Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc. has begun injection of carbon dioxide into 49 wells in Salt Creek Unit enhanced oil recovery project in Kent County, Tex.
Project cost is estimated at $90 million. Injection began Oct. 26. Mobil says during the first phase, the current CO2 injection rate of about 50 MMcfd will climb next year to about 150 MMcfd.
Production of 42 gravity oil is expected to increase to 28,000 b/d from the current 19,000 b/d. Under waterflood, the field has been handling about 300,000 b/d of water.
PROJECT DETAILS
Delivery of CO2 is through the recently completed 12-14 in., 128 mile Estes pipeline that starts at the CO2 distribution hub in Denver City, Yoakum County, Tex. The pipeline also supplies CO2 to Oxy USA Inc.'s project in Welch field, Dawson County, Tex., and beginning in 1994 will supply CO2 to Conoco Inc.'s Huntley projects in Garza County, Tex.
Most of the investment cost is for the gas processing plant that will add 18,000 hp of gas compression and pumps. Mobil expects completion of the plant and the first phase of CO2 in December 1994. Membranes and an amine process will be used to separate the CO2. Plant inlet design rate is 75 MMcfd.
The Salt Creek Unit produces from the Canyon formation, a Pennsylvanian age limestone buildup, at an average depth of 6,300 ft. Maximum thickness is 726 ft, with average gross thickness of about 170 ft.
To improve correlation of zones between wells, Mobil is experimenting with interwell seismic.
Phases 2 and 3 will expand the injection area to the northern and southern parts of the field. Mobil expects these expansions to be phased in at about 3 year intervals, based on available plant capacity.
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