A geomechanical approach for sanding risk assessment applied to three field cases for completion optimisation

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalil Rahman ◽  
Abbas Khaksar ◽  
Toby Kayes
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
Production Prediction

Mitigation of sand production is increasingly becoming an important and challenging issue in the petroleum industry. This is because the increasing demand for oil and gas resources is forcing the industry to expand its production operations in more challenging unconsolidated reservoir rocks and depleted sandstones with more complex well completion architecture. A sand production prediction study is now often an integral part of an overall field development planning study to see if and when sand production will be an issue over the life of the field. The appropriate type of sand control measures and a cost-effective sand management strategy are adopted for the field depending on timing and the severity of predicted sand production. This paper presents a geomechanical modelling approach that integrates production or flow tests history with information from drilling data, well logs and rock mechanics tests. The approach has been applied to three fields in the Australasia region, all with different geological settings. The studies resulted in recommendations for three different well completion and sand control approaches. This highlights that there is no unique solution for sand production problems, and that a robust geomechanical model is capable of finding a field-specific solution considering in-situ stresses, rock strength, well trajectory, reservoir depletion, drawdown and perforation strategy. The approach results in cost-effective decision making for appropriate well/perforation trajectory, completion type (e.g. cased hole, openhole or liner completion), drawdown control or delayed sand control installation. This type of timely decision making often turns what may be perceived as an economically marginal field development scenario into a profitable project. This paper presents three case studies to provide well engineers with guidelines to understanding the principles and overall workflow involved in sand production prediction and minimisation of sand production risk by optimising completion type.

Low Well Cost: Effective Cost Optimisation for Marginal Green Field Development Using Fit-for-Purpose Well Design

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thivyashini Thamilyanan ◽  
Hasmizah Bakar ◽  
Irzee Zawawi ◽  
Siti Aishah Mohd Hatta
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Artificial Lift ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
Reservoir Connectivity ◽  
Gas Lift

Abstract During the low oil price era, the ability to deliver a small business investment yet high monetary gains was the epitome of success. A marginal field with its recent success of appraisal drilling which tested 3000bopd will add monetary value if it is commercialized as early as possible. However, given its marginal Stock Tank Oil Initially in Place (STOIIP), the plan to develop this field become a real challenge to the team to find a fit-for-purpose investment to maximize the project value. Luxuries such as sand control, artificial lift and frequent well intervention need to be considered for the most cost-effective measures throughout the life of field ‘Xion’. During field development study, several development strategies were proposed to overcome the given challenges such as uncertainty of reservoir connectivity, no gas lift supply, limited footprint to cater surface equipment and potential sand production. Oriented perforation, Insitu Gas Lift (IGL), Pressure Downhole Gauge (PDG), Critical Drawdown Pressure (CDP) monitoring is among the approaches used to manage the field challenges will be discussed in this paper. Since there are only two wells required to develop this field, a minimum intervention well is the best option to improve the project economics. This paper will discuss the method chosen to optimize the well and completion strategy cost so that it can overcome the challenges mentioned above in the most cost-effective approach. Artificial lift will utilize the shallower gas reservoirs through IGL in comparison to conventional gas lift. Sand Production monitoring will utilize the PDG by monitoring the CDP. The perforation strategy will employ the oriented perforation to reduce the sand free drawdown limit compare to the full perforation strategy. The strategy to monitor production through PDG will also reduce the number of interventions to acquire pressure data in establishing reservoir connectivity for the second phase development through secondary recovery and reservoir pressure maintenance plan. This paper will also explain the innovative approaches adopted for this early monetization and fast track project which is only completed within 4 months. This paper will give merit to petroleum engineers and well completion engineers involved in the development of marginal fields.

Implications of accurate geomechanical modelling and systematic core testing for sanding evaluation and sand control decisions – a case study from Perth Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Sadegh Asadi ◽  
Abbas Khaksar ◽  
Mark Fabian ◽  
Roger Xiang ◽  
David N. Dewhurst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Well Test ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Stress Regime ◽  
Full Field ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
Rock Mechanical Properties

Accurate knowledge of in-situ stresses and rock mechanical properties are required for a reliable sanding risk evaluation. This paper shows an example, from the Waitsia Gas Field in the northern Perth Basin, where a robust well centric geomechanical model is calibrated with field data and laboratory rock mechanical tests. The analysis revealed subtle variations from the regional stress regime for the target reservoir with significant implications for sanding tendency and sand management strategies. An initial evaluation using a non-calibrated stress model indicated low sanding risks under both initial and depleted pressure conditions. However, the revised sanding evaluation calibrated with well test observations indicated considerable sanding risk after 500 psi of pressure depletion. The sanding rate is expected to increase with further depletion, requiring well intervention for existing producers and active sand control for newly drilled wells that are cased and perforated. This analysis indicated negligible field life sanding risk for vertical and low-angle wells if completed open hole. The results are used for sand management in existing wells and completion decisions for future wells. A combination of passive surface handling and downhole sand control methods are considered on a well-by-well basis. Existing producers are currently monitored for sand production using acoustic detectors. For full field development, sand catchers will also be installed as required to ensure sand production is quantified and managed.

The Erskine Field, Block 23/26b, UK North Sea

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 447-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Free Water ◽  
Initial Pressure ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Pressure Data ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Wax Deposition ◽  
Field Development ◽  
High Pressure High Temperature ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThe Erskine high-pressure–high-temperature gas condensate field was the first such field developed in the UK Continental Shelf. Since production started in 1997, the field has produced over 350 bcf of gas and 70 MMbbl of condensate. The reservoir pressure has depleted from an initial pressure of 960 bar (13 920 psi) down to 140–400 bar (2030–5800 psi), resulting in some compaction and sand production in some of the wells. Free water production has led to the formation of wellbore scale, which has required interventions to remove.The reservoirs are sandstones of the Jurassic Puffin, Pentland and Heather formations. Estimates of hydrocarbons in place made using production and pressure data compare favourably with the initial estimates made during field development planning, although the Pentland Formation volume is some 20% below the sanction estimate.Several major field outages have occurred, such as a condensate fire in 2010 and a blockage of the multiphase export pipeline in 2007. In addition, the field has experienced flow assurance problems related to scale and wax deposition. A new pipeline section was installed in 2018 to bypass a full pipeline blockage which occurred due to wax deposition.

World's First Extension Pack with 7-in. Enhanced Single-Trip Multizone System: Success Case and Learning Points on the Installation and Treatment Design

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunanda Magna Bela ◽  
Abdil Adzeem B Ahmad Mahdzan ◽  
Noor Hidayah A Rashid ◽  
Zairi A Kadir ◽  
Azfar Israa Abu Bakar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Individual Treatment ◽  
Flow Area ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Gravel Pack

Abstract Gravel packing in a multilayer reservoir during an infill development project requires treating each zone individually, one after the other, based on reservoir characterization. This paper discusses the installation of an enhanced 7-in. multizone system to achieve both technical and operational efficiency, and the lessons learned that enabled placement of an optimized high-rate water pack (HRWP) in the two lower zones and an extension pack in the uppermost zone. This new approach helps make multizone cased-hole gravel-pack (CHGP) completions a more technically viable and cost-effective solution. Conventional CHGPs are limited to either stack-pack completions, which can incur high cost because of the considerable rig time required for multizone operations, or alternate-path single-trip multizone completions that treat all the target zones simultaneously, with one pumping operation. However, this method does not allow for individual treatment to suit reservoir characterization. The enhanced 7-in. multizone system can significantly reduce well completion costs and pinpoint the gravel placement technique for each zone, without pump-rate limitations caused by excessive friction in the long interval system, and without any fiuid-loss issues after installation because of the modular sliding side-door (SSD) screen design feature. A sump packer run on wireline acts as a bottom isolation packer and as a depth reference for subsequent tubing-conveyed perforating (TCP) and wellbore cleanup (WBCU) operations. All three zones were covered by 12-gauge wire-wrapped modular screens furnished with blank pipe, packer extension, and straddled by two multizone isolation packers between the zones, with a retrievable sealbore gravel-pack packer at the top. The entire assembly was run in a single trip, therefore rig time optimization was achieved. The two lower zones were treated with HRWPs, while the top zone was treated with an extension pack. During circulation testing on the lowermost zone, high pumping pressure was recorded, and after thorough observation of both pumping parameters and tool configuration, it was determined that the reduced inner diameter (ID) in the shifter might have been a causal factor, thereby restricting the flow area. This was later addressed with the implementation of a perforated pup joint placed above the MKP shifting tool. The well was completed within the planned budget and time and successfully put on sand-free production, exceeding the field development planning (FDP) target. The enhanced 7-in. multizone system enabled the project team to beat the previous worldwide track record, which was an HRWP treatment only. As a result of proper fluid selection and rigorous laboratory testing, linear gel was used to transport 3 ppa of slurry at 10 bbl/min, resulting in a world-first extension pack with a 317-lbm/ft packing factor.

Definition of an Offshore Petroleum Production System by Using Fuzzy Sets and Utility Functions

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 684-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago C. da Fonseca ◽  
◽  
José R. P. Mendes ◽  
Celso K. Morooka ◽  
Ivan R. Guilherme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Fuzzy Sets ◽  
Production System ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Utility Functions ◽  
Oil Field ◽  
Petroleum Engineering ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Definition Of

Field development is a very important task in the petroleum industry. Decisions in this area may lead either to profitable success or to expensive failures, and usually involve several distinct areas in the scope of Petroleum Engineering and Science, such as Geology, Petreoleum Engineering, Offshore Engineering and Economics. Therefore, these subjects must be well understood by teams supporting the decision-making process. This work proposes a methodology to support managers in one stage of field development: the definition of the field production system. In order to determinate the production system to be installed in an oil field, attributes such as investment, profitability, safety, environmental preservation and technological experience must be considered. A decision-making team or agent must weight these attributes in order to achieve solutions accordingly to the company strategies and objectives. Combining a few mathematical tools to represent the process, the methodology proposed herein is an approach that considers not only the financial variables involved in a field decision process, but might include other aspects, or attributes, also important to guide a decision. To this end, the application of Multi-Attribute Analysis concepts is suggested. Also, to support the decision-making agent, the approach follows Utility Functions concepts in order to numerically represent the agent trend or inclination to each option. Considering that subjectivity and imprecision are naturally involved in the decision-making process, the approach incorporates Fuzzy Sets Theory concepts as a means of formalizing the computation of this uncertainty.

Sand Production Management

1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamdouh M. Salama
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Production Management ◽  
Input Parameter ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
Important Input ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Critical Components

Sand production may be inevitable in many fields that have a relatively low formation strength. Sand erosion and settling predictions and sand monitoring are important elements of any effective sand production management strategy. Sand erosion predictions are used to establish tolerable sand production rates, and, thus, well productivity, and to develop cost-effective inspection frequency for critical components. Prediction of critical flow rate to prevent sand settling is important for flowlines that are not designed for pigging. Quantitative sand monitoring is essential in verifying the effectiveness of sand control procedures and in generating an important input parameter for erosion and sand settling predictions. This paper presents equations for predicting sand erosion rate and sand settling flow rate, and assesses the accuracy of these equations. In addition, the paper presents an assessment of the sensitivity of commercially available nonintrusive acoustic and intrusive electrical resistance sand monitors. [S0195-0738(00)00201-6]

Value of Managing the Subsurface Risks and Uncertainties in the Project Execution; A Successful Case History in Merakes Green Gas Field Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dian Kurniawan ◽  
Gabriela Carrasquero ◽  
Edo Richardo Daniel ◽  
Kurnia Wirya Praja ◽  
Elisa Spelta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Extensive Evaluation ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
The Way

Abstract Implementing a proactive approach with comprehensive reservoir characterization, risks identification and mitigation are key elements that have to be deeply investigated before the project execution for achieving the optimum results in field development. A tremendous result on the seismic driven field development and synergy with a fast track development concept in Merakes green gas field has been achieved. In this paper, the conceptual and methodologies are described in the way of managing the subsurface risks and uncertainties during the planning and execution phase. A suitable example in Merakes field development which classified as "appraisal while developing", since the remaining risks still exist during development campaign, is presented. By having only two exploration wells with limited data, a robust upfront reservoir characterization and modeling were quite challenging to provide a reliable image of the subsurface condition. The enhancement on the way of constructing an integrated reservoir study prior to the field development is considered an essential requirement that has to be done before the project execution. A comprehensive approach that maximizes the integration of Geology, Geophysics and Reservoir Engineering disciplines and brings out the reservoir risk quantification has been considered as a basis and strategic driver for both subsurface quantitative description and de-risking of development wells locations. Focusing on the subsurface risk criticality, the compartmentalization, rock facies quality, gas-water contact depth and sand production were considered as the main critical aspects that could impact the final success. Preserving mitigation strategies and adapting development flexibility concept have been prepared to overcome such subsurface unexpected conditions. A description of the well placement strategy which widely open to be optimized during the drilling campaign was allowed and brought benefits in mitigating the compartmentalization risk. The readiness of an adequate and comprehensive data acquisition program including log data acquisition, coring and well testing in the development wells has been prepared. Moreover, a sidetrack contingency plan has been also considered for a key-well in case of worse than expected results. With know-how and experiences on the nearby field development, an extensive evaluation of water and sand production risks was derisked by selecting smart completion and sand control technologies. A holistic integration between subsurface, drilling, petroleum, facilities disciplines is considered of paramount importance in development projects. The awareness of the field's risks and uncertainties allows maximizing efforts in following up the drilling phase promptly adapting the data acquisition plan to the effective level of residual uncertainty and related development risk. Eventually the good match between the expected scenario and the actual well results allowed to cancel most of the costly data acquisition plans which contributed to a positive impact on the project cost and time-saving.

First Successful Installation of Through-Tubing Ceramic Sand Screen in Seligi Oil Field, Offshore Peninsular Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masran Kadir ◽  
Muhammad Ruzwin Rusli ◽  
Bukhari Samsudin ◽  
Saim Rahman ◽  
Sheereen Norizan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silicon Carbide ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Oil Field ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Technical Potential ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
Sintered Silicon

AbstractThe Seligi field, located 240 kilometers offshore peninsular Malaysia in the Malay basin was discovered in May 1971 and is one of the largest oil fields in Malaysia. Sand production in the Seligi field has been observed, especially from the J reservoirs group. Within the Seligi field, Well G was identified as one of the wells with sand production to surface that could lead to sand accumulation at surface facilities and erosion of equipment. Historically, there had been no in-situ sand control measures in the well. The default practice for sand control was to choke back the well, to prevent triggering of the surface sand probe (production with maximum sand-free rate). This approach however is a compromise, while it limits sand production, it also limits the production potential of the well (well technical potential). As part of the production enhancement assessment program, remedial sand-control methods were considered to increase the oil production while minimising sand production. Among the options considered was ceramic downhole sand screen installation. Ceramics have been used in many extreme erosion and corrosion applications, with ceramic sintered silicon carbide being 50 times harder than steel. Ceramic sand screens made with sintered silicon carbide offer much higher erosional resistance at speeds of 300ft/s sand impingement velocity. Due to the aggressive nature of the sands and high velocities of greater than 50ft/s in Well G, a through-tubing ceramic sand screen was selected. The ceramic sand screen served as a fit for purpose solution that allowed the well potential to be fully maximised, enabling a continuous production with minimal sand production at surface.This paper reviews the first successful pilot installation of through-tubing ceramic sand screen in Well G in the Seligi Oil Field, Offshore Peninsular Malaysia. Discussed are careful analysis and planning, i.e. velocity calculations, tool deployment simulations, tool inspections and detailed job procedure leading to a successful installation. With the ceramic sand screen installed, the well was able to produce at 100% production choke opening with lower tubing head pressure and has not produced sand at surface despite multiple shutdowns and well bean ups. The installation has also removed the need to have sand handling facilities at topside and has generated an implicated cost saving from expensive intervention programs. Given the success of this pilot installation, a baseline in sand control has been set for this field, with new well candidates being considered for future replication.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document