Laboratory studies for light-oil air injection projects: Potential application in Handil field

Air injection into light-oil reservoirs is now a proven field technique. Be cause of the unlimited availability and the nil access cost of the injectan t, the application potential of this improved recovery process is promising when associated with the lack of available hydrocarbon gas sources for inj ection. One of the keys of a successful air injection project is the evalua tion of the process by carrying out representative laboratory studies. Ther efore, an original laboratory strategy was proposed to assess the recovery potential by air injection into light-oil reservoirs, and to help the deter mination and the quantification of optimal operating conditions. In this paper, the air injection technique applied to light-oil reservoirs is explained. Then, the laboratory strategy proposed for the evaluation of an air injection project is described, and the experimental objectives, dev ices, and procedures are explained. In order to provide reliable experiment al data, high-pressure and high-temperature experiments (up to 40 MPa and 5 00 degrees C) are performed with consolidated reservoir cores and reservoir oils, at representative conditions of the air injection process in light-o il reservoirs. Finally, a laboratory evaluation regarding a potential application for an a ir injection pilot in the Handil field (Mahakam delta, Indonesia) is presen ted and discussed.