white rose oilfield development application - Husky Energy

Reducing oil handling capacities had no noticeable effect on field recoveries during the first 15 years ofproduction or on ultimate recoveries. The biggest impact of limiting oil handling capacities to less than15,900 m 3 per day was to extend the plateau period of the field and to slightly reduce gas handlingrequirements.Reducing gas handling capacities did not significantly affect ultimate recoveries, but would reducerecoveries by up to 10 percent during the first 15 years of production period. The biggest effect is toreduce the oil plateau period of the field by a year or more and to extend the field life by approximatelysix years if gas production was restricted.An evaluation of whether vertical or deviated wells could be used for oil production rather thanhorizontal wells showed that significant deviations of wells from horizontal could significantly reducefield recoveries by allowing early gas or water breakthrough. This supports the use of horizontalproducers. Further assessment of the use of deviated wells will be carried out as more reservoirinformation becomes available.4.2.2.4 South Avalon Oil Reserves and Production ForecastsThe results of the simulation sensitivity work were used to develop probabilistic recovery factor andreserve ranges for the South Avalon Pool. The recovery factor for the pool under waterflood is expectedto be between 24 and 39 percent, with a reference case (P50) value of approximately 31 percent. Thisrange of recovery factors was applied to the probabilistic OOIP range for the pool, resulting inrecoverable oil reserves ranging from 34 and 46 million m 3 . The reference case (P50) reserves is 36million m 3 assuming no production from the two northern fault blocks in the South Avalon Pool.The reference case production forecast, shown in Figure 1.2-2, was generated by scaling the fieldperformance forecasts from the reference case simulation model to match the recovery levels determinedfrom the probabilistic reserves assessment.4.2.2.5 Development Drilling ScheduleSeveral of the development wells will be pre-drilled prior to production start-up. The proposed strategyis to pre-drill sufficient wells prior to First Oil to have the capability of producing at facility design rates.There will also be pre-drilled water injection wells to provide appropriate initial pressure support and apre-drilled well for gas injection so that gas conservation can commence as soon as possible. To meetthese objectives, up to 10 wells will need to be drilled prior to First Oil and drilling will need tocommence approximately two years prior to First Oil, if only one rig is used.White Rose DA Project Summary • January 2001 Page 52