Enhanced Oil Recovery Research. Erik Nickel Project Manager, Petroleum Technology Research Centre STEPS Business-Led Network of Centres of Excellence

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1 Enhanced Oil Recovery Research Erik Nickel Project Manager, Petroleum Technology Research Centre STEPS Business-Led Network of Centres of Excellence

2 Petroleum Technology Research Non-Profit Research & Development Collaborative partnership with Industry, Government and Research Organizations Committed to reducing environmental impacts of oil production STEPS JIVE Phanerozoic Fluids Project Centre Research associated with CO 2 management IEA GHG Weyburn Midale CO 2 Storage & Monitoring Project Aquistore

3 PTRC s Portfolio of Projects

4 Sustainable Technologies for Energy Production Systems Business Led Network of Centres of Excellence

5 Saskatchewan s Heavy Oil Production 20.4 billion barrels currently in place 9% 20% Non-recoverable 91% 1.9 billion recoverable barrels of heavy oil Non-recoverable 80% 4 billion recoverable barrels of heavy oil

6 Current STEPS Focus Areas

7 CHOPS/Primary Production Wormholes Current in Research primary production prove to be a challenge for producers. Effective wormhole modeling of reservoirs will help improve production z y 0 x Well Wormholes r a r m 7

8 Wormhole Mapping Memorandum of Understanding signed with INCAS 3 to develop advanced remote sensor technologies for mapping wormholes Research program with U of R leadership Attempt to use micro-sensor technologies to help optimize existing recovery methods during primary heavy oil production

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10 JIVE Outcomes Environmental Avoided CO 2 emissions: 85 million tonnes* Natural gas not burned: 1.65 trillion cubic feet* Fresh water saved: 400 million barrels* * per billion barrels of oil (compared to Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) Economic Potential for billion + incremental barrels of oil in western Canada

11 Solvent Injection and SVX Saskatchewan Research Council: Experimental Apparatus The Overburden Pressure Vessel System Pressure rated at 10.5 MPa. Temperature controlled between 20 and 60 C. Rotate 90 from horizontal to vertical Uses water for overburden fluid.

12 Solvent Injection: SVX 3D Model Capabilities Summary The 3D Physical Model System Fibreglass with tub and Lid design NPT connections for wells, imbibing ports & thermocouples Pressure rated at 10.0 MPa Temperature between 20 and 60 C Different model sizes Use of synthetic or actual field porous media and field reservoir fluids

13 Solvent Injection Numerical Simulation Modeling: Numerical Simulation Modeling scaling and predicting field estimates Commercial numerical simulators from CMG are used: STARS & GEM Advanced techniques and algorithms developed at SRC to: Tune numerical models for the proper handling of: Non-equilibrium solubility that occurs during SVX processes To correct for excessive numerical dispersion that occurs as the gridblock size increases for field-scale simulations These techniques require: 1) PVT mixing experiments for non-equilibrium solvent solubility 2) A pair of 3D model experiments with different geometries

14 Chemical Flooding A general term for injection processes that use specialized chemical solutions. Micellar, alkaline and soap-like substances reduce surface tension between oil and water in the reservoir polymers such as polyacrylamide or polysaccharide are employed to improve sweep efficiency. The chemical solutions are pumped into injection wells. The STEPS program seeks to optimize these flooding options by studying different chemical combinations and sequences, and to identify characteristics around what might work best in a given reservoir.

15 Thermal Recovery SAGD Development of technologies to improve water handling capabilities during SAGD In Situ Combustion Air injection and Fire Flood maintaining the combustion front Identification ideal reservoir conditions for success

16 Field Pilots: Hot Water Vapour Production Project in co-operation with PTAC (technology developers) Husky providing field access Devon co-funding to gain access to results and provide consultation Photo courtesy SRC: Norm Freitag and Ray Exelby work on a PVT apparatus

17 Waterflooding

18 What is ASP? Alkali Surfactant - Polymer A process of adding of chemicals or a combination of chemicals to enhance a traditional waterflood. 1. Surfactants reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between the oil and flooded fluid 2. Alkali chemicals can then better contact the trapped oil, reacting with it to form additional surfactant 3. Polymers increase the viscosity and sweep efficiency

19 Project Types Physical study of oil bank formation Core flood tests and 2D/3D models Different injection methods Differing pressures, chemicals, sequencing General goal of flood optimization Simulation studies Examination of cost reduction strategies Novel concepts Biosurfactants

20 Selected Results Zhang 2005 Ultra-low IFTs generated with certain surfactants, and oil banks are created. If ultra-low IFT is not achieved, polymer is required.

21 Field Pilot: Unconventional Microbial EOR MEOR can improve recovery by modifying the interfacial properties of the system oil-water-minerals. In such a system, microbial activity affects: fluidity (viscosity reduction, miscible flooding); displacement efficiency (decrease of interfacial tension, increase of permeability); sweep efficiency (mobility control, selective plugging) and driving force (reservoir pressure). Project in co-operation with Husky and DuPont Husky field testing DuPont microbial technology

22 Produced Water

23 Water Management and Handling Water Cleaning: Screening of ceramic and polymeric membrane A service to aid in the decision of which membranes to use. MFD Microencapsulating Flocculating Dispersion A new type of flocculant to clean oil from water Desalinization Technologies from New Mexico Tech to aid in desalinization Forward-osmosis through a proprietary membrane

24 Water Usage Smart Water injection for water flood. Use of low salinity water to improve sweep efficiency in light and medium oil reservoirs Waterflooding Database Study Builds upon previous work at the SRC to statistically characterize water usage in waterflooding in order to improve decision-making Will eventually focus on chemical waterfloding statistical analysis as well.

25 Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program STEPS membership, and development of the Bakken Research Program, may be eligible for tax credits and refunds under SE&ED. A federal tax incentive program, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. The largest single source of federal government support for industrial R&D. Industry participants will need to examine requirements for the credit carefully

26 Saskatchewan Petroleum Research Incentive In Saskatchewan, the SPRI outlines the benefits to investing in research in Saskatchewan, including credits towards the remission of royalties and taxes based on: 50% of eligible research costs directly involving the Petroleum Technology Research Centre in Regina (to a maximum of $1 million per project), and 30% of any remaining costs directly involving the PTRC and all other eligible research costs (to a maximum of $3 million per project) The SPRI was established to help increase the capacity in Saskatchewan to conduct EOR research, and the PTRC specifically has been targeted to maximize remissions on paying royalties.

27 Summary A suite of projects to gain knowledge of enhanced oil recovery in light and tight oil reservoirs, and heavy oil Considering the certainty of decline, these will hopefully provide solutions before solutions are even required Projects designed to help us with water, be it from an environmental standpoint, or usage in waterflood

28 Current Public Sector and Academic Partners Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation Ministry of Environment

29 Thank You