New Delhi, June 12, 2024: Cairn Oil & Gas, India’s premier private oil and gas exploration company under the Vedanta Group, has achieved a significant milestone by implementing Alkaline Surfactant Polymer (ASP) flooding in the Mangala oil field located in Barmer, Rajasthan. This operation represents the largest commercial ASP injection in India and is among the few of such magnitude executed globally. This groundbreaking initiative underscores Cairn’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to enhance oil recovery from mature fields and accelerate future field developments.
Overview of ASP Flooding Technology
Alkaline Surfactant Polymer (ASP) flooding is an innovative Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technique that involves injecting a mixture of alkaline chemicals, surfactants, and polymers into mature oil fields. This method is designed to significantly increase oil recovery rates:
- Increased Recovery Efficiency: Traditional polymer flooding alone typically achieves a recovery rate of around 40%. However, by incorporating surfactants, ASP flooding can boost recovery rates up to 60%. Surfactants help to reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water, making it easier for the oil to flow through the reservoir and be extracted.
- Targeted Implementation: The ASP flooding has been successfully implemented at the MWP-1 and MWP-19 project sites within the Mangala field. This is expected to yield an additional 20% oil recovery in the targeted area, enhancing the overall output from this mature field.
Cairn’s Technological Innovation and Expansion Plans
Cairn Oil & Gas has a longstanding tradition of pioneering technological advancements in India’s oil and gas sector. The company’s flagship Mangala, Bhagyam, and Aishwariya (MBA) fields in Barmer have been the sites of numerous innovative projects. The successful ASP flood pilot conducted earlier paved the way for the submission and approval of a comprehensive Field Development Plan (FDP). Building on this success, Cairn plans to expand ASP flooding technology to other fields within the Rajasthan block.
Dr. Steve Moore, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Cairn Oil & Gas, emphasized the importance of this achievement: “In line with our commitment to boost India’s domestic oil & gas production, we are proud to pioneer the implementation of ASP flooding technology in our flagship Mangala oil field. This innovation is a testament to our commitment to maximizing recovery from mature fields, using advanced technologies. This is a big milestone for us and our JV partner, keeping Cairn at the leading edge of technology application worldwide.”
Implications for India’s Hydrocarbon Industry
The commercial deployment of ASP flooding by Cairn Oil & Gas marks a pioneering achievement in India’s hydrocarbon industry. By implementing such advanced technologies, Cairn is not only enhancing the recovery rates of existing oil fields but also supporting India’s broader goal of transitioning towards energy self-sufficiency. The ability to increase domestic oil production reduces the country’s reliance on imports, thereby enhancing energy security.
About Cairn Oil & Gas
Cairn Oil & Gas, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, is the largest private oil and gas exploration and production company in India. It contributes approximately 25% of the country’s domestic crude oil production. Cairn operates with a world-class resource base and has interests in 62 blocks across India, covering over 60,000 square kilometers. The company boasts gross Proved Plus Probable Reserves (2P) and Contingent Reserves (2C) of 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
For more information on Cairn Oil & Gas and its ongoing projects, please visit their website.
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