Lessons Learned from Using New Chemical Recipe for Acid Stimulation in Water Disposal Wells (Al-Khafji Field)

Al-Dhafeeri, Abdullah M.; Jemmali, Mohamed; Al-Sadah, Ahmed Alawi

doi:10.2118/157261-ms

All Days 2012

DOI: 10.2118/157261-ms

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Lessons Learned from Using New Chemical Recipe for Acid Stimulation in Water Disposal Wells (Al-Khafji Field)

Abdullah M. Al-Dhafeeri

Mohamed Jemmali

Ahmed Alawi Al-Sadah

Abstract: Acid treatments for dolomite formation with low permeability differ from that applied for calcite rock. Unlike limestone acidizing where HCl reacts with limestone in rapid reaction rate to generate reaction products soluble in water. In Some cases, injectivity well can not effectively improve in dolomite formation with low permeability using conventional 15 wt% HCl acid. In addition, formation damage due to drilling or workover operations can not be removed. Therefore, the process of treating dolomite for inje… Show more

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Cited by 4 publications

References 23 publications

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Disposal Wells Stimulation; Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions (A Success Story)

Al-Hajri

Al-Subaie

2015

All Days

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Waste water disposal wells have a set of unique challenges that accompany their respective stimulation treatments. Those challenges are mainly attributed to the sub optimal quality of the disposed water compared to typical injection water. A waste water disposal well has abruptly lost the ability to inject water. The subject well has been repeatedly stimulated in recent years. A full system QA/QC of the disposed water at the disposal wells has shown satisfactory results and compliances with environmental standards of water quality except for this well that ceased to inject. Well-A flowed back dead oil and exhibited an exceptionally high shut in wellhead pressures compared to offset injectors. To further identify the extent of oil inside the wellbore, a custom tailored gradient survey was conducted with multiple pressure points across the well interval. The gradient survey revealed accumulated oil columns in the upper part of the wellbore that was the main reason for the high wellhead pressure and contributed to the cease of injection. Moreover, the disposed water has tested incompatible with normal Treatment Approachs that were successfully used in the same field. Different stimulation approaches have been considered to restore and enhance those two disposal wells injectivites. The contemplated treatment designs were plain acid treatment, acid in diesel treatment, chemical diversion, emulsion breaking surfactants, organic solvents, and mechanical diversion. This paper presents the analytical diagnostic tools used to identify and comprehend the challenges associated with the disposal well in question and investigate probable causes for loss of injectivity using the inflow performance relation (IPR) and the out flow performance relation (OPR). Moreover, based on the findings of the IPR/OPR investigation, the paper would illustrate the best treatment to restore the injectivity of the well and delineate the decision making processes that have led to the successful flow back and stimulation treatment of the two waste water disposal wells using organic solvents and plain acid. Rigorous assessments of chemical treatment elements, treatment deployment methods, and stimulation techniques will all be thoroughly presented in this paper.

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Disposal Wells Stimulation; Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions (A Success Story)

Al-Hajri

Al-Subaie

2015

All Days

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Rducing Backpressure and Enhancing Throughput of Saltwater Disposal Wells with Chlorine Dioxide and Complex Nano Fluids: Optimization and Case Studies

Pagel¹,

Tindall²,

Pursley

et al. 2019

SPE International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry

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Oilfield produced waters are usually returned to the ground by either reinjecting into underground reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery or injecting in saltwater disposal wells (SWDW) for final disposal. SWDWs often receive waters from production wells with comingled brines. These brines contain residual oils, suspended solids, and additives (such as friction reducers, partially broken gels, biocides, scale and corrosion inhibitors). SWDWs experience declined well injectivity, due to damages from downhole buildup of particles, oils, and biofilms clogging well casing and tubing and plugging a well's perforations and the near wellbore matrix. To fix these problems, chemical treatments are often performed to restore the injectivity of the formations and reduce the injection pressure. Acids and solvents are frequently used to clear blockages of the wells and restore the permeability of the rock formation. Existing chemical treatments of SWDWs still face some challenges, including asphaltene and iron oxide and iron sulfide precipitation, and H2S formation from acid reaction with iron sulfides. Herein, we report the development and optimization of an innovative field SWDW chemical treatment program. We have successfully developed and optimized the new treatment method including three treating chemicals: hydrochloric acid (HCl), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), and a proprietary Complex nano Fluid (CnF®). Typically, CnF®, HCl, and ClO2 solutions are pumped sequentially downhole into the well formation, with the specific flush volumes of each chemical varying from well to well based on the wellbore configuration. The field application data collected from SWDWs in Haynesville Play and Permian Basin clearly demonstrate remarkable improvement in injectivity and pressure reduction parameters. In all cases, the new treatment combination provides great economic value, with investment payout time within a few weeks. The novel chemical treatment program is expected to have broad application in the treatment of SWDWs across a variety of geological formations in almost all basins.

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First Successful Channel Fracturing Job, in the Middle East, Across Darcy-Permeability Sandstone Formation in Challenging Preperforated Liner Disposal Well Proves to be the Optimum Solution for Enhancing Injectivity

Fawwaz

Al-Obaid

Kurniadi

et al. 2021

SPE/IATMI Asia Pacific Oil &Amp; Gas Conference and Exhibition

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Produced water is a byproduct of the production cycle that often creates problems for handling and disposal. In Khafji Joint Operation (KJO), thousands of BWPD were being produced every day and disposed of by pumping the water back into the A formation. This formation is sandstone and has a permeability range over one Darcy. To improve the economics of this project, KJO set an injection target rate of 30,000 B/D per well at a maximum of 1,500-psi wellhead injection pressure due to surface facility constraints. Several completion and stimulation methods were selected to enhance the injectivity rate of these disposal wells. A pilot project was conducted to understand the best methods for injector well development. The well was drilled slanted across the reservoir to increase the reservoir contact area. Openhole and preperforated liners with different upper completion tubing sizes (i.e., 5-in. and 7-in. tubing) were compared to set the baseline of injectivity. Coiled tubing matrix acidizing and hydraulic fracturing were performed in this pilot well to enhance the injectivity. In each different methodology, a series of injection and surveillance tools was deployed to quantify the results. Upon completion with the 5-in. tubing, the pilot well could not achieve the target injectivity rate without well stimulation. An improvement after acid stimulation via coiled tubing was observed, although it was not able to achieve the injectivity target. Completing the well with 7-in tubing improved the injectivity rate slightly, but the injection pressure was still relatively high. Finally, and despite the combination of all challenges in this well, the first channel fracturing in a preperforated injector well in the Middle East was successfully performed. The post-fracturing evaluation shows that channel fracturing is the optimal stimulation method, increasing the injectivity index in this well ninefold compared to matrix acidizing. These results suggest that the implementation of effective fracturing design and operations improves the economics of the project. The results also demonstrate the importance of surveillance activities and their analysis to guide the technical decision and technology deployment. To overcome the challenges, a clear and robust workflow and solution execution and surveillance methods were developed. The pilot project illustrates the importance of having the right data to guide decisions and a rigorous QA/QC approach before, during, and after fracturing to achieve successful delivery.

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Lessons Learned from Using New Chemical Recipe for Acid Stimulation in Water Disposal Wells (Al-Khafji Field)

Cited by 4 publications

References 23 publications

Disposal Wells Stimulation; Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions (A Success Story)

Disposal Wells Stimulation; Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions (A Success Story)

Rducing Backpressure and Enhancing Throughput of Saltwater Disposal Wells with Chlorine Dioxide and Complex Nano Fluids: Optimization and Case Studies

First Successful Channel Fracturing Job, in the Middle East, Across Darcy-Permeability Sandstone Formation in Challenging Preperforated Liner Disposal Well Proves to be the Optimum Solution for Enhancing Injectivity

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