Abstract
The North Sea is a mature basin that has seen rapid decline during the last decade. This paper illustrates that with the appropriate targeted investment it is possible to arrest this decline and actually increase production from mature assets. The investments have increased recovery from existing fields and coupled with production from adjacent satellite fields, field life has been significantly extended.
Using the Fulmar platform as a case study this paper describes how during 2011 and 2012 production was raised from 3,000 to 15,000 STB/D. This was achieved through a combination of improved uptime, water injection reinstatement, wellwork and bringing online subsea tie backs.
Fulmar is a large oil field located in UKCS block 30/16, and originally contained 822 MMSTB. Production started in February 1982 and reached a plateau rate of 160,000 STB/D. By 2010 the recovery factor had exceeded 65% and oil production had declined to less than 3,000 STB/D.
Operational efficiency has been improved by implementing upgrades that target historical losses. During the second half of 2012, Fulmar export set a record for the longest continuous run in the platform’s history. Water injection has been increased after a 2010/2011 campaign to reinstate four water injection wells and upgrades to the seawater lift pumps and filtration.
The new Auk North satellite field has been tied back to Fulmar using four subsea wells giving over 10,000 STB/D boost to production. The Fulmar 2011/2012 coil-tubing campaign has reinstated three production wells, with the campaign showing that Fulmar still has significant upside potential.
Following the success of the Fulmar well campaign, additional interventions are planned for 2013 to increase production. A new dedicated subsurface team is currently working up infill well targets and a wells project team is actively working to reinstate the Fulmar drilling rig. Despite its maturity Fulmar has a number of near field discoveries and exciting exploration prospects that can continue to boost production volumes into the next decade.
