Low Cost IOR: An Update on the W. Hackberry Air Injection Project

Abstract

Abstract Air injection is commonly used as a secondary recovery process in low permeability light oil reservoirs and high permeability heavy oil reservoirs. In a new application for air injection, the W. Hackberry Project is demonstrating that air injection can be a low cost method to improve oil recovery in high permeability light oil reservoirs. The project is testing the use of air injection in two reservoir environments:In high pressure (2500-3300 psig) reservoirs that have watered out, air injection is ongoing although insufficient volume has been injected to generate production response.In two low pressure (300-600) psig reservoirs with large gas caps and thin oil rims, air injection has generated 70,000 barrels of incremental oil production or 50% more than the normal decline. Air injection began in November of 1994 and began producing incremental oil in July of 1996. Operating experience has taught numerous valuable lessons which can be applied to reduce the cost of future projects. Key project aspects discussed include:design and operation of air injection facilities,production operations,safety considerations, andcompletion design of injection and producing wells. P. 401