Well Construction Challenges in the Pre-Salt Development Projects

Abstract

The ambitious plan to develop and produce the prolific Pre-Salt reservoirs in the Brazilian Santos Basin was kicked off by the discovery of the gigantic Lula Field in 2006 (previously known as "Tupi"). For Petrobras, the first decade of this century was therefore marked by the significant challenges imposed by these complex carbonate reservoirs, requiring the accelerated introduction of new technologies and innovative approaches to well construction. This article describes the history of well construction in the offshore Brazilian Pre Salt area. It summarizes the evolution in well design that resulted from the implementation of innumerable "lessons learned" that were acquired since drilling of the first wildcat well in the Pre-Salt Cluster. The commulative experience of more than 100 wells drilled and 29 wells completed (to date), has resulted in a progressive reductions of time and CAPEX required for the construction of the development wells in the Santos Basin.

Degradation profiles of poly(methylene oxide) and poly(glycolic acid) for inflow control devices in oil wells

“…Provided that it could easily last more than 5 days to start well production after completion process, this period could be understood as the minimum exposure time expected in the field. In this way, PGA could probably be removed from ICDs at all tested temperatures, and this would produce the required reduction in ICD friction loss and its undesirable impacts on oil production …”

Análise dos desafios e soluções para aprimorar o desempenho operacional de poços de exploração no pré-Sal brasileiro.

“…These challenges arise from the complex geological characteristics and operational conditions associated with extracting hydrocarbon resources from reservoirs located deep beneath thick salt layers in offshore basins. By understanding and addressing these challenges, the industry can develop effective strategies to optimize exploration and production activities in pre-salt fields (Pinheiro et al, 2015).…”

“…These factors include substantial investments in static and dynamic appraisal, the implementation of the WAG recovery strategy, intelligent well completion techniques, extensive use of technology, and collaborative efforts among multidisciplinary teams comprising geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists, and reservoir engineers. Some examples of the well construction challenges that have been successfully addressed in the Pre-Salt cluster, as outlined by Pinheiro et al (2015), are as follows:…”

“…In recent years, Petrobras has evaluated various well design and configuration alternatives, including sub-horizontal, multi-fractured, open hole, and single and multiple-zone intelligent completions. The implementation of intelligent completions in the Pre-Salt area began in 2012 with an injector well (9-RJS-665) in Lula Field, followed by a production well with a 7" casing configuration (Pinheiro et al 2015).…”

“…The discovery of the first supergiant pre-salt field, Tupi, in 2006, presented significant drilling challenges, taking over 200 days to drill. However, thanks to advancements in technology and the knowledge gained from drilling over 250 wells in the area, the drilling time has been significantly reduced (Pinheiro et al, 2015). Since 2013, more than five wells of this type have been constructed, with the fastest one being drilled and completed in less than 92 days, setting a record for the Pre-Salt region.…”