RE: Terror attacks Saudi15 Sep 2019 14:23
The primary reservoir is the Permian-aged Zechstein carbonate sequence and, more specifically, the Z2, Kirkham Abbey Formation (KAF), which is a tight carbonate reservoir overprinted by a high permeability fracture system. Despite considerable investment and effort over the years, the historical development story of these fields has been very much one of repeated technical and investment failure, with approximately 39 Bcf (billion cubic feet) of the mapped gas initial in-place (GIIP) of c. 326 Bcf produced to date, an estimated recovery factor of 12%.
Historical production data show that all the Zechstein reservoirs have experienced early water breakthrough, leading to impaired gas rates and low recoveries. The water influx is due to a highly mobile, but finite aquifer, which under field production conditions preferentially flows through the high permeability fracture system, bypassing the gas stored in the tighter matrix.
Worrying reading, especially considering we’ve had 3 nitrogen tankers on site already. Let’s hope Rathlin have a good plan to get the oil out.
https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/early/2018/05/04/SP465.12