Owain Tucker

Goldeneye: modelling a depleted field for carbon capture – how much uncertainty is left?

The Lower Cretaceous Goldeneye gas field lies in the Captain turbidite fairway of the Moray Firth and has recently ceased production. Its situation and dimensions have made it an excellent candidate for CO2 sequestration. The field was extensively modelled for the original development planning when uncertainty was assessed from the perspective of volumetrics and field behaviour. The subsequent need to assess its suitability as a CO2 store has given the opportunity for a look back at an uncertainty analysis with the benefit of full-field performance, and to perform a new analysis aimed at different issues concerning behaviour during CO2 injection. Both sets of analyses required coupled static–dynamic modelling runs in which the key static parameter ranges of the field were varied, including depth conversion, internal geometries and aquifer properties. For the field development work the parameter ranges were explored to assess in-place volumes and field behaviour under natural aquifer and depletion drive; for the CO2 uncertainty work, however, parameter ranges were explored to demonstrate storage capacity and CO2 containment. The look-back showed that the field volumes indicated by production data landed in the upper part of the original uncertainty range and that there was definitive spare capacity in the field relative to the planned injection volume.

Goldeneye: Tomorrow Never Dies (or a field Only Lives Twice)

Abstract The Goldeneye gas–condensate field lies in the Moray Firth Basin of the North Sea and illustrates the potential for further field life after the normal end of production. It was discovered in 1996 in a three-way dip-closed structure in the Lower Cretaceous Captain Sandstone. Five development wells were drilled from a single production platform and first gas was produced in 2004. The field pressure decline indicated partial aquifer support and no compartmentalization. Approaching the end of production, the opportunity arose to propose Goldeneye as a store for CO 2 . The cap-rock seal was capable of containing gas and the removed hydrocarbons left a significant volume that could be refilled without raising pressures above original conditions. The field9s good reservoir properties were favourable for injection, the wellstock and infrastructure were modern, and CO 2 sources were available close by. The different requirements of a storage project called for a detailed understanding of the overburden to guard against possible leak paths and to identify secondary containment. Furthermore, greater understanding of the aquifer was needed as it limits storage volumes through its impact on reservoir pressures. Updated interpretation, analysis and modelling demonstrated that Goldeneye is an excellent potential CO 2 storage site, which gives it a possible second span of life helping to offset UK CO 2 emissions.