Pioneering the First Hydraulic Fracturing in Iraq's Complex Reservoir

Syed, I. Hussein; Ahmed, Asif; Hatem, R.. Abd; Alabdali, S. Adnan; Chen, Yandong; Cai, Wei; Zhang, Xinmin; Liu, Zhaowei; Jin, Ou; Mingyue, Cui; Ding, Yongfeng; Zhu, Deqing; Liang, Chong; Theseira, K.; Faiz, Muhammad Ardiansyah Al; Murad, Marcio

doi:10.2118/189336-ms

Day 2 Tue, January 30, 2018 2018

DOI: 10.2118/189336-ms

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Pioneering the First Hydraulic Fracturing in Iraq's Complex Reservoir

I. Hussein Syed¹,

Asif Ahmed²,

R.. Abd Hatem³

et al.

Abstract: X reservoir in one of Iraq's field, is a medium pore, low permeability and small pore throat limestone oil reservoir with poor petrophysical characteristics. This reservoir group in which X reservoir is in constitutes to about 20% of the total resource in place. Conventional development allows only about 0.3% of reserves to be developed and this needed to be improved further. The mixed results of various stimulation campaigns (for example matrix acidising and acid fracturing) carried out earlier for this reser… Show more

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Cited by 3 publications

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A Case Study: The First Hydraulically Fractured Well in Carbonate Reservoirs in Iraq

Cui

Ding

Zhu

et al. 2018

SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition

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The reserves of tight carbonate S formation amounts to 25% of the total of X field in Iraq, but the production contributed only 0.3% to the total output. Accordingly, hydraulic fracturing was implemented in well V5X in Dec. 2016, the first pilot test in Iraq. In this paper, the fractured well was taken for a case study to illustrate the holistic optimization to guarantee the treatment success, a world-wide difficulty with high engineering risk. There are uncertainties concerning the breakdown pressure, in-situ stress and the development of natural fissures in the region, posting challenges in figuring out a reasonable treatment design. For this purpose, comprehensive lab experiments and numerical simulation were conducted to analyze and benchmark the reservoir characteristics, rock mechanics and geological model. Systematic study on fracture parameters optimization, treatment fluid formulation, proppant screening and operation program were carried out. Based on the treatment parameter optimization, the main-frac scheme was perfected in combination with mini-frac and temperature logging interpretation. S formation is a limestone reservoir with unique petrophysics, i.e., medium to high porosity (15-20%) but low permeability (0.05-1.3 mD), poor connectivity between pore throats, and hence resulting in inadequate liquid supply. Lab experiments revealed the "low Young's modulus and high Poisson's ratio" rock mechanics features, which is contrary to common understanding. In this case, large-scale treatment was required to ensure the high fracture conductivity. Moreover, there is no significant contrast in the in-situ stress profile or lithology barrier. Consequently, the development plan which requires fractures to be constricted within S formation would be hardly realized. Therefore, proppant sizing was prudently conducted to achieve the rational sand placement and treatment fluid performance was optimized to control the vertical fractures extension. For the fracturing job, totally 443.1 m3 treatment fluid and 39.6 m3 proppant were pumped. The operation parameters were in reasonable agreement with the design. The initial test production was 10 times higher than before. Currently the "production under controlled pressure" mode has been executed. The wellhead pressure has been stable, and the boosted production has been maintained for over one year. Comprehensive analysis of reservoir characteristics and suitable fracturing design are crucial to the success of stimulation treatment. The experience gained in this case study has some guiding significance for improving the success rate of hydraulic fracturing treatments and for effectively developing such low permeability carbonate reservoirs, both theoretically and practically.

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A Case Study: The First Hydraulically Fractured Well in Carbonate Reservoirs in Iraq

Cui

Ding

Zhu

et al. 2018

SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Acid Fracturing Was Selected to Stimulate the Potential Production in Low Permeability Reservoirs in Ahdeb Oilfield, Iraq

Xiao

Wang

Guo

et al. 2019

SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference

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The low permeability reservoir of Ahdeb field discovered in the 80's, has more than 250 active wells with low initial production and rapid decline compared to other reservoirs. Matrix acidizing is the main stimulation method to recover and enhance production performance in Ahdeb oilfield, but short-distance deblocking acidizing can't communicate with the deep reservoir, and it is impossible to expand the effective seepage radius. Therefore, High reservoir heterogeneity, low permeability, poor pore pressure necessitates the move from conventional matrix stimulation to acid fracturing technology targeting better fracture conductivity and deep penetration for effective productivity and recovery enhancement. The acid fracturing feasibility research shows that the interlayer characteristics, lithologic barrier, stress barrier and oil-water relationship of the low permeability reservoirs are favorable for fracture initiation, expansion and geometry control. Acid fracturing is one of the best ways to stimulate the potential production in low-permeability reservoirs of the Ahdeb oilfield. The acid fracturing optimization includes fracture conductivity, fluid system and fracturing parameters. Pad acid fracturing and gel acid with multi-stage alternating and closed acid fracturing are the suitable technologies for low permeability reservoir stimulation. An experiment well has been simulated and designed, and the expected production increase is 1.5 times. Base on this paper's research, a wide-scale development strategy will be planned, and many wells will be stimulated for increase the production performance.

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First Successful Application of Multi-Stage Proppant Fracturing on Horizontal Well in Carbonate Reservoirs in Iraq

Zhu

Cui

Chen³

et al. 2022

Day 1 Tue, January 11, 2022

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The carbonate reservoir S is a giant limestone reservoir in H Oilfield, Iraq. Although the reserves account for 25%, the production contribution is only 0.4% to the total oilfield production due to poor petrophysical properties. Accordingly, the first proppant fracturing on vertical well was successfully executed in December 2016, which has already achieved a steady production period over than 3 years. In order to further improve the productivity, the first multi-stage proppant fracturing(MSPF) on horizontal well(SH01X) was successfully applied in November 2019, a technique which is rarely reported for porous limestone reservoir in the Middle East. Proppant fracturing in carbonate reservoirs is a technique difficulty worldwide, especially this is a lack of experiences in the Middle East. To ensure the success of this campaign, a holistic technical study including geology evaluation, reservoir performance analysis, drilling trajectory design, completion and fracturing technique design have been carried out based on principle of "geology-engineering integration". This paper will present a comprehensive illustration including treatment design (main completion-fracturing technique, total scale, fracturing fluid, proppant), job execution (mini-frac, main-frac) and post-frac production performance for this successful campaign. True vertical depth (TVD) of Well SH01X is 2720 m and the horizontal section length is 811 m. Based on the main technique of multi-stage proppant fracturing with open hole packers and sliding sleeves, totally 3784.3 m3 fracturing fluid and 452 m3 proppant were pumped in 8 stages. The test production was 3214 BOPD (choke size: 40/64", wellhead pressure: 970 psi). A historical breakthrough in the productivity of S reservoir has been achieved by the campaign. The post-frac evaluation shows that the treatment parameters are consistent with the design. The connectivity between artificial fractures and formation is greatly improved, and the stimulation effect is significant. Currently the "production under controlled pressure" mode has been executed and the stable production under stimulation target rate has been maintained. The systematic "geology-engineering integration" workflow is of significance to the success of the treatment as well as the stimulation effect. MSPF is planned to be a game-changing technique to develop the huge reserves of S reservoir. The experience gained from this case could provide theoretical as well as practical references for similar reservoirs in the Middle East.

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Pioneering the First Hydraulic Fracturing in Iraq's Complex Reservoir

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 publications

A Case Study: The First Hydraulically Fractured Well in Carbonate Reservoirs in Iraq

A Case Study: The First Hydraulically Fractured Well in Carbonate Reservoirs in Iraq

Acid Fracturing Was Selected to Stimulate the Potential Production in Low Permeability Reservoirs in Ahdeb Oilfield, Iraq

First Successful Application of Multi-Stage Proppant Fracturing on Horizontal Well in Carbonate Reservoirs in Iraq

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