Geosteering Using New Directional Electromagnetic Measurements and a 3D Rotary Steerable System on the Veslefrikk Field, North Sea

The paper covers the application of new technology drilling and completions equipment in horizontal wells to maximize production and recovery in a thin oil rim reservoir. The parallel process applied to the engineering design, drilling and completion operations, real-time decisions, and results are presented. As part of the second stage development of a mature oil field offshore Malaysia, a shallow target was identified. Initial engineering and reservoir studies suggested that three deviated wells or two horizontal wells would be required to develop the area. While the horizontal wells option was expected to have lower costs, the well construction was far more technically challenging. To ensure maximum production and recovery a 2,000ft lateral section was required, further detailed studies indicated that for the long lateral to be successful, well placement with respect to reservoir boundaries and fluid contacts, and open-hole sand screens of a high mechanical integrity would be critical. Additionally, in order to ensure even oil production and limit early water and gas production In-flow Control Devices (ICD) would be required as part of the completion. The well was actively steered using a Rotary Steerable System (RSS), and Logging While Drilling (LWD) measurements including a deep azimuthal resistivity distance to boundary device. Drilling was very efficient with the well placed close to the top of the sand, avoiding shale contact that could cause screen plugging, and the required distance from fluid contacts. The Real-Time (RT) logs were used to select optimum settings for the adjustable ICD completion prior to running in hole. The completion was run without incident and when the well was placed on line, produced without water breakthrough and without requiring gas lift due to effective clean-up of the entire horizontal section. Production from the well has exceeded expectations and is currently over double that of traditional wells. The application of advanced well placement technology and field adjustable ICD completions has enabled the economic development a small area of remaining hydrocarbon in a mature field, while maximizing production and recoverable reserves. Even with the increased technology cost, the overall project cost was 15% less than if standard well construction techniques had been applied. The accurate placement of the wellbore close to the upper shale and even production along the lateral due to the ICD completion has resulted in a more efficient reservoir sweep increasing recoverable reserves by ~100 MSTB.

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Attic Thin Oil Columns Horizontal Wells Optimization Through Advance Application of ICDs and Well Placement Technologies in South China

Tran¹,

Huang²,

Lian³

et al. 2010

IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition

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The horizontal wells side-track campaign at CACT’s H fields in South China Sea has been very successful and challenging over the last two years. Horizontal wells are well-recognized in developing thin-oil column within multi-stacked reservoir by exposing wellbore to maximum reservoir contact and drainage area. The lateral targets and remaining oil reserves are in attic thin oil columns in clean sands and shaly sands. Since the oil column is thin at the top of a clean sandstone reservoir with strong bottom water drive, early water break through can occur even when the lateral is well placed on the top of the reservoir. To further optimize the reserves recovery, horizontal trajectories are placed near the top of the reservoir, and the well is completed with stand-alone screen combines with downhole inflow control devices (ICD’s). This combination provides the horizontal well optimum completion for draining and further prolongs the life of the well. The application of the field-adjustable nozzles based on real-time Logging-while-Drilling (LWD) data updates into ICD’s predrilled model, together with the precise well placement have enabled horizontal wells to be economically developed in a thin oil-bearing layer. In this paper, some of the technical assessment and collaboration workflow between the multi disciplinary team of technology users and service providers, enrooting to the successful implementation of the first nozzle-type ICD’s installation and Distance-to-Boundary Well Placement technology in China will be highlighted. The success of the first ICD’s well completions installation was proven with better Productivity Index (PI) based on initial well performance. The first ICD’s well produced ~100% oil for almost two months since early Mar 2009. Meanwhile, a second ICD’s well with thinner net oil pay produced 100% oil for 20 days clearly showed the benefit of ICD later when water break through and increased to 85%. The mentioned integrated Nozzle-ICD’s design with precise Distance-To-Boundary Well Placement solution have shifted the conventional application of ICD’s, which is hardware-orientated, from being dictated one-way by hardware supplier, towards a holistic reservoir-centric design. It has become an operation that keeps all-party informed and always in communication. The "real-time" add-value of LWD and well placement data in updating the predrilled ICD’s well model has benefitted horizontal wells inflow control design. This integrated and reservoir-centric solution has optimized horizontal well application successfully in one well, but facing some reservoir and structural challenges in another well; which has provided valuable lesson-learned for future drilling.

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Geosteering Using New Directional Electromagnetic Measurements and a 3D Rotary Steerable System on the Veslefrikk Field, North Sea

Cited by 14 publications

References 4 publications

Investigation of eccentricity effects and depth of investigation of azimuthal resistivity LWD tools using 3D finite difference method

Investigation of eccentricity effects and depth of investigation of azimuthal resistivity LWD tools using 3D finite difference method

Production Optimization for Second Stage Field Development Using ICD and Advanced Well Placement Technology

Attic Thin Oil Columns Horizontal Wells Optimization Through Advance Application of ICDs and Well Placement Technologies in South China

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