Effective Utilization of Innovative Sand Screen Technology for Resolving Water Injection Challenges: A Case Study of Field X in Nigeria

Abstract

Numerous technologies have been deployed to improve the structural integrity and long-term efficacy of injection wells, ultimately enhancing oil recovery within a designated Nigerian field. Thorough data analysis has indicated that the presence of formation solids arising from occurrences such as water hammer, backflow, and crossflow represents a substantial challenge to the integrity of multiple injection wells in the targeted field. This challenge is particularly pronounced when fines migration and accumulation within the lower completion take place during abrupt or extended well shut-ins. Although these formation solids generally reside within the reservoir during steady injection, they can be mobilized into the wellbore during rapid shut-ins due to the powerful transient flow effects of water hammer, cross flow, and backflow. This can lead to elevated bottom hole injection pressure (BHIP), reduced or lost injectivity, screen blockages, and erosion of downhole equipment. In turn, this may compromise the ability to sustain pressure support for producer pairs, potentially necessitating interventions, remediation, sidetracking, or wellbore abandonment. Alternative technologies previously applied in these wells have proven ineffective for a variety of reasons. In light of these challenges, the novel NRV screen technology specifically developed for such projects was identified as the optimal solution from a range of available alternatives, based on a matrix of requirements for the new campaign. This technology, designed to be installed closest point to the sandface, was selected for its capacity to autonomously and immediately isolate the reservoir from the wellbore during shut-ins, its non-obstructive nature for intervention tools, its unhindered access to the lower completion sandface during injection and intervention, its durability throughout the well's operational life, compatibility with openhole standalone screen (OH-SAS), gravel pack (GP) completions, and direct wrap or metal mesh screens, as well as its cost-effectiveness compared to other options. The performance data from the wells demonstrated that this innovative completion technology has effectively achieved the targeted rate and desired performance thus far, providing the Field X team with a robust solution to mitigate prevalent challenges in injection wells while avoiding the need for costly interventions. Presently, the technology has been successfully implemented in three wells. This paper presents the pre-qualification studies, the comprehensive qualification test outcomes, and the subsequent post-installation performance of the wells. Also, the lessons learnt from these installations are shared.