Integrated Reservoir Evaluation and Simulation Study of the Northeast Alamein Field: A Field Case Study

Abstract The Northeast Alamein (NEAL) field, discovered in August 2010 with the drilling of NEAL-1X well, is an integral part of the Yidma-Alamein concession in the Western Desert of Egypt and is located about 3 km to the northeast direction from the Alamein oil field. Eighteen wells, a mix of vertical and horizontal, have been drilled in the field. The NEAL field is one of the primary oil producers of the concession and of the estimated 42.7 MMSTB of OOIP, the current recovery factor is about 12.0 percent. The objective of the study of the NEAL field was to develop a better understanding of the field comprising seven main complex reservoir members (A/R "E" sands, Upper A/R "G", A/R "G" Dolomite, Upper Bahariya, Middle Bahariya, Basal Middle Bahariya and Razzak sands), assess the production pattern of each reservoir and recommend an optimum production plan based on the ultimate oil recovery and economics. The study involved the reservoir characterization of the reservoirs, which spanned seismic evaluation, petrophysical evaluation, facies modeling, and stochastic reservoir parameter distribution, culminating in static model development. All available engineering and production data were integrated with the static model to develop a representative model of the NEAL reservoirs, which were applied to derive future development plans. The Upper A/R "G" and A/R "G" Dolomite reservoirs are most probably deposited in shallow marine from outer subtidal to intertidal zone, while the tidal flat depositional setting is proposed for the Bahariya and the Razzak units. Recommended optimum production plan involved a combination of infill drilling, well recompletions, pump optimization, and water injection. The results of implementation of recommendations exhibit success in terms of additional reserves, of about 2.0 MMSTBO, and doubling production rate from the NEAL field. Lead tasks for water injection were completed with drilling of two water source wells and conversion of two wells for water injection. Water injection started in one of the wells on August 7, 2024. The offset producers are being monitored. Integrated reservoir study in support of reservoir management of a mature field has led to successful drilling, recompletion, artificial lift optimization and other workover campaigns, which have yielded significant production optimization and reserves addition, as well as expected good performance of a waterflood project.