ASPHALT AND HEAVY OIL RECOVERY FROM HAMZA AND WADI RAJIL AREA LOCATED IN THE AZRAQ REGION USING THERMAL OIL RECOVERY METHODS

Exploratory drilling for upper Cretaceous ( Cenomanian –Turonian ) crude oils in the wadi Rajil- Hamza area of the Azraq depression in the northeast of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has confirmed the presence of large quantities of residual hydrocarbons (Asphalt and heavy oils )within three zones, with limestone, dolomite and sandstone. The estimates area 296520 acres (1200 km2) could possibly contain 5 billion barrels of original hydrocarbon in place. It should be noted here that the main purpose of this study has been the evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential of the Ghareb and upper Amman formations. A suitable recovery technique is proposing a pilot project for in – situ combustion underground and horizontal producer wells to increase the productivity, reduce the viscosity of the residual hydrocarbons, and should prove to be an economically viable means of heavy oil and asphaltic extraction. The study of a pilot project of in-situ combustion to drill one vertical well for injecting air into the top reservoir, the other horizontal well for injection in the middle reservoir and the third horizontal producing well in the line of the reservoir. If the project proves to be profitable producing 124.43 bbl per day at least which means the recovery of capital expenditure in around 999.9days (2 .732 years ) and the recovery efficiency proves to be high which makes the horizontal producer wells technology to increase the productivity. The project could be expanded in the Azraq region area. The possible method is proposed for thermal recovery of this reservoir, a dry forward combustion and wet combustion underground project is the preferred one or alternatively a combination of steam soaking and steam drive