Unlocking Future Heavy Oil Development in the North Sea: A Well Testing Success in the Kraken Field

Beck, Dawn; Shumakov, Yakov; Hetherington, George; Ovchinnikov, V. P.

doi:10.2118/167798-ms

Day 1 Tue, February 25, 2014 2014

DOI: 10.2118/167798-ms

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Unlocking Future Heavy Oil Development in the North Sea: A Well Testing Success in the Kraken Field

Dawn Beck¹,

Yakov Shumakov

George Hetherington

et al.

Abstract: There is an increasing hydrocarbon demand from a diminishing resource base in the North Sea. Technological advancements and government support coupled with activities in the UK Continental Shelf are enabling the development of untapped heavy oil resources. Heavy oil appraisal-well testing has always been a primary source of information for reservoir characterization, well deliverability, and evaluation of potential technologies for further application in field development.Until recently, heavy oil well tests h… Show more

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Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

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Real Time Well Testing: A Game Changer – Experience and Lessons Learned Over 100 Well Tests Performed In the North Sea

Hollaender

Shumakov

Sarac

et al. 2015

Day 1 Tue, September 15, 2015

Self Cite

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Obtaining accurate and representative well testing information is critical for the proper characterization of a reservoir, with confidence and quality of data being of paramount importance during a well test. Over the last few years, well testing has become real-time enabled, following in the footsteps of drilling, wireline logging and production operations. However, making a better well test is not just about enabling the technology. It is also about ensuring that the right people have access to the right data and that adequate decision-making processes are available. This requires that reservoir engineers are trained in operational aspects, rig crew are able to communicate and implement remotely taken decisions, and the "end-users" of the well test are fully engaged in the real time monitoring, analysis and execution processes.The real-time well testing approach presented in this paper is the result of the evolution from basic real-time data transmission to a reliable real-time data delivery and analysis infrastructure that has taken place over the last five years. Throughout the 100 real-time well tests completed in the North Sea, the workflows used to process and analyze the data have evolved significantly, enabling the processed information to be leveraged for decision-making and to update test programs. Recently developed downhole tools and components controlled remotely via a wireless acoustic telemetry system, and providing real-time access to downhole pressure data, have enhanced and broadened the applicable workflows and capabilities. This paper also presents the evolution of remote connectivity systems and the exploitation of their technical capabilities to their full potential so that off-site experts can witness, collaborate and support operations on a 24/7 basis. By these means, the right expertise can be utilized regardless of location. In addition, we present several case studies where real time data delivery, remote monitoring and support were crucial for continuous quality assurance and for successful pressure transient analysis which led to better reservoir characterization. The change in the mindset of management in both operating companies and service suppliers is essential to ensure that the power of real-time enabled well testing is fully leveraged.

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Real Time Well Testing: A Game Changer – Experience and Lessons Learned Over 100 Well Tests Performed In the North Sea

Hollaender

Shumakov

Sarac

et al. 2015

Day 1 Tue, September 15, 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Real-Time Reservoir Characterization in Caspian Offshore Wells

et al. 2016

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The Caspian offshore is a perspective area for new hydrocarbon exploration projects. Being an environmental sensitive area it poses some constraints in terms of safety and duration of formation evaluation and testing campaign. This paper discuss the importance of real-time decision-making process during the formation evaluation on wireline and well testing operations for exploration wells drilled in Caspian Sea. All wireline and well test acquisition data was transmitted in real-time to all the involved parties.. Field acquisition system was equipped with high-speed mobile satellite connection to provide seamless data transmission and two-way communication. Acquired data were encrypted and stored in secure server installed in Atyrau region. Data from all sensors was visualized at the rig and the town. Specialized software was utilized to calculate well and tools diagnostic parameters and provide interpretation in real-time to improve the whole process that allowed to optimize operations and formation evaluation procedures. This paper outlines experience and lessons learnt during the real-time formation evaluation and well testing in Caspian Offshore. Zhambyl Petroleum is the company in Caspian Offshore where the real-time philosophy has been successfully implemented. During the exploration campaign in Caspian Sea the real-time decision-making process demonstrated that the real-time is not only about transmitting data, but also integrating multiple analysis and turning raw data into valuable knowledge during the test. It enables the information to be passed to the right people and allows for the critical decisions to be made in short time. Thanks to the real-time enabled transmission, calculation, visualization, improved communication and collaboration between offshore and town resulted in fast analysis and interpretation of the data. Allowing fast decision-making process to optimize downhole pressure measurement, sampling, downhole fluid analysis and well test duration. Finally the real-time led to saving of the valuable rig time and ensured that all the objectives have been achieved before the rig demobilization. The paper provided recommendations for future wells drilled in Caspian Sea taking into account lessons learnt from previous wells.

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ESP-DST Well Testing in a Complex Reservoir in the Barents Sea: Establishing New Methodologies and Lessons Learned

Leonardis

Shumakov

Morton

et al. 2017

Day 1 Wed, April 05, 2017

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This paper describes a unique combination of equipment and techniques that enabled an ESP-DST well test on a shallow, horizontal well drilled in a faulted and heterogeneous reservoir with complex fluids, in Arctic conditions. The technical challenges of the performed well test included designing a bespoke ESP-DST string compatible with the shallow reservoir and designing a surface well test spread capable of efficient separation for safe and environmentally friendly disposal, and obtaining accurate flow rate measurements, as well as performing a test with interpretable data given the uncertainty and complexity of the formation, and the complexity of the well itself. The success of the performed well test was the result of an integrated approach to well test design and real-time support provided throughout. This process included the selection of optimum ESP-DST string design for multizone testing in a high angle well including an innovative arrangement of an ESP encapsulated in a POD and installed in the riser. Integration of ESP with the surface well test package was also important and the design of the surface well test package included a Coriolis type of separator and multiphase flow meter for accurate flow rate measurements. During drilling, the contingency plan to mitigate against losses was implemented which had a significant effect on the well testing program. To address this, and to understand if the well objectives could still be achieved, an uncertainty-based well test design and interpretation methodology, taking into account reservoir uncertainties and their interaction with each other, which uses numerical models and a global sensitivity analysis method was applied. This method identifies which uncertain reservoir parameters can be interpreted confidently and indicates the test duration. From the hundreds of numerical simulation cases produced during the design stage of the test, matches were obtained during monitoring to give an indication of the future pressure behavior, which allowed the duration of final build-up to be optimized. The ESP-DST well test was successfully performed on a horizontal well drilled in the Wisting discovery in the Barents Sea. The well was successfully free flow tested giving a maximum achieved flow rate of 5,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. All the well test objectives were successfully achieved, despite the change to the contingency drilling plan.

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Unlocking Future Heavy Oil Development in the North Sea: A Well Testing Success in the Kraken Field

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

Real Time Well Testing: A Game Changer – Experience and Lessons Learned Over 100 Well Tests Performed In the North Sea

Real Time Well Testing: A Game Changer – Experience and Lessons Learned Over 100 Well Tests Performed In the North Sea

Real-Time Reservoir Characterization in Caspian Offshore Wells

ESP-DST Well Testing in a Complex Reservoir in the Barents Sea: Establishing New Methodologies and Lessons Learned

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