In many open-hole completions in unconsolidated reservoirs, the preferred method of sand control is a conventional gravel pack across sand exclusion completion screens. To date the gravel pack options available for horizontal or highly deviated wellbores have been the use of brine-based gravel pack carrier fluids or the use of viscous gel packs using alternative path screen technology. The first option, using brine as the carrier fluid, has limited applicability because many reservoir intervals have brine-sensitive shale that, if not stabilized, can disrupt the gravel deposition during the alpha-beta (α-β) packing process, especially in long intervals. The second option, using alternative-path screens and viscous carrier fluids, overcome the shale destabilization issues but not without a compromise in the quality of the pack or the higher price tag.A third option is now available that utilizes a new, solids-free, invert emulsion gravel pack carrier fluid. This option overcomes the issue of shale destabilization and interupted gravel deposition often associated with brine packs because it avoids the exposure of water-sensitive shale to aqueous fluids.This paper provides the design details of a carrier fluid that overcomes the technical hurdles of a conventional brine-pack operation as well as the fiscal limitations associated with alternative path technology. Included are the planning and execution details of a 5-well, back-to-back gravel-packing operation from an offshore platform in the Bualuang Field, Gulf of Thailand whereby successful gravel deposition occurred on each well using a invert emulsion system as a carrier fluid. The results presented of this case history sequence clearly demonstrate a world class break-through and triumph for the oil industry.

This paper describes the application of the integration of intelligent well systems into sandface completions for reservoir inflow control in deepwater. In deepwater subsea applications, the ability to remotely control the inflow of water eliminates costly rig intervention while extending well life and increasing recoverable reserves. In deepwater Brazil, open-hole horizontal gravel pack completions with mechanical open-hole isolation have been integrated with proven all electric intelligent well systems. The planning, testing and implementation of these technologies will be detailed in this paper. Deepwater Brazil continues to be a region where the need to improve economic performance in deepwater drives the implementation of new technologies. Horizontal gravel pack completions were implemented into deepwater subsea Brazil in 1998. To date, over 52 successful subsea horizontal gravel packs have been implemented for both production and injection wells. To further improving the economics of operating in deepwater, implementation of Level 5 Multilateral wells in the Campos Basin was initiated in 1999. As the success of open-hole horizontal gravel packing continued to show economic benefit, it was necessary to provide positive zonal isolation in conjunction with gravel packing. Application of diverter valve technology to achieve zonal isolation was successfully implemented in 5 subsea wells in the Campos Basin during the year 2001. The zonal isolation and long reach of horizontal wells provides the operator the ability to selectively drain a reservoir and achieve the lowest development cost per barrel oil equivalent (BOE). The fully electric intelligent well system consisting of 3–1/2" and 5–1/2" inflow control devices was deployed on land in the Mossoro Field. The purpose of the installation was to prove the technology before transferring the application into subsea wells. These valves were operated remotely from the office location. After months of successful actuation and data acquisition, the system was pulled and prepared for installation into a deepwater subsea well. During the land based well test, it was deemed necessary to modify the volumes of data stored. Software modifications were made to optimize the rate of data storage. In order to integrate the Intelligent Well System into the sand control completion, a process of optimization was necessary to meet well construction and operational requirements. This process was inclusive of well path design to reach the targeted well location while controlling the dogleg severity to allow placement of the intelligent well system and completion design to achieve inflow control and minimize operational risk during installation. This is the first application of an all electric remotely operated intelligent well system integrated into a sandface completion for the purpose of reservoir production management. Introduction Well designs for subsea field developments in water depths of 2000+ meters have unique requirements. Nearly 70% of Brazil's oil &gas reserves lie beneath deepwater (300–1000m) and ultra-deepwater (>1000m). The successful exploitation of these reserves depends on the processes and technologies by which they can be safely, yet economically be extracted in an environmentally safe manner. The economics of reducing well count while accessing the same targeted reserves and eliminating the high cost of re-entry initiated the ultimate goal of utilizing intelligent well systems in the Campos Basin. The process of integrating intelligent well systems into an environment requiring well life sand control and zonal isolation has required an evolution of technology.

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThe Extreme Overbalanced Perforating (EOB) technique has been successfully applied in a variety of locations around the world both in 'hard rock' and 'soft rock' formations. In certain applications, it offers definite advantages over other perforating techniques. One-Trip Perforating and Gravel Pack technology a lso has been successfully applied at various locations with definite advantages over other 'soft rock' cased hole completion techniques. Prior to the completion of three wells in the Ha'py field, these two technologies had never been applied concurrently. This paper describes the teamwork that was required between the operating company and the service providers to properly combine these methods and ensure their successful application in the field. The authors outline some of the obstacles encountered and describe how the tools and procedures were designed for success.During the three well completions in the Ha'py field, some problems were encountered that required modifications to operations. The lessons learned from these problems and how they were applied to subsequent operations are also addressed.

fax 01-972-952-9435.

No abstract