Development of oilfields by water injection in China

The present status of water injection technology in the development of oil fields in China is presented. Technical features of water injection in 6 types of oil reservoirs are described with examples. This study emphasizes that the main object of water injection is to increase the volumetric sweep efficiency continuously so as to increase the recovery factor of the OOIP. Therefore, it is necessary to make a detailed reservoir study, to establish an efficient injection and production well system, to observe and interpret the reservoir behavior continuously, to make proper adjustment to the development programs whenever necessary, to maintain the reservoir pressure, and to increase the gross withdrawal rate of producers. Due to the geologic characteristics of oil fields in China, water injection remains to be the main technology in oil field development. In the middle and later stage of development, increasing both the injection and the gross field withdrawal rate so as to increase the amount of recoverable reserves of oil fields will be of great importance.