This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1998 SPE India Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in New Delhi, India, 7–9 April 1998.
Conformance Technology can be defined as "theapplication of processes to reservoirs and boreholes to enhance recovery efficiencies." The purpose of these processes is not to increase production but to reduce and dispose of unwanted hi-products; i.e., water, gas, sand, etc., and the associated costs generated by their disposal. Conformance technology has been practiced in the oilfield for many years, but it is gaining in importance because of environmental and economic constraints that limit operator options for the disposal of unwanted production. The successful practice of conformance technology is dependent upon a thorough understanding of the downhole conditions in each well, as misinterpretation of downhole data can result in the application of treatment that will not successfully address the problem. This paper describes applications for downhole videoservices that facilitate:Planning of conformance technology treatmentsProvision of in-process treatment monitoringConfirmation of post-treatment success Three case histories showing different applications of video services in conjunction with the planning and confirmation of treatments are presented. The first case determined fluid entry under flowing conditions and better defined which zones required treatment. The second case showed that the original well diagnosis was incorrect and that the planned treatments would not be effective, while the third case showed how a downhole video survey was used as a pretreatment analytical tool and later used to confirm a successful treatment. INTRODUCTION Unwanted fluid production in oil- and gas-producing wells is a factor that not only limits control and reduces production of the well but also presents major operational burdens from costs of disposal and compliance to environmental regulations. New, more stringent regulations now are in force to dictate how and where disposal can be made, and for this reason, producers have increased efforts to investigate new options to reduce unwanted production. The most commonly used water-control techniques have had relatively low success rates, and newer, more exotic treatments have not offered much improvement. Obviously, results such as these can not satisfactorily address a problem that has reached such magnitude. Several scenarios can be blamed for most water control treatment failures with the most common being:The source of the problem was not properly identified.The wrong product or treatment was used.The correct treatment was used improperly. Because of recent technological improvements that allow downhole video to be-effective under flowing weli conditions, it can now be employed to assist the weil operator in identifying wellbore and reservoir problems that can be corrected with conformance technology processes. DHV services can also be used to monitor certain treatment processes in reai time and to verify that the treatment applications were successful. CONFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY By applying conformance technology techniques, well operators can reduce unwanted production and the associated operating costs caused from corrosion, sand production, additional well-lifting requirements, larger separation and treatment processes, and fluid disposal. Additionally, environmental protection is enhanced, subsequently enabling regulatory requirements to be met more easily. In most cases, ifunwanted production can be reduced or blocked, hydrocarbon deliverability of the reservoir.
SPE Member Abstract The increased impetus on economic efficiency and safety in oil and gas service operations has challenged the industry to seek newer and better strategies that are able to comply with current operational needs. In response to these challenges, state-of-the-art hydraulic workover (HWO) equipment and systems, which can provide alternative methods to traditional drilling and workover operations and can comply with economic and safety constraints, have now been developed. These new systems not only enhance problem-solving options but also increase protection of service personnel and the environment. This paper will discuss the broader range of applications that has emerged as a result of improvements in HWO technology, the history of these systems, new HWO capabilities, components of the new systems, and safety enhancements recently introduced to the industry. Case histories will provide supporting data. Introduction and History While performing drilling or workover operations, operators have routinely encountered situations that exceed the capabilities of conventional derrick-based equipment. The development of new HWO well servicing techniques can now address these needs. New, more compact equipment can perform not only routine drilling and workover rig functions but also operations under pressure that are beyond the scope of derrick-based equipment. In many situations, hydraulic workover procedures involve moving pipe under pressure rather than when the well is "dead." To force, or "snub," a pipe into a pressurized well bore, a seal must first be established on the internal diameter of the pipe to prevent the hydrocarbons from blowing up through the pipe during the operation. Often, this internal seal consists of a check valve (or a pair of check valves) to be placed as part of the bottomhole assembly (Figure 1). These check valves allow fluids to be pumped down the string of pipe but check any flow in the upward direction. At other times, such as when installing a velocity string (also called a siphon string), the internal seal is provided by a wireline removable plug or other subsurface flow control device (Figure 2). A second requirement in snubbing operations is that a seal be established between the wellbore and the outside diameter of the pipe that is being forced into the wellbore. This seal prevents hydrocarbons from blowing up through the annular space. The seal is provided by a normal oilfield blowout preventer (BOP) with modified sealing surface materials (Figure 3). P. 115^
Elevated workplaces such as those often required for the performance of oilfield services should provide emergency escape systems that allow quick escape if a hazardous condition develops. This paper describes a new purpose-designed system, the Emergency Escape Pod (EEP), that serves this need and solves many of the problems inherent in earlier systems. Incorporated into this new system are provisions for injured personnel, automatic activation, ease of deployment, fire protection, reliability, economical manufacturing, and general application versatility. This paper will present the history of some of the past systems, the compromises of each, the important criteria for an escape system, and the development and testing of the new~EP system.The specifics of the design are being presented so that these concepts and techniques can be placed into pUblic domain for the oilfield industry's use without patent restrictions. 7 in the development of this project. Also instrumental in its evolvement were the contributions made by the following employees of Halliburton Energy Services:
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