservoir sands are Cook Formation, Statfjord Formation and Brent Group from shallow
to fluvial sediments, from early to middle Jurassic age. In order to maintain the
pressure above the bubble point it has been used water injection as the main drive
mechanism.
The field has faced a water-breakthrough resulted in sand production led by complex
geology in addition to field performance. Nevertheless, in order to compensate the loss
of production Tarbert and Statfjord sands was accelerated.
II. Contents
I. Abstract ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
II. List of Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------------------3
III. List of Figures and tables --------------------------------------------------------------------4
Chapter I. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
2.1 Background ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
2.2 Objectives ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
2.3 Executive Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
Chapter II Location and Gullfaks Field Description ------------------------------------------7
1.2 Description and history of the field ---------------------------------------------------------------7
Chapter III Geology of the field ---------------------------------------------------------------------8
3.1 Stratigraphy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
3.1 Lithology -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
3.2 Sedimentary depositional Environment --------------------------------------------------------9
3.3 Geological Modelling: Subsurface 3D and 4D Maps --------------------------------------10
3.4 – The Brant Group and Formations ------------------------------------------------------------11
Chapter IV Petroleum Geology -------------------------------------------------------------------12
4.1 Trap, Seal and Timing ----------------------------------------------------------------------------12
4.2 Source Rock -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
4.3 Cap Rock ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
4.4 Facies -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
4.5 Reservoir Properties -------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
4.6 Migration and Maturation -------------------------------------------------------------------------13
Chapter V Technical Challenges and Geological Uncertainties: Faults -------------14
Chapter VI Facilities, Production and General Description of the oil Field---------15
6.1 Drive Mechanism -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
6.2 Transport ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
6.3 Economics of the Field ---------------------------------------------------------------------------17
Chapter VII Methodology, Discussion and Results ----------------------------------------17
Chapter VIII Conclusions and Recommendations ------------------------------------------18
8.1 Conclusions -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18
8.2 Recommendations ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------18
References -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19
Figures
1 – Figure 1: Image of map showing the location Gullfaks in the Norwegan region.
Pag.6
3 – Figure 3: Image showing the stratratigrafy, lithology and reservoir description based
on the age of rock. (Pag. 8)
7 – Figure 7: High 4D seismic response denotes clean sand and can be correlated to
low clay content. Whereas drilling, this update proved to have increased the amount of
clean sand in the well by more than 100 meters. Illustration by StatoilHydro (Pag. 10)
8 – Figure 8: Siesmic survey in Gullfaks field 1985 and 1999. (Pag. 10)
9 – Figure 9: Image showing the structural compartments of the formation and the
faults. (Pag. 13)
10 – Figure 10: A picture taken with canon camera in 2009 of a sample of oil produced
in the Gullfaks. (Pag. 15)
Tables
Chapter I – Introduction
1.1 - Background
This paper analyses the geological structures of the Norwegian field Gullfaks
located in the North Sea provides information on the facilities, historical and
technical challenges.
The objective of this project is to study the technical challenges that are being face
on this mature field and to analyse how the recovery factor can be increase
significantly or to economically continue production.
“The Middle Jurassic Brent Group sediments and their correlation the Norwegian
shelf are, in economic terms, the most important hydrocarbon reservoir in NW
Europe” (A. C., HASZELDIN 1992, p.1). The Gullfaks oil and gas Field, located in the
Norwegian Sector of the North Sea is the first licence ever run by a fully Norwegian
joint venture corporation. The licence group consists of Statoil (operator), Norsk
Hydro and Saga Petroleum. These are the Cook Formation, Statfjord Formation
and Brent Group.
This is a mature filed aged 36 and has been produced for many years although the
production is still on this field has faced several incidents. The Gullfaks A platform
began production on the 22nd December 1986, with Gullfaks B afterwards on 29th
February 1988 and the C platform on 4 November 1989. Three satellite fields –
Gullfaks South, Rimfaks, Skinfaks and Gullveig – have been developed with
subsea wells remotely controlled from the Gullfaks A and C platforms.
The recovery factor on Gullfaks is 59 per cent, but the goal is to increase into 62
per cent. Measures to increase recovery require horizontal and extended-reach
wells, new completion and sand control technology, and water alternating gas
injection. The Gullfaks was called the golden block when was discovered.
The goal of this project is to study the technical challenges that are being face on
this mature field and to analyse how the recovery factor can be increase
significantly or to economically continue production.
1.2 - Objectives
This work has been taken with the objectives of write a clear report on the Gullfaks
oil and gas field with a complete description of the geological information,
production facilities and historical data of the field. Moreover, the main objective to
investigate the technical challenges which are been faced in the field and in a
group work suggest a reasonable method or idea which will overcome those
challenges and lead the recovery factor to a significant increase. Furthermore,
taking into consideration the fact that reservoirs must be economics in order to
benefit from investments it is also an aim to study the economics of the field.
Executive Summary
Gullfaks is an oil field located in the Tampen area in the northern part of the North
Sea. The field was developed with three integrated processing, drilling and
housing facilities with concrete bases and steel topsides. Gullfaks B has a basic
processing plant with just first stage separation. While A and C receive and
process oil and gas from Gullfaks Sør and Gimle. The facilities are involved in
production and transport from the Tordis, Vigdis and Visund fields.
The Gullfaks reservoirs comply of Middle Jurassic sand-stones of the Brent Group,
and Lower Jurassic and Upper Triassic sandstones of the Cook, Statfjord and
Lunde Formations. The reservoirs lie 1 700 – 2 000 metres beneath the sea level.
The goal of this project is to study the technical challenges that are being face on
this mature field and to analyse how the recovery factor can be increase
significantly or to economically continue production.
The drive mechanisms which are being used are water injection and gas injection.
The drive mechanism varies between the drainage areas in the field, but water
injection constitutes the main strategy.
Production from Gullfaks is in tail production phase. A project has been initiated to
evaluate necessary upgrades for the drilling facilities at Gullfaks A, B and C. Due
to challenges with water injection wells and pressure build up in the Shetland
Formation located above the Gullfaks reservoirs.
“Following advances in drilling technology highly deviated/horizontal wells improve
recovery and accelerate field development by combining production from several
reservoirs in one single well A test programme for surfactant and WAG flooding
has been implemented on the field. Other EOR methods, such as gel and polymer
flooding, are currently being investigated for potential use.” (Svein Tollefsen 1992,
p.2)
.
Figure 1: Image of map showing the location Gullfaks in the Norwegan region. (Ref. Statoil
Wesbite)
Figure 2: Image showing the Gullfaks and the 3 platforms.(Ref,Picture taken from Statoil
website)
The Brent Group – (Middle Jurassic) forms the upper and the main part of the
reservoirs (Middle Jurassic). It is divided into two groups: The lower group (Broom,
Rannoch and Etive ) and the Upper Group (Ness and Tarbert). The Staftjord
formation (Upper Jurassic). The Cook formation (Early Jurassic).
The Brent Group consists of shaly Ness formation and intervals of sandstones.
The Staftjord formation consists of sandstones. The Cook formation is originated
from a marine clay/siltstones, not a reservoir in cook 1, bioturbated muddy
sandstones in Cook 2 and inter-bedded sand and shale in Cook 3.
The Cook formation is originated from a marine clay/siltstones, not a reservoir in
cook 1, bioturbated muddy sandstones in Cook 2 and inter-bedded sand and shale
in Cook 3.
3.2 – Sedimentary Depositional Environment
The Brent Group depositional environment is Delta System. The Staftjord
formation is originated from Fluvial-Alluvial depositional environment. The Cook
formation depositional enviroemntal is major marine shale. Showing on Figure 4, 5
and 6 how are these types of environment.
Figure 7: High 4D response denotes clean sand and can be correlated to low
clay content. Whereas drilling, this update proved to have increased the
amount of clean sand in the well by more than 100 meters. Illustration by
StatoilHydro
The figure 8 below shows the data have identified bypassed volumes in unswept
reservoir compartments, improved the estimate of residual reserves and the
associated uncertainties, also have helped to identify drilling hazards that have
evolved over the life time of the field. Since the first repeat seismic survey in 1995,
4D seismic data have been integrated into a multi-disciplinary increased oil
recovery (IOR) effort that aims to recover 70% of the in-place reserves from a
structurally complex and heterogeneous reservoir sequence.
The Brent Group: Upper Brent (Ness and Tarbert formations), Lower Brent, the
main reservoir in the Gullfaks field with 73% of the oil in place, It is a Delta
system deposited in the mid – Jurassic period, have excellent reservoir
properties and the recovery factor is 60%.
Statfjord Formation: Young sands and Old sands formations and refer to the
age of the source rock, the mica content is lower in the “young sands” which
constitutes the upper part of the Statfjord Formation, Poor sand strength, and
the recovery factor is 56 %.
The Northern North Sea region offers reservoirs of a good quality source with a high
quantity of fluids reserves. The major thick seal and efficient trapping mechanism has
been built an effective petroleum system in the reservoirs area. The well-known
Petroleum system in the Northern North is Sea is covered by a major source rocks in
the Upper Jurassic marine shale. The Upper Jurassic petroleum system involves the
Upper Jurassic source, Triassic and Lower to Middle Jurassic sandstones reservoirs,
and Kimmeridge clay formation in the late Jurassic. These reservoirs have a high
hydrocarbon generation potential properties.
4.4 Facies
The facies are very shaly sand on conventional gamma ray and neutron/density
combination logs. Besides, the conventional logs are not able to differentiate between
the various types of heterolithic facies. A developed resolution, quantitative
electrofacies analysis we taken place using multivariate statistical methods, which has
allowed facies units of c. 0.5m to 1 m thickness to be recognised.
While the secondary migration was regarded as a small distance migration of spilling
structures from fields close to the Gullfaks fields. Therefore the result of a good source
and reservoir rock with thick seal and efficient trapping mechanism has built an
effective petroleum system.
The Kimmerridge clay formation is the richest and main source rocks in the Gullfaks
field. The immature Kimmeridge Clay formation is high in organic material. Originally
the thermal maturity originated the depositional environmental formed by marine
environment sediments. The generation is Type II Kerogen with oil and gas.
Figure 9: Image showing the strutural compartments of the formation and the
faults.
The Gullfaks has 3 platforms as shown previously on figure 2; the main field is over
pressured with an initial pressure of 310 bars at a depth of 1850 m below sea level and
at 70 degree C. The oil is undersaturated with a pressure of nearly 245 bars but it
depends on the location and the depth of formation. As it is shown on the above figure,
the field is further cut by smaller faults both in dominant north-south area and east-west
this result in complex reservoir communication. Therefore this and other uncertainties
are a big challenge in placing wells in the reservoir.
According to research the main field is declining and there was reduction in production
by a third from the peak of 1994 where production went over 30 MSm3. However, the
estimative of recoverable oil reserves are 360 MSm3.
Reservoir characteristic
Area 50km2
Top Surface 1700 m TVD
Dipping:0-20 West
Oil-Water Contact: 1947 m TVD
Initial pressure: 210 bar
Bubble point pressure : 220 bar
Initial temperature: 72 deg C
Formation volume factor: 1.2
Figure 10: A picture taken with canon camera in 2009 of a sample of oil produced in
the Gullfaks.
The information of the production history in the field shows how mature it is and
investments are being made in order to keep production. This field has a very good oil
shown in figure 10 a very sweet oil with 36 API very economic which means it worth to
invest on this field all methods to enhance recovery and minimise uncertainties are
worth.
6.1 Drive Mechanism
The fluid is produced though pressure support from water, gas and alternating gas
injection. However, the drive mechanism alternates among the drainage parts of the
field and the major strategy is waterflooding. Although several fault blocks are
produced by the reduction in pressure. Hydraulic fracturing has also been a strategic
method for reservoir management 18 well were fractured and 7 more wells have
finished the control and downhole instrumentation in order to enhance oil recovery.
6.2 Transport
In Gullfaks oil goes through pipes to platform A for processing, storage and then
transport in tankers, after been processed in C rich gas not injected into the reservoir is
exported via statpipe to karsto for further processing.
There is a need to increase oil recovery by means of distribution of gas and water
injection in the diverse areas of the field. Additionally, the injection of silica gel is a
technique to increase oil recovery which is has been evaluated by the licensees. Statoil
also aims to increase recovery rate for gas from Gullfaks South Brent from 62 to 74
percent through subsea gas compression.
8.2 Recommendations
Taking into consideration the fact that the Gullfaks is a mature field it is very important
that the facilities follow maintenance program which allows improving the works in all
sector within the production and exploration. Due the geological uncertainties it is
essential a strategic plan for efficient sand control in order to keep production rates
high.
Furthermore the following can also enhance the production:
The use of time-lapse 4D seismic measurement techniques. This is considered
to be very important particularly for finding more of remaining oil. Especially on
this field that has 50 to 80 degrees slope in faults, this would optimize placing
wells in the reservoir.
Use hydraulic fracturing on future wills for effective management strategy.
Reduce H2S and restart works on the wells that were previously stopped due to
the production of H2S.
Drive mechanism should be chosen according to each field historic.
Use of gas injection due to the main field being over pressured and oil under
saturated.
References
Agustsson H., Stroenen L.K., and Solheim, O.A.,: "The Gullfaks Field: "Creating
Value by means of a Multidisciplinary Reservoir Management Approach", paper OTC
10739 presented at the 1999 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas,
3-6 May 1999.
Bale A., Owren K., and Smith M.B.,: "Propped Fracture as a Tool for Sand Control
and Reservoir Management" SPE 24992, presented at EUROPEC, Cannes, France
16-18 November 1992.
Fossen, H., and Hesthammer, J (2001): Structural core analysis from the Gullfaks area,
northern North Sea, in Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 411-439. Elsevier
Science Ltd
H.M. Ines, O. Haga, R. Instefjord and K.G. Jakobsen: "The Gullfaks Lower
Brent Waterflood Performance" paper presented at The 6th European Symposium
on Improved Oil Recovery, 21-23 May 1991 in Stavanger, Norway
http://www.statoil.com/en/OurOperations/TradingProducts/CrudeOil/Crudeoilassays/Pa
ges/GullfaksBlend.aspx [Accessed: 1st November 2014].
Talukdar, S., 2008, Reservoir Management of the Gullfaks Main Field. In:
Europec/EAGE Annual Conference and Exhibition held in Rome, Italy, June 2008.
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE 113260) [Online] Available from:
http://www.onepetro.org/mslib/servlet/onepetropreview?id=SPE-113260-MS
[Accessed: 31 October 2014].