Demonstration of MEOR as an alternative enhanced oil recovery technique in Nigeria offshore oilfield

Abstract

Eni oilfield has been experiencing production decline with increase in water output. The implementation of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) can help to extract some percentages of the original oil in place (OOIP). EOR methods are capital intensive and few are environmental hazardous. In a bid to address these issues, this paper discusses on an alternate economically viable enhanced oil recovery technique which has the potential to curb the challenges of other conventional EOR methods.This work suggested a 3 stage approach of applying microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) method for oil recovery in Eni field. The reservoir characteristics in Eni field were studied, the average porosity  value of the reservoirs is between 0.238 and 0.241.The reservoir characteristics and parameters were found suitable for the  application of MEOR technique for effective oil drainage from the delineated reservoir compartments. Microbial flooding was found to be matured in reservoirs with temperature less than 200 F, brine salinity not more than 100,000 ppm, water depth not more than 3500m and permeability should be above 30 (Md). It was recommended that MEOR  approach should be applied in Eni Oilfield for increment of oil production and reduction in water cut due to its efficiency and economic viability.