Page 33: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jun/Jul 2013)

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Production

Draugen:

Exceeding expectations 2013, according to the initial plans,

Shell’s Draugen platform in the

Draugen was the frst feld but we are currently in the process of

Norwegian Sea.

developed in the Norwegian extending Draugen’s lifetime till 2036. statistical recovery rate is expected to

Sea 20 years ago—Shell now be only 5-15%. We therefore imple-

The reservoir history: expects it to produce for a

Draugen was discovered in 1984, in mented an active reservoir manage- an area where most geologists did not ment strategy. further 20 years, doubling bother looking for hydrocarbon-bearing Our frst step was to add pressure reservoirs. Oil from Haltenbanken support. This key decision was already its expected life span. Asset had migrated eastwards and up, and in Draugen’s Plan for Development and manager Odin Estensen

Draugen was discovered at a shallower Operation (PDO), submitted in 1988. level than the other reservoirs in the We installed water injectors at each explains how. area. The producing formation had end of a long and fairly narrow feld. excellent characteristics. We assumed a By doing this, the reservoir pressure he story of Draugen is more recovery factor which seemed realistic was maintained while also pushing than just the story of a feld. at the time, in the late 1980s: about the oil towards the middle of the feld,

It is a also story about courage, 17% of the oil would be produced. where the platform is located. This

T learning, understanding, and Today the recovery is multiplied by approach raises the statistical recovery implementation. four, now getting close to 70%. The factor to 35-45%.

Draugen was the frst feld to be average recovery factor in Norway is We have continuously monitored the developed in the Norwegian Sea, 46%. We are in the lead in Norway fuid movements in the Draugen reser- pioneering production from an area when it comes to extracting the maxi- voir by extensive use of seismic surveys. which later became one of the impor- mum amount of oil out of a reservoir. The frst seismic acquisition was made tant petroleum provinces in Norway. However, the good reservoir quality before production start-up and has since

In 2013, Draugen marks 20 years since is not the only reason why Draugen been repeated four times at regular inter- the start of production. Draugen was has achieved such a high recovery rate. vals. With the exception of one high expected to reach end of feld life in By natural underground pressure, the resolution seismic acquisition in 2004, oedigital.com June 2013 | OE 35 035OE_0613_ProdOps-1- Draugen.indd 35 5/27/13 4:03 PM