New EOR technology to be used west of Shetland

BP has announced it is introducing new technology which will significantly boost the amount of oil it can extract. It will be used for the first time offshore in the £4.5bn Clair Ridge development west of Shetland. Reported the BBC news website

If left to its own devices an oil well will deliver only about 10% of the crude it contains. By then its pressure is exhausted.

However, the new technique means the energy firm will bring in an extra 42 million barrels from Clair Ridge alone.

The established industry technique of waterflooding brings more oil to the surface. Sea water is pumped into the oil-bearing rocks deep below the seabed.

But even then almost two thirds of the crude will remain beneath the waves.

BP’s new technique – called LoSal EOR and announced here at the British Science Festival in Aberdeen – promises to increase both the life and yield of oilfields worldwide. Full article can be seen here

There are major environmental and technical challenges facing operations in west of Shetland .. Deeper water and extreme weather conditions significantly increase the amount of risk associated with offshore operations and this is no different for operations west of Shetland, many operations here are high risk – high reward. This extreme environment means operators face greater technical challenges than anywhere else offshore UK.

How do you do think new EOR technology will impact on west of Shetland operations?

See also E&P challenges in west of shetland oil fields

To find out more about this and more please see the Oil & Gas Outlook North Sea conference at: www.terrapinn.com/northsea