Water Control in High-Water-Cut Well Using Cutting-Edge Polymers: Production Optimization Methodology Applied in Burgan Field, Kuwait

Abstract

A significant challenge in the mature South Kuwait Burgan field is assuring maximum hydrocarbon flow through high water-prone sandstone intervals. Recently, water control or conformance treatments have been considered to make oil production from these reservoirs more economically feasible. This paper discusses the application of a novel downhole chemical methodology that has created a positive impact in overall productivity from this field. The production profile in this field has been challenging in terms of increasing water volume, which poses a great threat to continued economic viability and may lead to lower production rates, a reduction in recoverable reserves, and premature abandonment. Some of the production-gathering centers cannot handle the ever-increasing volumes of produced water and are operating beyond design capacity. In order to solve this challenge, a downhole chemical treatment was modified as a fit-for-purpose treatment to address the unique challenges of electric submersible pump (ESP)-driven well operations, formation technical difficulties, high-stake economics, and high water potential from these formations. A unique hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymer (HRPM) was implemented in a high water-cut well to selectively reduce water production. Because this well was producing with an ESP, the treatment was pumped down the annular space. A preflush was pumped ahead of the HRPM treatment to remove deposits that could prevent the polymer from effectively adsorbing to the rock surface. The treatment was then overdisplaced with brine. This technology incorporates an HRPM that is adsorbed on the rock surface, resulting in the alteration of rock surface characteristics. The hydrophobic modification to the base polymer chain adds unique associative properties to the system, which selectively reduce the water's effective permeability in the reservoir, impeding water flow and facilitating increased hydrocarbon flow. A direct result of the implemented treatment is that the post-operation well test and production data show a high sustained hydrocarbon production at a smaller choke size with significantly reduced water cut. This successful treatment confirmed the optimized conformance technology as a solution for the first well in this field. In order to achieve maximum reduction in water production, this technology is customized based on the temperature and permeability of the treatment zones, thus ensuring it is fit-for-purpose. Furthermore, this paper summarizes the candidate selection, design processes, challenges encountered, production response, and lessons learned from this treatment and can be considered a best practice for addressing high water production challenges in similar conditions in other fields.

Diagnosing High Water Production in Kalama Field, Niger Delta

“…Produced water is the largest volume by-product or waste stream associated with oil and gas production [1]. Increasing volume of produce water in a field is one of the many challenges in effectively producing oilfields as it poses great threat to continued economic viability and may lead to lower production rates, reduction of recoverable reserves and premature abandonment [2,3]. Managing produced water is costly.…”