A Review of Geological Characteristics and Improved Oil Recovery for a High Temperature Fractured Basement Reservoir, Vietnam

Abstract

The White Tiger field is currently the biggest fractured basement reservoir on the continental shelf of Vietnam. This reservoir has a complicated geological structure with high temperature and closure stress. Thus, experiences that have been learned from this field operation are good lessons. This article reviews significant events in geological development, achievements in the early development, and late stage to improve oil recovery by special methods for fractured granite basement reservoirs, such as hydraulic fracturing, water flooding, water shut-off, surfactant flooding, and changing pressure regime. It is a worthy case study for both current and future development planning of basement reservoirs in the world.

Keywords::

• enhanced oil recovery methods
• fractured basement granite reservoirs
• fracture properties
• geological characteristics

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors wish to thank Schlumberger K.K. for the encouragement for writing this article.

FUNDING

This work was supported by the Energy Resources R&D program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea Government Ministry of Knowledge Economy (No. 2011201030006A).