The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has partnered with French oil major Total to work on a Digital Rock Physics (DRP) project that would aid in mapping oil and gas reserves in the UAE
Based on the results of the DRP project, carbonate reserves under the earth’s surface could be traced for extraction. The map would further assist the examination of fuels for industrial use.
According to Steve Griffiths, executive director of Masdar Institute’s initiatives, the mapping process determines the extent of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), which is considered imperative for crude oil extraction.
ADNOC is keen on increasing their current oil recovery rates to about 70 per cent from 30 per cent for which sophisticated technology is required, added Griffiths.
In pursuit of the same endeavour, ADNOC is teaming up with the Petroleum Institute and Masdar Institute to understand formations underneath the earth’s surface and plan oil and extractions in a cost and time-efficient manner. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute has agreed to work with ADNOC on a pilot project, which would entail the injection of carbon dioxide to increase oil production at an onshore field.
Mohammed Butti Al Qubaisi, exploration and production director of ADNOC, revealed that if the pilot project was successful, it could benefit the emirate of Abu Dhabi greatly.
