by rockdoc123 » Fri 27 May 2016, 12:26:50
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hen I don't see how you can say SA has 2.25 mbpd of spare capacity if spare production has never been brought on line. That would suggest that SA turns one well on, then another off simultaneously. SA is pumping full bore has has never pumped near 12.25
spare capacity does not have to be brought into full production to be classified as spare capacity. As an example if I have an oilfield with 250 wells which have all been production tested (usually flowed for days to a week) with an average IP of 1000 bopd/well and I turn on 200 and produce them full out then my production is 20,000 bopd and my spare capacity is an additional 5,000 bopd. Those wells remain spare capacity until such time as they are pulled into full production, which by definition I can do in 30 days. If a well has a problem (eg: a workover to de-scale) I might shut in that particular well for a few days to get the job done and bring on another well which was formerly sitting in spare capacity category to replace that production. My overall spare capacity remains the same. By definition SA is not pumping full bore if they maintain spare capacity. Not sure what your evidence is they are producing everything they can.
The whole point of the Saudi megaprojects was to avoid getting caught in the bind they were in 2005 where they were producing at near full current capacity and oil demand had risen rapidly. Not only does this drive prices high too quickly (with subsequent economic impacts) but it means SA miss out on taking fiscal advantage of oil in the ground. They embarked on the megaprojects so they would have the 12.5 MMB/d of total capacity. Not all the wells drilled were turned onto full production. Also current production and spare capacity refers to P1 reserves. As time progresses I might also be adding P1 undeveloped (PUDS) to the P1 producing category hence my spare capacity and overall production remain relatively stable.
Certainly SA isn't as transparent as one would like but it isn't uncommon for independent oil and gas companies to replace reserves on a regular basis (in normal times). Some of this is done through additional drilling and some through reserve upgrades. This is likely the case in SA as well.