The Growth Will Also Come from Mature Fields

Potapieff, Igor, Total, Pau, France

This presentation will describe first the worldwide mature field stakes. Even though each field is unique (field knowledge & uncertainties, development phases and field bot­tlenecks…), there are some usual but seldom tools to revisit these old mature fields. However, most of the time there is no unique silver bullet to produce more from these mature fields. Due to numerous problematics and possible solutions, it is vital to have a consolidated vision for all the mature fields at group level to select first the main techni­cal concerns, then to develop the most promising associated technologies. This presen­tation will show a developed methodology called “Plan de Valorisation des Ressources” (ie from resources to reserves) used nowadays within all Total’s subsidiaries. This PVR approach consolidates more than 1000 potential projects (problematics, action plans…) from all subsidiaries. As most of the time, the stakes on a given mature field are not big enough to justify developing / implementing a new technology, the merged stakes derived from this PVR allow sharing the efforts / means to develop then new technologies. From this PVR approach, besides drilling activities, the main paths to produce more are reser­voir characterisation, Enhanced Oil Recovery, managing water production, production optimisation and well activation/surface boosting. Some examples of on-going R&D proj­ects / field pilots (such as down-hole separation / produced water re-injection) will be shown on these thematics. On a given field (middle-east area), different technological implementations will also illustrate the technological evolution versus time.