Scoping model study of carbon capture and storage for enhanced oil recovery for the zarrarah oil field in UAE

The purpose of this scoping model study of Zarrarah field, with ~14 BSTB, and ~30 TSCF OIIP and GIIP respectively, was to show that natural gas cap could be used in a zero emission power plant to generate electricity, produce NGLs, and capture carbon dioxide gas. Over the lifetime of the project, the injected CO₂ gas will displace the oil column in the heterogeneous carbonate rock system in a miscible gravity dominate mode. Petrophysical data needed to construct a simulation model for Zarrarh field was collected from literature review. We used 12 analogous rock types from neighboring fields of Asab and Bu Hasa. The CMG-GEM reservoir model used 18 components to describe the fluid properties and to verify no asphaltene drop out near the producing well bore. The model was calibrated on total field oil production and gas oil ratio and then various CO₂ flooding scenarios were tested to optimize recovery and minimize gas coning in the horizontal well flooding patterns. The current production method for Zarrarah field is gas cap expansion with recycling of lean methane gas into the gas cap for pressure maintenance and recovery of NGLs. The averaged over the heterogeneous rock type regions, the miscible CO₂ flood recovered at least 20% additional oil for each reservoir sector. The percentage of produced NGLs from the total in place will increase from 23% to 36% over the lifetime of the project with CO₂ extraction. This production method will also supply for UAE and KSA at least 20 GW of zero emissions electric power for the next thirty years. CO₂ reduces the oil viscosity and reduces gas coning by swelling the oil in the natural fractures system. The optimal CO₂ injection technique is flank injection starting at the northern end of Zarrarah field. At the end of project life, the CO₂ gas reserves should approach 30 TSCF to flood other reservoirs in the Empty Quarter such as Shah oil field. The novelty of this work is designing the first economic and zero emission power plant for EOR in KSA and UAE. Generating the first economic man-made CO₂ storage reservoir for future miscible oil recovery in the Empty Quarter. The increased NGL recovery will help supply the feed stock for the petrochemical industry for the next 30 years. This technique has also the ability of providing a fresh water source for low salinity water flooding or local inhabitants.