Open Access

ARTICLE

A Novel Energy Lifting Approach Using J-Function and Flow Zone Indicator for Oil Fields

M. N. Tarhuni^1,*, W. R. Sulaiman¹, M. Z. Jaafar¹, K. M. Sabil²

1 School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, 81310, Malaysia
2 School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, 62200, Malaysia

* Corresponding Author: M. N. Tarhuni. Email:

Energy Engineering 2022, 119(1), 253-273. https://doi.org/10.32604/EE.2022.017820

Received 09 June 2021; Accepted 19 August 2021; Issue published 22 November 2021

Abstract

The X field is located in the southwestern part of block NX89 of Kentan Basin in Libya. This field is produced from Hailan multilayer consolidated sandstone with moderate rock property and a relatively low energy supplying. The reserve of subsurface energy sources is declining with years. Therefore, techniques were combined to achieve the energy optimization and increase hydrocarbon recovery. In order to understand the subsurface formation of the reservoir and facilitate oil production, global hydraulic element technique was used to quantify the reservoir rock types. In addition, stratigraphic modified Lorenz plot was used for reservoir layering. Reservoir heterogeneity was identified using stratigraphic modified Lorenz plot and Dykstra-Parsons coefficient. Leverett J-function was used to average the 13 capillary pressure curves into four main curves to represent the whole reservoir based on flow zone indicator values. Capillary pressure was calculated and plotted with normalized water saturation; a single average curve was defined to represent the rest of the curves. Water saturation was calculated using single and multiple J-functions and compared with the available logs. With multiple J-functions, the matching results were good for both high and low-quality layers, whereas using a single J-function, the match was poor, especially for low FZI layers such as H4c and H6a. Four rock types were identified for this reservoir ranging from medium to good reservoir quality and six different layers were obtained. The reservoir was heterogeneous with a Lorenz coefficient value of approximately 0.72 and a Dykstra-Parsons value of 0.70. All approaches used in this paper were validated and showed improved hydrocarbon recovery factor.

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Keywords

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