This paper describes a case history detailing design, planning, completions, testing and production of the first worldwide Hydraulic Line Wet Mate (HLWM) connect system. The system was installed in combination with a pod type electrical submersible pump (ESP) in an intelligent completion (IC) dual lateral well in an offshore field in Saudi Arabia. In this field, most of the existing wells are horizontal oil producers drilled inside a high Darcy sandstone reservoir. Inflow control devices (ICDs) are run inside the open hole in both the motherbore and the upper lateral as a part of the lower completion. The upper completion includes IC inflow control valves (ICVs) installed in combination with an ESP. The engineering challenges facing such completions stem from the requirement for hydraulic control lines that are required by the IC for operation and how these control lines are installed as they need to pass the downhole ESP. While the hydraulic control lines could be considered permanent, the ESPs are not as they require periodic replacement whenever they fail. Therefore, the challenge of pulling the ESP system because of ESP failures while maintaining the integrity of the hydraulic control lines used for operating the lower IC is paramount. The HLWM connect system provides the solution to the challenges faced when integrating ESP operations with IC (ICVs, multi-port packers, etc.). It provides the flexibility to replace the ESP without having to retrieve the IC, which saves both cost and time. The HLWM connect system provides connections for hydraulic control lines in a two-stage intelligent well completion and allows combination of IC with an ESP. It can operate in highly deviated wells and allows multiple connect/disconnect cycles during tubing space-out. The appraisal and acceptance loop of the completion has been closed by having these wells completed, put on production and tested. Approval of technology was achieved and the anticipated benefits are realized by actual performance of the flow control valves (FCVs) in the IC downhole through the HLWM connect system. Leveraged knowledge from this pioneer installation has provided an insight into HLWM capabilities and implementation. Moreover, it has set the stage for other field's application of this technology within Saudi Aramco.

Fiber optic enabled coiled tubing (FOECT) has been commonly used in qualitatively evaluating reservoir matrix chemical treatment in real time during the past couple of years. During this period, attempts of transforming qualitative evaluations to quantitative ones were made. The quantitative evaluation is based on two simultaneous criterions. The first one is a downhole pressure diagnostic plot (pressure transient analysis) created instantinuously using real-time acquired data by the downhole gauges. The second is an estimate of the zonal coverage based on the resulting temperature profile plot before, during and after a pumping treatment. Pressure transient analysis gives the skin as a direct output, while the cooling down/warming up DTS profiles identifies where the treatment fluids went in the formation, hence identifying the damaged zones. It is strongly recommended to combine well testing analysis techniques with zone coverage evaluation in highly deviated and horizontal completed wells in both clastic and non-clastic rocks. Basically, deriving the skin from the injectivity test (pretreatment) and the skin from the post flush (post-treatment) provides an evaluation matrix treatment effectiveness. A comparison between formation damage "skin" before and after the treatment was performed on the spot, revealing positive results of nearly uniform distribution of treatment fluids, and skin value reduction across the 3400 ft horizontal section. Following the innovative procedures executed in well-A, different techniques were proposed, providing time and cost savings; raising the operational excellence expectations levels higher than expected for an offshore environment. The application of FOECT technology helped to minimize uncertainties during treatmentevaluation, and enhanced treatment distribution and placement. In addition to establishing more accurate and reliable Nodal Analysis and production forecast models.

The main objective of the zero flaring concept in Saudi Arabian offshore fields is to further fully comply with the environmental regulations and to continue ensuring zero hydrocarbon discharge to the environment during well cleanup, through zero flaring practice without compromising safety. The first implementation was carried out back during the last decade with workover operation in offshore field’s sweet crude and then extended to sour fields with an excellent success1, 2. The workover wells that were cleaned up utilizing this practice resulted with zero hydrocarbon discharge to the atmosphere. The same concept of well cleanup was considered for new drilling wells, therefore the new platforms that are currently under drilling or those that will be drilled and completed in the future have to accommodate this technique. The current plan is to modify in-water platforms for zero oil flaring technique, however, the needed zero oil flaring facilities for all future platforms will be installed on the onshore fabrication yard to optimize operational logistics. The required facilities to accommodate the zero oil flaring practice on new drilling offshore installed platform include constructing of a 4" jumper line and running inline inspection (ILI) of the subsea flow line to the tie-in platform (TP). The zero flaring operations can be done once the jumper line has been installed and ILI of the subsea flow line to the TP has been performed as part of the subsea flow line mechanical certification. Upon completing drilling on the platform, the portable skid on the drilling rig is connected to the jumper line, and then, the wells are flowed for cleanup through the flow line to the TP and then through the trunkline to the GOSP.