Publications in Petroleum Engineering Stream by both Alumni and current students http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/576 2026-04-09T12:02:05Z 2026-04-09T12:02:05Z Apara, Chiamaka http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/586 2017-05-22T21:00:24Z 2014-08-05T00:00:00Z

Modeling Crude Oil Production Outlook: A Case Study of the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria Apara, Chiamaka In the past four decades, Nigeria has made impact on the global oil and gas exploration and production industry. As one of the lead exporters of crude oil and natural gas in Africa, an oil production model which tracks oil exploitation process is imperative to facilitate good national economic planning and industry strategy. The impact of technological advancement, policy incentives and economics can be estimated from such petroleum production model. This paper reviews historical crude oil production in Nigeria; develops an empirical model to describe and explain the competing factors underlying its production patterns. The production model equations are formulated; with a non-linear curve fitting method to estimate the Hubbert’s model parameters for Nigeria. The model is used to forecast future production outlook for Nigeria. At the currently estimated reserves of 37.2 billion barrels, the model results suggest that production rate should have peaked at 2.70 MMSTB/D in year 2010, and forecasted that the estimated ultimate recovery, at year end 2050, will be 65 billion barrels (~ cumulative production of 31.25 billion barrels up till 2012 plus current proven reserves of 37.2 billion barrels). It suggests that the nation had just produced 50% of its currently estimated proved reserves. The Hubbert model was accurate for forecasting US crude oil production, but its strict symmetry has received criticism from experts (Lynch, 2002) (Cavallow, 2004) (Iledare, 2000) who believe that the model underestimates future production which our experiences also confirm. We specified the nature of the errors which resulted in considerable deviations of production trends from the Hubbert model. We suggest however, alternative model for analysing the exploitation process in Nigeria in the form of successive curve re- fitting of Hubbert model to new production data from time to time to check the effect of new technology, economics or policy implementation on Nigeria’s crude oil production.

2014-08-05T00:00:00Z Apara, Chiamaka http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/585 2017-05-22T21:00:19Z 2014-08-05T00:00:00Z

Petroleum Reserves Growth Trend and Pattern: A Case Study of the Niger Delta Basin in Nigeria Apara, Chiamaka For the purpose of this paper, reserves growth is classified into three main categories: new pool discoveries, reserves revision and reserves extension. For each category, there are distinct factors affecting positive and residual reserves growth. The paper shows that fiscal/policy incentives, crude oil price and modern technology are necessary conditions to expand petroleum reserves, thereby prolonging the end of petroleum era in Nigeria. The deepwater remain the most promising area for further significant reserves growth. Therefore, the existing Production Sharing Contract (PSC) deepwater field development projects will undoubtedly impact positively to the country’s production and reserves blueprint toward the 40 billion and 4.0 MMBBL per day targets by 2020.

2014-08-05T00:00:00Z Adekunle, Opawale http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/577 2017-05-10T21:00:22Z 2011-05-05T00:00:00Z

An Integrated Approach to Selecting and Optimizing Demulsifier Chemical Injection Points using Shearing Energy Analysis: A Justification for Downhole Injection in High Pressured Well Adekunle, Opawale Chemical demulsifiers are routinely injected into the petroleum production system at several points to effectively resolve water-in-oil emulsion issues. Point of injection varies from downhole through wellhead and manifolds to stocktanks (Batch treatment). Selection of the best injection points during oilfield practices still remains a very challenging task for both operators and chemical vendors. Many researches have not been done on this subject matter, and hence remains the focus of this study. In this paper , models to carefully analyze and study the relationship between shearing energy and pressure drops at various points in a production system is developed. It analyses the Shearing action as the reservoir fluid flows through formation pores, perforations, tubing, wellhead chokes and the surface flowline. This program determines the best injection points for demulsifier chemicals to ensure their adequate mixing, mobility and strong partitioning at the water-oil interfaces where their actions are needed. This novel approach applies to several well geometry and completions, ranging from open to cased wells. Developed models were tested and validated with real data from a known oilfield in Nigeria. Wellhead and downhole injection (through gas lift valves) appear to be one of the best practicable injection points selected by the program. This selection already considered the current conditions of the field and produced fluid and also the nature of demulsifier chemical in use, in terms of its residence time of action. Results obtained vary with changes in these factors as the reservoir becomes depleted and workover operations are performed. This paper emphasises the impact of shearing energy and pressure drops on the effectiveness of demulsifier chemicals. Determination of appropriate injection points combats lots of operational and economical problems such as over-treating and re-emulsification. It reduces unnecessary high budgets for demulsifier chemicals as injection rates will be optimized. This paper also discusses the benefits that can be realized by breaking emulsions downhole, and contributes to the existing literature in the design and construction of production chemical injection program for a green field development. The authors anticipate that the new concept of shearing energy analysis presented in this paper would contribute more to improving the technology of chemical-demulsification.

2011-05-05T00:00:00Z