Dynamics of hydrocarbon production in long-developed fields of the South Caspian basin with emphasis on reserves renewability

Abstract

AbstractThe scientific basis of the paper is the concept of renewability of oil and gas resources. In accordance with this concept, the purpose of this paper is to estimate the volumetric rate of natural replenishment of the reservoir with oil and gas using the example of long-developed Bibieybat oil and Garadag gas condensate fields in the South Caspian Basin (SCB). The methodological approach of this assessment is based on the authors' assumption that at the late stage of field development, the recoverable amount of hydrocarbon fluids is compensated by the amount of their natural inflow, as a result of which oil or gas production stabilizes. The analysis of the dynamics of hydrocarbon production for the Bibieybat oil field covered the period from 1935 to 2018, and for the Garadag gas condensate field from 1955 to 1979. The rate of natural oil replenishment calculated for 29 operating facilities of the Bibieybat field varies per well within 0.32–1.4 ton/day (averaging 0.76 ton/day) or about 277 ton/year. The rate of natural gas inflow at the Garadag gas condensate field is about 5.2 thousand m3/day per well.