Alaska/Canada. Prudhoe Bay operators lay plans for mammoth seawater injection project

Journal Article · Mon Feb 25 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6197150

Production at Prudhoe Bay has passed the billion-barrel mark, and 2 issues are now in the forefront for the operators of North America's largest oil field. First, how should a $2-billion waterflood be developed for the sprawling, complex reservoir. Second, how will gas sales from the field (in contrast to reinjection of produced gas) affect ultimate production of crude, gas, and liquids when the proposed gas pipeline is built. The major producers at Prudhoe Bay - Atlantic Richfield Co., Sohio Alaska Petroleum Co., and Exxon Co - have each constructed 3-dimensional computer models of Prudhoe Bay predicting future reservoir behavior. Also, the State of Alaska has contracted for a similar model to compare with the projections by the companies. The results of these studies (the so-called decline or production curve for the field under various parameters fed into the computer) are not yet available to the general public. Producers at Prudhoe Bay are confident that the reservoir is performing much as they had anticipated when production began in June 1977 and that, with proper management, the long-predicted 40% recovery of original in-place oil in the reservoir can be realized.

• OSTI ID: 6197150
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 78:8; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALASKA
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESOURCES
SEAWATER
USA
WATER
WATERFLOODING
WELLS