
FOWLER, MICHAEL L., BDM Petroleum Technologies, Bartlesville, OK, SAFLEY, L. EUGENE, BDM Petroleum Technologies, Bartlesville, OK, and YOUNG, MARK A., Consultant Reservoir Engineer, Bartlesville, OK
Since its discovery in 1955, Citronelle Field, in Mobile County, Alabama,
has produced over 160 MMBO from fluvial sandstones of the Rodessa Formation
at a depth of over 10,000 ft. Now in its mature waterflood stage, this
nearly 500-well reservoir is currently being managed by small operators
who are seeking ways to improve both production and profitability of the
reservoir.
Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with
the U.S. Department of Energy, field operators have teamed with the Alabama
Geological Survey, the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama, the University
of Alabama, and BDM Oklahoma to create an optimal reservoir management
strategy for the field. Characterizing the reservoir to develop this strategy
recognized the fact that, over the years, both major and independent operators
of the field have conducted numerous reservoir studies and collected voluminous
data (many versions of some parameters).
Three elements dominated development of a strategic plan for the Citronelle
reservoir. First, was the decision to make maximum use of the best information
already available from past work. The corollary to this activity was identifying
and prioritizing information deficiencies to address in future studies.
Second, was the use of new analytical approaches to identify both general
and specific targets for improved recovery. Third, was construction of
a comprehensive database for performing mapping and volumetrics tasks in
this and future studies.