In 1984, The University of Texas System funded a Bureau of Economic Geology project, "Characterization of University Lands Reservoirs," to assess in detail the potential for incremental recovery of oil from University Lands reservoirs by extended conventional methods. The objectives of the 5-year project were to quantify the volumes of unrecovered mobile oil remaining in reservoirs on University Lands, to determine whether the specific location of the unrecovered mobile oil could be delineated through integrated geoscience characterization of individual reservoirs, and to develop strategies to optimize recovery of this resource. Unrecovered mobile oil is mobile at reservoir conditions but is prevented from migrating to the wellbore by geologic complexities or heterogeneities. This final report describes results of the 5 years of research conducted on University Lands reservoirs.
One hundred and one reservoirs, each of which has produced more than 1 million stock tank barrels (MMSTB) of oil, were included in a resource assessment and play analysis undertaken (1) to determine the volumes and distribution of all components of the University Lands resource base and (2) to select reservoirs for detailed analysis. These reservoirs collectively contained 7.25 billion barrels (BSTB) of oil at discovery, have produced 1.5 BSTB, and contain 200 MMSTB of reserves. Ultimate recovery at implemented technology is projected to be 24 percent of the original oil in place; thus, 5.5 BSTB of oil will remain after recovery of existing reserves. Unrecovered mobile oil (exclusive of reserves) amounts to 2.2 BSTB, and immobile, or residual, oil totals 3.3 BSTB.Bureau of Economic Geolog
