Soroush OilField
An increase of at least 500 million barrels in cumulative oil production in the Soroush field is possible by implementing advanced recovery enhancement methods based on the model provided by Sahand University of Technology; thus, it can be clearly said that the contracts for technological development of oil reservoirs, which were put on the joint agenda of industry and university with the idea of the Minister of Oil, have borne fruit.
According to the Iranian Offshore Oil Company, Javad Rostami, director of the Soroush field recovery enhancement plan, said: Studies show that by implementing one of the CO2 or polymer injection methods based on the model prepared by Sahand University of Technology and its technical consultants, it will be possible to increase the cumulative production of the Soroush field by up to 500 million barrels within the current production wells and up to about 1.5 billion barrels of production on the scale of the entire field.
Significant increase in recovery rate in Soroush field
The head of exploration plans management at the Iranian Offshore Oil Company added: The initial recovery rate of the field is low due to the heavy nature of this oil, but the simulations conducted and the review of the output of the presented models show that by implementing one of the polymer or CO2 injection methods, we will witness a significant increase in the recovery rate of this field.
Realizing the benefits of tertiary recovery methods
He said: CO2 and polymer injection in Iranian oil fields is not unprecedented, while these methods have been implemented in the world for years and have proven their efficiency. Of course, secondary recovery methods such as gas and water injection are currently being implemented at the Offshore Oil Company, but by implementing this model, we can achieve the third stage, or tertiary recovery.
Creating a comprehensive database in the Soroush field
Rostami continued: Currently, the models prepared by Sahand University and its foreign partner are used in daily work and reservoir operations, and a very good database of this field has been created in the related software. This project is an integrated and coordinated work, and I hope it will be implemented as a pilot in the field within the next two years.
Project started by the order of the Minister of Oil
He said about the way this study was started and carried out: Based on the directive of the Minister of Oil to the Deputy of Engineering, Research and Technology of the Ministry of Oil and the Research and Technology Management of the National Iranian Oil Company, and by a working group formed in this ministry, 10 fields were selected for increased production in cooperation with universities in the country, known as field-based increased production projects, which were selected in the Iranian Offshore Oil Company, the Soroush field, and Sahand University of Technology was selected as the executor.
Transfer of Soroush data to Sahand University
Rostami added: After holding initial meetings with Sahand University of Technology and conducting bilateral visits, the steps of transferring data and information from Soroush field to Sahand University were carried out quickly and the preparations and initial studies began. Given that such plans were defined for the first time in Iran with a focus on engineering studies and conducting research and technology together, the company considered this issue as a valuable opportunity and in a short time, in cooperation with the university, a roadmap for increasing extraction in five phases over a seven-year period was prepared based on world experiences and was presented as a plan and version for increasing the extraction of this field to the Research and Technology Management of the National Oil Company.
Selecting a reputable foreign company as the engineering partner of the project
According to Rostami, after compiling the roadmap, the work package description of the first and second phases was announced to the university in the form of a project, and Sahand University of Technology, while negotiating with universities and various consulting and engineering companies around the world, finally selected a reputable foreign company as the engineering partner and consultant and submitted a technical and financial proposal, which was approved in March 2015, and the project began.
Soroush Technological Development Model; A Successful Model
He said: The important point in this group of production enhancement projects was that the model related to the Soroush field was introduced by the Minister of Oil as a model and example for other fields after two years of the start of these projects, and the progress of the project in the Soroush field has been significant compared to other fields. Of course, at the same time as the preparations for the third phase were being made, the upstream working group of the Ministry of Petroleum made changes to the contract to accelerate the process of these projects, which although slowed down the pace of implementation, eventually revealed that the results of the first and second phases were very impressive.
The third phase of the project is underway
Rostami stated: Sahand University of Technology is carrying out the third phase of this project with several foreign research partners with meticulousness and accuracy, and it is expected that this phase will also be completed within the next 6 months with timely payment to the university.
He expressed hope that by completing the fourth phase and choosing one of the two methods of increasing recovery, a pilot in this field will begin in late 1400.
Belief in the importance of increased production
The director of the Soroush Field Increased Production Project reminded: The important point in the success of this project was the strong belief and conviction of the former and current CEOs of the Offshore Oil Company in the issue of increased production and the use of technology in this project, and the interaction, cooperation, and unity in the units and experts of the Offshore Oil Company's technical affairs, research, and technology management, as well as coordination and solidarity with the professors of Sahand University of Technology, and the support and assistance of the management and research and technology team and integrated planning of the National Oil Company, and the continuous follow-up and supervision of the Deputy of Research and Technology of the Ministry of Oil.