UWE Bristol Engineering showcase 2015

Mohammad Rizal Suhaini
BEng in Mechanical Engineering
Low Pressure Well Recovery System by Using Waste Gas at Oil Rigs
Tukau and West Lutong Oil Field Location
In Sarawak, the East of Malaysia there are currently 10 offshore blocks held under exploration or have
exploration commitments, including one deepwater block. Oil and gas productions from Sarawak
account for approximately 23% and 52% of the country's total production respectively.
The Sarawak Basin covers a wide area both onshore and offshore the State of Sarawak that has been
divided into several geological provinces, namely the West Baram Delta, Balingian, Central Luconia,
Tinjar, Tatau, West Luconia and SW Luconia and SW Sarawak Provinces. Each one of these provinces is
unique in terms of hydrocarbon playtypes.
Project Supervisor
Abdessalem Bouferrouk
Project summary
Every year abundance amount of waste
natural gas have been released to the
atmosphere by flaring method. The carbon
foot prints of the flared waste gas is one of
the biggest contribution to global warming. In
this thesis, investigation had been done to
capture the waste gas and store into the
depleted reservoir by implementing gas
reinjection method. The captured waste gas
will be use for enhancement oil recovery and
reserve for future use.
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The amount of waste gas flared into the atmosphere from Tukau and
West Lutong Field. In 2005, 1.8 million cubic metre of waste gas is
produced per day, in the following years reduced because of slow
productivity and demand. In 2010 the field operator had also reduced
major maintenance work or shutdown and as a result the waste gas was
reduced to 1.1 million cubic metres per day.
Oil Reservoirs are appealing as good
storage sites since they are known
to have geological seal that retained
liquid and gas hydrocarbons for
millions of years. Waste gas
reinjection can serve as an
economical way to dispose of
uneconomical gas production on an
oil reservoir.
Gas lift is used in fields that exhibit heavy oil,
poor permeability and irregular faultiness
such as wax scale build up and heavy
corrosion of tubing. Gas lift method is widely
used in Malaysia oil field EOR due to
simplicity of design and interchangeable gas
lift valves sizes.
According to Petronas Carigali Sdn
Bhd, 70% off all oil wells in the Tukau
and West Lutong Fields require some
form of artificial gas lift, with only a
very few containing enough pressure
for oil to rise to the surface without
stimulation.
4 Column Grid
Type Spec: Calibri 24pt,
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paragraphs of text). Space for your
research, theory, experiments,
analysis, simulations, pictures,
tables, diagrams, flowcharts, text
Project Objectives
To investigate the technical and economic
feasibility for enhancement oil recovery using
excessive associated natural gas produced
during oil production. Reducing waste gas
flaring and reinjection into depleted reservoir.
Project Conclusion
Excessive natural waste gas capture is suitable
for a small scale oil field which are lacks of
pipelines and surface storage capacity. The
depleted reservoir available in the field are
suitable as a natural storage. As a result the
CAPEX and OPEX can be at minimum. Utilising
the existing oil rig facilities with minimal
modifications for reinjection and increase oil
productivity