Extraction physics. Try thinking of it as peak flow, maybe.
You can increase flow from a field until it is around 50 % empty. First by putting in another well (duh), then by injecting anything from H2O to CO2 to detergents, and by using horizontal plumbing instead of vertical.
After that point, flow rates drop off. Adding more wells doesn't help. The law of diminishing returns. Less oil/ well, and less oil altogether.
Ok is a good example. In the 20's early 30's,they were the SA of the world. Now they are the sixth largest producing state. Thousands and thousand of wells,averaging 2 barrels a day. Production still dropping.
Ghawar, largest field in the world, was over 5 MPD. It's thought to be depleting at 8%. You know exponentials. First year, 400K we need to replace. Next year, an additional 368K to replace. Ain't there.
Oh, and the faster you push a field,the harder it collapses.
Oh, second largest field is Mexico's Cantarell, in da Gulf. Depleting maybe 20%/yr. Before it started leaking...
An offshore oil well in Mexico's Campeche Sound caught fire Tuesday morning while workers were trying to plug an oil and natural gas leak, reported state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos.
It is the second time the well has caught fire since the well was ruptured during a storm Oct. 23. During a storm a drilling rig crashed into oil platform Kab 101, causing the leak.
rigzone.com
Oh,
largest field discovered in last 25 years is "Cashisgone", in Kazakstan. Projected to open in '04; now projected to open end of '10 |
