ERD Lower Completion Deployment: An Iterative, Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Abstract

The long term development from four artificial islands of this giant offshore field in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is requiring longer and longer ERD wells. This can only be achieved by drilling higher angle, higher departure and increasing lateral lengths. Horizontal departure ratios have increased from 2:1 to 3:1 and will, before the development has finished approach 4:1. Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) lateral lengths at the beginning of the development were planned to average 10,000ft but are already being lengthened to 20,000ft, and beyond. This paper describes the many challenges that have arisen and have been successfully overcome to enable deployment of 6 5/8" horizontal lower completions of lengths up to 20,000ft into wells that are greater than 30,000ft MD. These challenges have been surmounted through the use of proprietary in-house software, leveraging partner resources and global experience, close collaboration between drilling, completion and field development teams, new technology equipment development and deployment methodologies. Several case histories will be presented and discussed at length in this paper. These will focus on specific aspects for each of the wells such as the; high strength liner connections, high load liner running tools, reservoir drilling fluid composition, swellpacker design, use of drillpipe or casing swivels, centraliser type and the effect of dog leg severity in the long reservoir lateral.