SS - Application Of Artificial Lift Technology In The Giant Khurais Field

Abstract

This paper discusses the basis of selecting Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs) rather than the other methods of Artificial Lift in the development of the Khurais area, located in Saudi Arabia. It will also discuss the production strategy, project time line, design methods and well performance utilizing an online monitoring system. Khurais oilfield development is the largest oil increment in the world scheduled to be placed on-stream in 2009. The Khurais increment will add 1.2 million bpd of high-quality Arabian light crude to Saudi Arabia's production capacity. To increase the field's production, several options were evaluated and Artificial Lift utilizing ESPs was chosen as the most viable option for optimizing the Khurais production. Artificial Lifting by ESPs, in different Saudi Arabian fields including Khurais, was designed to serve several different objectives. The primary objective is the need to increase production from oil wells and fields. From a flow assurance point of view, ESPs have been used to boost wellhead pressures rather than enlarging gathering facilities to reduce the system backpressure. This mandated installation of surface control, safety shutdown, and surface & subsurface data acquisition systems along with supervisory control and monitoring equipment in control rooms. Introduction The Khurais area fields (Fields A, B and C) are located about 160 km from the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. Khurais increment will have the capacity to produce 1.2 MMBCD of Arabian light crude by end of 2009. Field A will provide the majority of the production capacity with 1.0 MMBCD, Field B will provide 110 MBCD and Field C will contribute 90 MBCD. Prior to starting production, a six-month preinjection will be initiated to inject 2 MMBCD of treated seawater. Field A is the largest field in the increment. It was discovered in 1957 and first produced in 1963. The field is about 90 km in length and the width ranges from 5 to 17 km. There are three oil-bearing carbonate reservoirs. Arab Light crude production started from the one reservoir in 1963 and in 1981 a second reservoir was put on line. The third reservoir was never produced.