OML-42 Ramp Up: Reaping Low Hanging Fruits, Pitfalls and Gains

Abstract

Production ramp-up from aging assets poses several challenges, substantial oil gains and attendant learnings. The scenario for OML-42 was complicated by prolonged production shutdown, associated wells and facility vandalization occasioned by over nine (9) years shutdown by the former operator. Most wells were illegally operated and mis-managed by oil saboteurs during the nine years shutdown. On acquisition of OML-42, the new investor conducted sequential field Re-entry activities, facilities repair, wells revamp and aggressive production ramp-up campaigns in the fields within OML-42, to minimize Re-entry cost, optimize production and profit. This paper focuses on production ramp-up initiatives deployed in OML-42 fields to grow production from a pre-reentry rate of50kbopd to 70kbopd, without any rig-based activity. It also elaborates unfamiliar difficulties and learnings derived from the ramp-up campaigns.