Enhanced Oil Recovery in Malaysia: Making it a Reality

Abstract

Abstract A considerable amount of hydrocarbon resource is estimated to remain in the ground even after primary and secondary recoveries in the fields. As of 2003, the estimated oil-in-place from the forty-seven producing fields in Malaysia stand at about 20.1 BSTB, with a cumulative production of 4.9 BSTB and reserves of 2.5 BSTB1. This translates to an averaged recovery factor of only 36.8 percent for producing fields in Malaysia. For this reason, the remaining oil-in-place of 12.7 BSTB i.e. 63.2% of STOIIP will be the prime target for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects. On top of the value that could be gained through EOR applications, most of the fields are already entering maturing stage for primary and/or secondary depletion with declining oil rates and increasing water-cut and GOR trend. This situation will further merit the application of EOR processes. However, to date, there has been no full-field application of EOR in Malaysia, with the exception of a pilot WAG project in Dulang field2,3 and MEOR stimulation project in Bokor field4–6. In 2000, a screening study on seventy-two (72) reservoirs in Malaysia has identified almost a billion barrels of additional reserves that can be achieved through EOR. Majority of these potentials resides in a few major reservoirs, which carries about 60% of the total EOR potential7. The screening study has also identified several key EOR technologies that are most applicable in Malaysia, namely gas injection, chemical injection, and microbial. Thermal processes were investigated but have been ruled out due to the operational, properties of reservoir fluid, safety and commercial limitation of the methods for Malaysian offshore applications. However, transforming those potentials into real projects may face some challenges and change of operating philosophy. Factors such as facilities condition, sources of injection gas, reservoir characterization, technology applicability, and commercial aspects will play an important role in planning for an EOR projects in Malaysia. This paper presents the possible opportunities that could be realized by EOR applications, and discusses issues and challenges including change of mindsets required in making EOR a reality in Malaysia.