The lessons learned by a group of oil majors in their quest to improve North Sea production have been published today.
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said the guidebook would encourage other operators to use polymer technology to enhance oil recovery (EOR).
The document was produced with the help of the EOR joint industry work group, whose members include Chevron, BP, Shell and Statoil.
The publication came on the same day Chevron announced its decision to go ahead with the first phase of its Captain EOR project.
OGA area manager Eric Marston said: “Polymer EOR has the potential to increase recovery, extend field life and stimulate field redevelopments, so I’m very pleased to see the Captain EOR project move forward, helping maximise recovery from this field.
“Chevron, along with BP, Shell and Statoil, have been a driving force behind the industry-led EOR task force. I commend their openness in sharing their lessons learned with the wider industry and their contribution to the OGA’s ‘Polymer Enhanced Oil Recovery – Industry Lessons Learned’ publication.”
The OGA published its EOR strategy and delivery programme last year. It set a target of developing 250million barrels of reserves using EOR.
Data gathered from the OGA’s 2016 stewardship survey showed that there are six fields where there are plans to implement polymer EOR, potentially delivering some 194million barrels.