Publication Name: The Cooper & Eromanga Basins Australia
Authors: M. Pyzik
Date Published: June 1989
Number of Pages: 21
Reference Type: Book Section
Abstract:
The Patchawarra Central oil fields are located in the South Australian part of the Cooper Basin. Rapid productivity declines in the oil bearing Tirrawarra Sandstone has necessitated the implementation of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) scheme (miscible gas flood).However, there are 14 marginal oil producing wells which do not benefit from the pressure support scheme due to their location. An artificial lift project has therefore been undertaken to enhance the productivity of these wells which currently produce a total of 55 m3/d (346 BOPD) of 52 API oil.
The most appropriate type of artificial lift is considered to be gas assisted plunger lift. To further enhance the
production, the gathering system pressure will be lowered from 2000 kPa (290 psia) to 690 kPa (100 psia). The
combined effects are expected to achieve an incremental oil production of 160 000 m3 (1 MMSTB) over a period
of five years.
Ethane, which is already utilized in the EOR scheme, will be used as the injection gas. The project, to be implemented in four stages, will commence with a pilot installation in the Woolkina-1 well in April 1989.