By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 22 -- Statoil ASA is using foam-assisted water alternating gas (FAWAG) technology in Statfjord field in the North Sea to improve oil recovery.
Such injections tested on Snorre in the same area, Statoil said, enabled one well to producie 1.5 million bbl of extra oil during the trial, at a cost of 10 million kroner. Snorre's reservoir properties are similar to those on Statfjord.
FAWAG technology is based on adding a foaming agent to water injected into the field. The foam blocks the pores of the reservoir rock, forcing injected gas into new parts of the formation to displace oil towards production wells.
"We've initiated a pilot well on Statfjord B, and have plans for a second one," reported Tone Botnen senior reservoir engineer for Statfjord. "It'll take about a year to see whether results live up to expectations."
She said the technology is simple to use, has low investment and operating costs, and releases no environmentally harmful substances, with the foaming agent adsorbed into the formation.