Overcoming the Perceived Risk of Multilateral Wells

Butler, Benjamin; Grossmann, Andreas; Parlin, Joe; Sekhon, Chet

doi:10.2118/175437-ms

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…According to Butler, et al (2015), the current systems of one service company have overall reliabilities ranging from 93 to 99.6% with the reliabilities trending toward 100%. This increase in reliability has developed with an increase in installation efficiencies of the technology even as the complexity of the applications has increased dramatically.…”

Section: Reliability Of Mltmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future State of Completions for the Lower Tertiary in the Gulf of Mexico

Techentien

Ingram

Grossmann

2016

Day 1 Mon, May 02, 2016

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The Wilcox formation in the Lower Tertiary is an interesting and challenging development. The industry is currently seeking ways to increase efficiencies, increase production, and optimize performance of this reservoir. This paper discusses the current status in generation V single-trip multizone completions as well as future prospects to predict industry options for the formation.This paper seeks to spur the industry into thinking about the future cost benefits and management of change necessary to design solutions for this unique development. Regarding Lower Tertiary wells, operators sometimes assume the wells are similar to the Wilcox formation in South Texas. However, studies indicate these wells should be treated like other Gulf of Mexico (GOM) wells, and they do require sand control. Is the industry willing to take these technical development risks? If unique solutions are proposed, what preparations are necessary, and how should planning proceed?There are unique solutions that operators can apply to the deepwater GOM as well as alternative solutions, processes, and procedures developed for land applications that can be adapted to the deepwater GOM. Land production has adopted the horizontal approach for efficiencies, but is this the correct approach for deep water? The multilateral approach is an interesting option that has been applied in other offshore environments, but is this a concept adaptable for the Lower Tertiary? How can monitoring and control be applied to these two concepts from land applications? How do operators take industry knowledge and apply it to the unique offshore environment of deepwater and subsea completions?The ultimate goal of this paper is to examine these questions and initiate the thought process of how the industry can optimize the returns from the Lower Tertiary by increasing production and recoverable reserves through technology and reservoir management.

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Section: Reliability Of Mltmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future State of Completions for the Lower Tertiary in the Gulf of Mexico

Techentien

Ingram

Grossmann

2016

Day 1 Mon, May 02, 2016

Self Cite

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Multilateral Technology With Intelligent Completions: Challenges and Solutions for Deepwater Subsea Well Operators

Glaser

Saldanha

2016

Day 1 Wed, September 14, 2016

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Multilateral and intelligent well construction and completion technologies has proven themselves to be effective means of increasing recovery rates and improving operational efficiencies in subsea wells, yet, there are no known applications where both technologies have been applied in deep water in the same well. This paper discusses the evolution of the use of both of these technologies in subsea well environments and then the challenges and technology gaps that have to be overcome to develop a fit for purpose solution for deep water wells. This paper discusses the origins and benefits that the two technologies have brought to subsea wells while presenting examples of the integrations of both in installations in various areas of the world. The unique environment and challenges posed by deep water subsea wells introduce risks such as, limited number of wellhead penetrations, longer stroke lengths to position components in the wellbore, lack of rotational ability due to the control lines and safety concerns. This paper also discusses the successful track record of each technology, developing customized solutions for deep water subsea wells and mitigating risks involved. Finally, the challenges posed by the integration of both technologies in these deep water wells are presented. In these challenging economic times, the desires for solutions that reduce capital expenditures/operating expenditures (CAPEX / OPEX) are at the forefront of completion design discussion. Integrating various technologies to that effect is the next logical step. Efficient drainage of complex reservoirs can be achieved by effectively combining multilateral and intelligent completions technologies while actively managing CAPEX / OPEX. Monitoring and active control inside the lateral would be the ultimate solution for maximizing reservoir drainage and performance. For that to happen, it would require technology advancement that is currently non-existent or in its infancy stage at best. However the first logical step would be to monitor and control laterals from the mainbore which is achievable with some enhancements to existing technology. The second step would be to incorporate monitoring in the laterals as inductive coupler and disconnect technology begin to prove themselves. Finally as wireless technology, downhole power generation, and battery technology start to evolve, we will be able to monitor and actively control the reservoir within the laterals. This paper conveys some of the numerous challenges that exist for an integrated completions approach. It will require both operators and service companies to work together to overcome the numerous obstacles; and it requires thinking outside the box and challenging the traditional approach without which we as an industry will be limited in what we can achieve, which in the end is maximizing our return on investment.

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Enhancing Intervention Efficiency and Eliminating Uncertainty — First Ever Successful Conveyance of MWD Tools on CT for Multilateral Well Stimulation in a Middle Eastern Gas Well

et al. 2016

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Drilling technologies are constantly being developed as operators push the envelope limits to maximize reservoir contact and increase hydrocarbon recovery. These advancements in well construction challenge the well intervention community to seek innovative solutions to successfully intervene in these wells. This paper discusses the successful combination of a slim OD measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool run on coiled tubing (CT) for real-time survey of the open hole lateral wellbore, followed by a stimulation treatment at appropriate depths for all laterals in a single CT run. Saudi Arabia has been in the forefront of maximum reservoir contact well construction with the drilling of multilateral open hole gas wells; thus, the need for CT operations to enhance current offerings and procedures. For this application, several tests were performed to determine the feasibility of the combination of necessary tools to be able to steer, identify, and pump the stimulation treatment in a single run. MWD tools were run on CT in this multilateral gas well, and the stimulation treatment was performed during the same CT run. The common practice in the study area was to run in hole down to total depth (TD) and determine, only by depth difference, in which lateral the CT was located. The uncertainty level increased exponentially when TDs of the laterals were within hundreds of feet because the treatment could potentially be performed in an alternate lateral, rather than the one intended (Ref 1-5). With the use of MWD tools that can relay inclination, azimuth, orientation (steering capacity), pressure and gamma ray, all this uncertainty is eliminated to help ensure a positive lateral identification for proper treatment placement in the well. The MWD tool run on coiled tubing (CT), implemented a procedure explained in this paper to eliminate the uncertainty associated with previous technologies used for in real-time CT positioning inside the wellbore. The CT position is now reliable verified by survey match with real time readings from CT tip, allowing the certification of job placement in the desired wellbore path, to complete the intervention associated to the CT intervention; i.e.,: "a stimulation treatment" to be done specifically and independently for all laterals in a single run on each. This project open the doors for many other MWD-guided CT interventions to be applied in such conditions.

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Overcoming the Perceived Risk of Multilateral Wells

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

The Future State of Completions for the Lower Tertiary in the Gulf of Mexico

The Future State of Completions for the Lower Tertiary in the Gulf of Mexico

Multilateral Technology With Intelligent Completions: Challenges and Solutions for Deepwater Subsea Well Operators

Enhancing Intervention Efficiency and Eliminating Uncertainty — First Ever Successful Conveyance of MWD Tools on CT for Multilateral Well Stimulation in a Middle Eastern Gas Well

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