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Improved production from biodegraded heavy oil reservoirs

Summary of the impact

Newcastle University research on biodegraded petroleum systems has had a number of broad reaching impacts on the oil industry (ExxonMobil, Statoil, Woodside, and Shell), related companies (Permedia) and regulators (Alberta Energy Regulator). A new approach to oil viscosity determination was developed, which directs well-placement in biodegraded oilfields to lower viscosity areas, resulting in improved production of heavy oil. Software tools developed to model oil composition have been incorporated into proprietary in-house, oil company reservoir simulations. A spin-out company was founded, Gushor Inc., which provides services to the heavy oil sector and was recently acquired by Schlumberger. Collectively the research from Newcastle University has saved oil companies hundreds of millions of pounds by avoiding poorly producing viscous zones in biodegraded reservoirs.

Submitting Institution

Newcastle University

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geochemistry, Geophysics
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

2) Sand Injectites

Summary of the impact

Researchers in petroleum geology at the University of Aberdeen have since the mid 1990's been investigating the characteristics and geological context of sand injectites. The geological contexts within which injected sands are discovered have permitted a step change in the production potential in some oil fields (up to c. 1 billion barrels oil), and to define new exploration targets (up to 250 million barrels oil) to make a significant increase to the overall proven reserves of hydrocarbons in any given province (e.g. the North Sea). The findings of this research have been utilised by a number of multinational oil & gas companies to optimise their exploration and field development strategies to maximise the commercial production of hydrocarbons. This case study describes the economic impacts resulting from two projects in particular in the North Sea, the Volund field (Marathon Oil) and the Mariner Field (Statoil) resulting in the enhancement of strategy, operations and management practices; improvements in performance and adoption of new processes; and creation of new employment as a direct result of research facilitating the development of new assets that would otherwise have remained fallow.

Submitting Institution

University of Aberdeen

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geochemistry, Geology
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

7. Sedimentology research steers high-value decisions in the hydrocarbon industry

Summary of the impact

University of Leeds Research has been used by its specialist Turbidites Research Group (TRG) to underpin consultancy work for oil companies that has, in turn, steered them to make high-value decisions. Examples include an oil well placement, the development of an oil field, and a decision to only partially develop another. The TRG has been funded by 14 oil companies since 1992, and its annual income has risen from £125k/yr prior to 2008 to £380k/yr during the REF period. It is estimated that the cumulative value of oil company decisions based on TRG research exceeds several hundred million dollars. Following the impact, Leeds have replicated the TRG business model to form new specialist industrial research groups that have each generated further impact.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geochemistry, Geology
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

Reservoirs Under Stress: Improved productivity through geomechanics and microseismicity in petroleum systems

Summary of the impact

Bristol researchers have been working with the oil and gas industry to develop new methods for monitoring and modelling deformation in oil and gas reservoirs. Industry and NERC funded research has led to the development of (i) novel techniques that better utilise microseismicity monitoring of petroleum reservoirs, and (ii) new software which couples geomechanical deformation and fluid flow with geophysical observations. The research has led directly to development and improvement of commercial software to enhance exploration efforts and minimise costs. Bristol software is now used by several multinational companies worldwide and its development has led to a successful start-up company.

Submitting Institution

University of Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geophysics
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy, Interdisciplinary Engineering

10 - Maximising Oil Recovery with Low Salinity Water Flooding

Summary of the impact

The data generated from research undertaken by ERPE has enabled BP to leverage an investment of $125M for full field implementation of Lo-Sal® EOR technology in the Clair Ridge Field, west of Shetland.

This research has provided BP with a step change in understanding of how to maximise oil recovery and production. Low Salinity Water Flooding has been shown to increase oil recovery by an average of ~16% when compared to standard "High Salinity" water flooding. Based on this work, BP made a strategic decision in September 2012 to use Low Salinity Water Flooding as their default position for field development, by adopting this significant development in water-flooding technology.

Submitting Institutions

Heriot-Watt University,University of Edinburgh

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geophysics
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
Medical and Health Sciences: Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology

Improved geological models aiding hydrocarbon reservoir development

Summary of the impact

UCL's Deep-Water Research Group (DWRG) creates knowledge transfer between research and the hydrocarbon industry. Oil companies use the DWRG's research results to generate improved in-house computer-generated hydrocarbon reservoir models, allowing them to manage, develop and value their reservoirs better. The same companies also use the research to run training courses for employees, including reservoir engineers and managers, leading to improved understanding and more informed decision-making about the management of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Improved management and development of reservoirs ultimately leads to oil companies being able to extract a greater amount of oil.

Submitting Institutions

University College London,Birkbeck College

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics

6. Peering into the pore space: digital rock physics to improve oilfield management

Summary of the impact

Since Prof Blunt's appointment as a Professor of Petroleum Engineering at Imperial College in 1999, his Consortium on Pore-Scale Modelling has developed numerical tools to analyse the pore spaces of reservoir rocks, predict multiphase flow properties and determine field-scale impacts on oil recovery. This technology is now exploited by at least two start-up service companies with annual revenue of around $20 million, and is widely employed by major oil companies, leading to better reservoir management and improved oil and gas recovery. Statements submitted from just one company (Kuwait Oil Company, KOC) suggest a benefit of $100 million from efficiency savings and improved recovery in a just single field.

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geophysics
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

08 - Assuring Hydrocarbon Flow with Improved Hydrate Management

Summary of the impact

ERPE research led to the following impacts in the REF2014 period:

  • Extending the life of the NUGGETS field (operated by Total) by three years with an increase in cumulative production of 2% (2.8 Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent, value $150M).
  • Saving $3-7M in costs associated with methanol removal from liquid hydrocarbon phase by demonstrating methanol could be removed from Natural Gas Liquids directly by molecular sieve, which played a major role in Total's decision in eliminating a de-propaniser from "methanol removal facilities", saving around £50M.
  • Hydrafact: a start-up company with a turnover of £1M in 2012 and employing 8 full-time and 15 part-time staff.

Submitting Institutions

Heriot-Watt University,University of Edinburgh

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

8. Fast petro-physical analysis of unconventional gas reservoirs to assist in improving drilling strategies.

Summary of the impact

Research performed at the University of Leeds allows the petroleum industry to reduce radically the amount of time that taken to estimate the key properties of tight sandstones containing natural gas. These properties largely determine whether gas fields are economically viable. Tests used in the past have taken between six months and two years to complete; with the Leeds research, results can now be obtained in less than one day — a radical improvement. Industry has used the results to justify drilling new prospects and to improve understanding of the controls on gas and water production in existing fields, which has shaped appraisal and production strategies.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geophysics
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy, Interdisciplinary Engineering

3) Turbidites: Deep-water hydrocarbon reservoir prediction

Summary of the impact

This case study describes the economic impact to sections of the hydrocarbons industry resulting from research into deep water sediment transport and depositional processes. turbidites.org is a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary research platform based at University of Aberdeen, which takes a multi-scale approach to understanding deep-water depositional systems and their significance as a stratigraphic record of long-term environmental change. The resulting research outputs have been applied to deep-water hydrocarbon reservoir prediction.

Submitting Institution

University of Aberdeen

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geology, Geophysics, Oceanography

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