Using Simultaneous Gyro Measurements to Determine Orientation of Magnetic Ranging Instruments in a Vertical Environment

The use of oriented perforation as a means of sand control technique has been adopted by many operators in industry. Two low angle wells completed in D field offshore Sarawak, Malaysia with moderate to weak rock strength quality required this method not only to limit the sand production but also to sustain the minimum production of 2500bopd each. Based on onset sand production analysis, reservoir M is predicted to have sand production in the direction of a maximum stress of 135degrees from true north. The wells then are suggested to be shot 0-180degree parallel to maximum stress and it saved the expense of no installation of downhole sand exclusion. This paper outlines the perforation analysis conducted to design the optimum perforation using Tubing Conveyed Perforating (TCP) Gun with Dynamic Underbalance (DUB) that effectively clean the newly created perforations. The operational approach applied to overcome the challenge of achieving desired orientation in almost vertical deviation wells by positioning electronic gyroscope siting on Universal Bottom Hole Orientation (UBHO) sub is also discussed in this paper. The available centralization solutions in market are limited to 30° degrees well inclination with 5°accuracies at three times more cost than conventional TCP. The proposal of oriented perforation at both slanted wells significantly saved lot of project economic and proved as effective sand control method, so far the production target is achieved and maintained with no record of sand production at field. Two newly drilled and completed wells located in offshore Sarawak, Malaysia required oriented perforation with dynamic underbalance using Tubing Conveyed Perforating (TCP) guns. The reservoir quality was weak to moderate rock strength with expected sand production in the direction of a maximum stress (135 degrees from true north) within the nearly vertical wellbore. To limit the sand production, the requirement was to shoot 0-180 degree guns parallel to maximum stress, to save the expense of any sand exclusion method. Another requirement was to use Dynamic Underbalance (DUB) to properly clean perforations, reduce skin, and maximize production. The objective was to achieve a minimum production of 2500 BPD. From Geo-mechanic study, in deviated well, the orientation of perforation is aligned with the trend of maximum horizontal stress. Based on breakout analysis, Shmax direction is 135° from the North. The expected production rate can be achieved with Oriented Perforation even at 0 deg phasing and PI reduced from 55 STB/day/psi to 38 STB/day/psi based on Figure 1 below. The studies conducted on Field D available data concluded that sanding risk is very low with Cased & Oriented Perforation strategy.

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Connecting Wells in Environmentally Sensitive Areas Using Magnetic Ranging-While-Drilling Technology for Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery

Lips¹,

Rassadkin²,

Dorey³

2020

SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference

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When emergency situations in environmentally sensitive areas occur, drilling a relief well to intercept and kill the blowout well often requires various types of magnetic ranging technologies to navigate into the problematic well. Outside this scenario, we do not commonly hear about magnetic ranging. The main objective of this paper is to raise awareness among operators about magnetic ranging-while-drilling technology as wellbore placement service to make planned wellbore intersections to boost production. Reactivation of mature fields is often an economically viable option when demand for energy pushes oil prices upwards. In order to boost production from an existing mature field, an operator provided a service company with an interesting challenge: utilize proven directional drilling expertise in conjunction with alternative wellbore positioning techniques to drill two high-angle deviated wells from opposing directions and intercept a common vertical producer well for a gravity drainage concept. During the pre-planning phase, one of the major challenges was MWD survey accuracy for the horizontal wells. The 2-sigma major-axis uncertainty of the MWD surveys after applied corrections at the point of planned contact with the vertical producer was over 106 ft while the size of the target to intercept was only 1 ft in the lateral dimension. Implementation of magnetic ranging while drilling technology combined with north-seeking gyroscopic sensor allowed optimal positioning of all three wells relative to each other. Bottom hole assembly equipped with a smart mud motor, MWD, and magnetic bit-sub avoided collisions and steered successfully between other producing wells in the mature field. This challenging project from two opposite surface locations took several weeks of directional drilling and resulted in precise positioning both horizontal drainage sections within close proximity of vertical producer. Hydraulic communication with the vertical producer was successfully established from both horizontal wells after completion of the drilling operations.

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Using Simultaneous Gyro Measurements to Determine Orientation of Magnetic Ranging Instruments in a Vertical Environment

Cited by 6 publications

References 7 publications

A New Magnetic Ranging Technology Achieves the Accuracy and Operational Flexibility Needed for Plugging Complex Old Wells of Underground Gas Storage

A New Magnetic Ranging Technology Achieves the Accuracy and Operational Flexibility Needed for Plugging Complex Old Wells of Underground Gas Storage

Oriented Perforation using Tubing Conveyed Perforating TCP Gun with Dynamic Underbalance DUB as Sand Control Method in Low Angle Wells, Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia.

Connecting Wells in Environmentally Sensitive Areas Using Magnetic Ranging-While-Drilling Technology for Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery

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