A Single-Well Gas-Assisted Gravity Drainage Enhanced Oil Recovery Process for U.S. Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Operations

The U.S. Deepwater Gulf of Mexico (DGOM) area that has some the most prolific oil reservoirs is still awaiting development a viable enhanced recovery (EOR) process. Without it, DGOM will remain severely untapped. Exorbitant well costs, in excess $200 million, preclude having extensive injection patterns, commonly used EOR design frameworks. Aside from even operationally waterflooding met with significant challenges because injectivity issues these over pressurized turbidities. gas-assisted gravity drainage (GAGD) process, holds promise for deepwater environments lesser issues, among others, been adapted this work to overcome limitations. A novel form single well—gas assisted (SW-GAGD) demonstrated emulate benefits GAGD process cost-effective manner. Unlike conventional processes, which need multiple injectors and separate horizontal production wells, SW-GAGD just uses production. performance established using partially scaled visual glass models based on dimensional analyses scale up factor shown be range 65–80% immiscible mode alone, orders magnitude faster than natural drainage. toe-to-heel configuration also tested immune reservoir layering, toe should ideally end at top payzone. Better sweep payzone consequent high 80% OOIP was observed, if heel part bottom lateral located lower permeability zone.