Abstract
It is estimated that more than fifteen billion barrels of oil will remain in Malaysian offshore reservoirs at the end of primary and secondary recovery. This considerable resource base is the target of planned EOR projects. Although contractor specific field evaluations have been carried out, no previous study has addressed the potential EOR contribution to the Malaysian reserves mix on a broad national scale attempted herein. This paper therefore examines the potential Malaysian reserves additions through the application of suitable EOR technologies. In doing so, the paper proposes a comprehensive approach to reservoir screening and selection of technically feasible and economically viable reservoir-specific EOR processes for Malaysian fields.
Results of a screening study indicate that carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon miscible gas displacement processes are the most attractive EOR technology for large scale application in Malaysian reservoirs. Data on resource evaluation, allocation and utilization of natural gases in Malaysia, have been reviewed as to the availability of injectant supplies. These data indicate that significant carbon dioxide supplies in gas fields offshore Peninsular Malaysia and surplus natural gas supplies in Sarawak and Sabah states, provide the injectant needed for commercial miscible displacement operations. Carbon dioxide injectant is preferred for Peninsular Malaysia as it is in close promixity to potential user fields, while natural gas is reserved for onshore industrial and other commercial uses.
Given certain assumptions regarding development timing and industry cooperation, it is found feasible that incremental oil reserves additions of up to three billion barrels could be achieved within fifteen years through the application of proven gas injection technology. The effects of improved reservoir management, for example, better residual oil saturation determination, improved reservoir characterization and more accurate reservoir simulation, have not been factored into this total. However, the realization of these EOR reserves will be predicated upon a broad spectrum of economic, technological and policy constraints, which will require the concerted efforts of both industry and national energy policy makers. This paper also presents details of the constraints which must be removed in order to maximize the benefits of the EOR technologies and associated reserves for Malaysia.
