OPTIMIZATION OF WATER-BEARING OIL RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT

The primary production regime of oil fields during the initial stage of development is generally based on the use of natural reservoir energy, driven by the influence of strong edge and bottom aquifers. However, after a decade of intensive production, such fields enter a stage of high water cut. The aquifer-bearing reservoirs under consideration are characterized by pronounced heterogeneity and elevated viscosity of the produced oil. These factors significantly complicate filtration processes and reduce the efficiency of oil displacement from the pore space. A distinctive feature of such reservoirs is also the heightened activity of bottom water, which leads to the premature breakthrough of water into producing wells and, consequently, to substantial operational challenges during field exploitation. Thus, the main problem in developing bottom-water reservoirs is ensuring effective control of water–oil contact movement and stabilizing oil inflow while minimizing water production. Solving this task requires the application of injection-control technologies, optimization of well operation systems, and the implementation of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods aimed at leveling the displacement front and increasing the stability of the development process. Keywords: oil reservoirs, water cut, oil displacement efficiency, surfactant concentration, oil-water emulsions, “oil-water” emulsions.