Mature Field Revitalization

David Lagerlef, SPE, Kuparuk Offtake Coordinator, ConocoPhillips Inc.

The challenge. It has always been before us, but it is now asked of us by family members, neighbors, and total strangers once they find out we work in the petroleum industry: “Can the oil and gas industry meet world demand over the next few years?” I think the answer can be found in the papers selected for this feature and in other quality technical presentations on this subject. Projects around the globe are discussed, which have been implemented to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and improve recovery by revitalizing mature fields.

Paper presentations and displays on the exhibit floor at the SPE 2005 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in early October also served as a solid indicator that the industry is poised to meet the challenge successfully. Individual companies continually strive toward ensuring that the energy supply meets demand; replacing reserves is a high-profile key performance indicator. SPE plays a vital role in aiding the effort. The technology, techniques, and talent shared in the various SPE venues are sometimes applied directly in another field, but more often, improvements in these three areas are made with subsequent applications. Innovation flourishes as applications that worked in one mature asset are modified to fit the specific requirements for another mature asset. The specifics cannot always be applied directly, but the process of studying about production improvements, having a service company representative explain details of a tool with the help of a cut-away model, or witnessing the enthusiasm during a well-prepared paper presentation can lead to the derivation of new approaches to revitalizing mature fields. So, when you have finished reading the summaries of the selections, and perhaps downloaded the full-length papers as well as some of the other technical references, I hope you arrive at the same answer to the question that I did. We will meet the challenge.

Step Change in Reservoir Simulation Breathes Life Into a Mature Oil Field

Technical and Economic Challenge of Mature Gas Fields: The Giant Altmark Field, Germany

New Oil in an Old Reservoir: Prize From a Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Reservoir-Management Approach

Old Field - New Life

David Lagerlef, SPE, Kuparuk Offtake Coordinator, ConocoPhillips Inc., has spent more than 24 years in the upstream oil and gas business. Most of his career has been in Alaska, with various engineering responsibilities for the Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk fields. Lagerlef holds a BS degree in civil engineering from California State U. at Chico and an MBA degree from the U. of Alaska at Anchorage. He has coauthored seven SPE papers and has held several leadership positions in the SPE Alaska Section, including Chairperson and Program Chairperson. Lagerlef currently serves on the JPT Editorial Committee.

Mature Field Revitalization

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