Comprehensive Study on Ultra-Heavy Oil Deposition in North Kuwait and Successful Fluid Sampling for Field Development Studies: Case Study

Abstract

AbstractThe Burgan reservoir is located in North Kuwait was discovered in 1957. First commercial oil production from this multistack sandstone reservoir started back in 1964. Operating under active bottom water drive as well as edge water drive. The primary reservoir in the field is Burgan of Lower Cretaceous age, which contributes the major oil production of the fields.Burgan reservoir is the second largest reservoir in terms of STOOIP and reserves, producing 30% of daily oil production. Significant amount of historical production came from the lower part of the reservoir where the pattern of water influx is well understood. Most of the historical production and the majority of remaining reserves are in the upper part of the reservoir where the pressure support and water influx are relatively well understood.Presence of tar was initially detected from cores and produced oil in some of the wells and visual inspection of core material. Tar zone in the Burgan was considered to be structurally controlled and occurred in specific depth window around oil-water contact. Heavy oil has been discovered in basal parts of Burgan sandstone in some of the zones within North Kuwait. Development of Burgan in north Kuwait began in the 1950s with oil recovery since then from Burgan channel sands with few exceptions in the North Kuwait as samples confirmed ultra-heavy oil.