Moonie Resurrection

Moonie, Australia’s first commercial oil field, was discovered in 1961 and 60 years hence, is on track to be Australia’s first carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) project. Carbon utilisation involves enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology, with the injection of CO2 (CO2-EOR) into the Precipice Sandstone primary oil reservoir. Since acquiring Moonie in late 2016, Bridgeport has completed core and PVT analyses and reservoir modelling studies, which indicate that the field is an excellent candidate for CO2-EOR. Successful history matching of the field as part of reservoir simulation modelling of the cumulative 25 mmbbls of historic production provides confidence of the estimate of the original oil in-place (OOIP). Further technical review to estimate the current and ultimate (post-CCUS) residual oil saturations will inform the likely EOR efficiency. This is an important parameter for predicting expected tertiary oil recoveries from the injection of CO2 into the Precipice Sandstone. A supply of anthropogenic CO2 is expected to be sourced from a post carbon capture (PCC) facility to be installed at the nearby Millmerran coal-fired power station. The initial pilot project at Moonie involves the injection of at least 60,000 tonnes/annum into an existing Moonie oil well with enhanced oil production from an encompassing array of up to 6 production wells. In addition, the pilot will demonstrate that significant volumes of CO2 can be stored safely in Moonie’s secure, structural trap.