To reactivate wells that are not flowing, a common solution is to perforate any bypassed zone to bring the wells back to operation. If the completion does not allow for optimal interventions, i.e. running the perforating gun sized for the target interval, the consequences of a thru-tubing intervention must be evaluated based on cost, probability of success, risk and whether the potential results and the time savings of a rig are justifiable. In a well in Minagish Field of Kuwait, a combination of thru-tubing technologies was deployed for perforating a bypassed zone, reducing the cost of a rig workover, and maximizing the potential results. The conveyance method was selected in consideration of well access, cost, provision of positive depth correlation, and the capability to deploy the perforating guns thru tubing. Second, the perforating system was modeled with the reservoir parameters for its impact on well productivity. After the perforation parameters were obtained, the application of post-perforating dynamic underbalance was proposed to clean the perforations and reduce skin. Downhole measurements while perforating was combined with all the runs, including gamma ray, collar locator, pressure, temperature. A fast gauge was run in memory mode with the post perforating underbalance guns. The perforating operation was performed with a suite of measurements conveyed with digital slickline, enabling a cost-effective, informed intervention that reduced the operator's cost by USD 288,000 over a conventional rig-based operation. The combination of extra-deep penetrating shaped charges loaded a 2-1/8-in phased exposed carrier perforating guns system and the post-perforating cleanup system, restoring the well to a production of 1,500bbl/d. The application of digital slickline that provided downhole measurement while perforating was deployed for the first time in Kuwait. The use of productivity modeling for perforating proved to be a successful metric for decision making when selecting this intervention methodology. This approach saved the operator time and cost while cutting risks and maximizing the potential production restoration.
The Minagish field in West Kuwait is a high potential field which poses several challenges in terms of hydrocarbon flow assurance through highly depleted tight carbonate intervals with uneven reservoir quality and curtailed mobility. These conditions have shifted the field development from vertical to horizontal wellbore completions. Achieving complete wellbore coverage is a challenge for any frac treatment performed in a long openhole lateral with disparities in reservoir characteristics. The fluid will flow into the path of least resistance leaving large portions of the formation untreated. As a result, economic fracturing treatment options dwindle significantly, thus reservoir stimulation results are not always optimum. A multistage fracturing technique using Integrated Dynamic Diversion (IDD) has been performed first time in West Kuwait field well. The process uses active fluid energy to divert flow into a specific fracture point in the lateral, which can initiate and precisely place a fracture. The process uses two self-directed fluid streams: one inside the pipe and one in the annulus. The process mixes the two fluids downhole with high energy to form a consistent controllable mixture. The technique includes pinpoint fluid jetting at the point of interest, followed by in-situ HCL based crosslinked systems employed for improving individual stage targets. The IDD diversion shifts the fracture to unstimulated areas to create complex fractures which increases reservoir contact volume and improved overall conductivity in the lateral. The kinetic and chemical diversion of the IDD methodology is highly critical to control fluid loss in depleted intervals and results in enhanced stimulation. Pumping a frac treatment in openhole without control would tend to initiate a longitudinal fracture along the wellbore and may restrict productivity. By using specialized completion tools with nozzles at the end of the treating string, a new pinpoint process has been employed to initiate a transverse fracture plane in IDD applications. Proper candidate selection and fluid combination with in-situ crosslink acid effectively plug the fracture generated previously and generate pressure high enough to initiate another fracture for further ramification. By combining these processes into one continuous operation, the use of wireline/coiled tubing for jetting, plug setting and milling is eliminated, making the new multistage completion technology economical for these depleted wells. The application of the IDD methodology is a fit-for-purpose solution to address the unique challenges of openhole operations, formation technical difficulties, high-stakes economics, and untapped high potential from intermittent reservoirs. The paper will present post-operation results of this completion from all fractured zones along the lateral and will describe the lessons learned in implementation of this methodology which can be considered as best practice for application in similar challenges in other fields.
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