Integrating capabilities
We focus our technology and innovation development on making low productive “tight” reservoirs produce oil or gas in the most cost-effective way. We recently extended that challenge to include Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) which will increasingly be needed in mature fields to meet the world’s energy demand.
A large part of Maersk Oil’s operated production is from low permeability, high porosity chalk and limestone reservoirs. Prior to the 1980s, these were deemed unattractive due to poor production rates. Our development and combined application of advanced seismic processing techniques, ultra long horizontal drilling and innovative completion and stimulation technology has been key to achieving commercial success. The integration of these capabilities is a strength of Maersk Oil.
Seismic Processing – monitoring the reservoir in time
Maersk Oil has refined seismic processing in chalk fields to be able to track fluid movements over time (4D Seismic). This allows for better optimisation of reservoir management. We have established an in-house data processing centre to support our global exploration and development operations.
Geosteering – putting wells in the right place
Maersk Oil has extensive experience with geo-steering to be able to place our wells in thin reservoir layers to optimise recovery. We were one of the first to recognise systematic cyclic patterns in chalk reservoirs, knowledge that supports high resolution well steering.
Sand and Acid “Fracturing” – getting wells to produce more
Maersk Oil has performed more than 550 sand-propped fracture stimulation operations, placing more than 190 million pounds has been pumped to fill each fracture with up to 2.1 million pounds of sand and keep the fracture open and with it the well productivity up. As many as 18 propped fracture treatments have been carried out on a single well.