Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

50% of Malaysias producing oil fields have EOR

potential (Estimated)
Currently, more than 10 EOR projects in the pipeline at
various maturation stages.
Since Sept 2014, EOR implemented at Tapis oil field
(Offshore Terengganu)
This project, worth RM10 billion boost declining
production between 25,000 to 35,000 barrels per day
(bbl./d) in 2016 and between 3,000 to. 4,000 bbl./d in
2017.
Tapis is one of seven mature fields offshore Peninsular
Malaysia, developed by ExxonMobil and PETRONAS via 25-
years PSC Energizing Sustainable Future
 Marginal Oil Fields Development
PETRONAS - Initiated Risk Sharing Contracts (RSC) for
Marginal Oil Fields development
Marginal Oil Fields Development Aims to rejuvenate
the oil and gas industry, since majority of Malaysian
oil fields are entering the mature phase
Mature phase: Declining oil and gas extraction, after 30
years of exploration and production (E&P)
Malaysia has around 106 marginal fields, with approx.
580 million barrels of oil.

Energizing Sustainable Future

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Source:drillinginfo.com
Energizing Sustainable Future
Classification of MEOR
The first one is the bacteria injection normally referred
to as traditional MEOR method with nutrients.
the second method involves simulation of indigenous
bacteria through injection of nutrients.
The application of MEOR technology can either be in the
form of a cyclic (single well simulation), microbial
flooding recovery.
or selective plugging recovery.
 Cyclic microbial recovery
In cyclic microbial recovery, microorganisms and nutrients are
injected into production wells.
The wells are shut-in for a period long enough to allow microbial
growth and metabolites formation.
This can be for a number of days or weeks. Finally, the oil
production phase begins and extends over a period of weeks or
months.
In cyclic microbial recovery, when production declines, another
phase of injection is normally started.
In this case, the depth of the area covered by bacteria would be
limited by the injection rate and the kinetics of the microbial
process
The second type of application is
microbial flooding.
In microbial flooding, the microbial growth is usually stimulated by
adding nutrients to the injection water to encourage the
proliferation of microorganisms indigenous to the formation.
If the requisite microbial activity is not present, then
microorganisms can be injected into the formation along with the
nutrients.
In some approaches injection into the formation is stopped to
allow time for the in situ growth and metabolism to occur.
In other approaches, injection of brine continued after nutrient
and/or cell injection.
This option would most likely be less expensive as the growth
would be stimulated in larger parts of the reservoir,
Particularly where the carbon source (residual oil) is located, which
is usually the target of the enhanced oil recovery treatment
Basic Process in MEOR Schematic
MEOR Schematic

Figure: Schematic of Microbial flooding recovery.

(www.netl.doe.gov).
Energizing Sustainable Future
 Applications MEOR Cont.
The microbial selective plugging encompasses
microbial process to divert water into low
permeability regions to block water channels deep in
the reservoirs.
With this type of treatment, nutrient preferentially
flow into the high permeability regions, which then
stimulates biomass and polymer production in these
regions;
both of which reduce the permeability of the rock .
In contrast, heavy oil modification is usually by
microbial decomposition of long chain compounds
within the formation.
Developments in MEOR
Engineering of new strains of bacteria by proper adaptation to high
salinity, temperature and
pressure conditions to meet reservoir conditions in the North Sea oilfields
Investigation of microbial fluid effect on rock properties
Identification of good nutrient for the microbes for quick stimulation
under reservoir conditions
Investigation of oil releasing mechanisms /oil recovery process during
MEOR
Modelling of MEOR activities to develop predictive models that can
enhance successful
implementations
Possible application or field test of the knowledge gain from the studies
and the findings on field
scale for enhanced oil recovery
EOR cont.
Shell and PETRONAS agreed to invest $12 billion
over 30 years in two EOR projects offshore
Sarawak and Sabah (Baram Delta and North
Sabah) covering nine fields.

Expected to boost reserves by 750 million

barrels and use the worlds first offshore,
chemical injection process for resource
recovery

Energizing Sustainable Future

 Advantages of MEOR treatment:
Increase Oil Recovery Factor and thus life of the field is extended for years.
Reduce production declines.
Cost reduction on the well abandonment, as these wells can be turned to
production economically.
Increased water flooding efficiency.
Decreased water cut, significantly improves oil production and cash flow.
A simple operation which can be implemented on small pilot area of 5-10
wells.
No capital expenditure required for the treatment.
Commercially proven, fast and simple application .
Utilizes indigenous microorganisms, environmentally friendly and no harsh
chemicals or additives used.
Results can be realized within 2-3 weeks after the treatment
 Reduction of oil/water interfacial tension and modification
of porous media wettability by surfactant production and
bacterial action.
Selective plugging of porous media by microorganisms
and their metabolites.
Oil viscosity reduction caused by gas solution in the oil
due to bacterial gas production
or degradation of long-chain saturated hydrocarbons.
Production of acids that dissolve rock improving porous
media permeability.
MEOR mechanism
Advantages of MEOR
Contd.