This paper addresses the successful isolation of a loss circulation zone of a short radius horizontal completion utilizing the cement retainer technique in a highly fractured environment. The process was applied to a well in a highly fractured carbonate reservoir undergoing pressure maintenance by water injection. Fracture orientation in the area is running mainly NE/SW. While drilling the horizontal section, complete lost circulation was encountered in the middle of the planned lateral section, most probably through a fracture. Circulation could not be regained by pumping LCM pills or placing cement plugs. The horizontal section had to be plugged and a new horizontal lateral was drilled in a different direction. A drillable squeeze packer was used to hold a good kick-off cement column above the loss circulation zone. Prior to the workover, the well was producing 3.3 MBOD at 47% water cut. The initial post workover test showed 3.0 MBOD restricted (choked) water-free production. Introduction The main objective of applying the horizontal drilling technology is to realize a greater economic benefit through increased well productivity by enlarging the area of contact with the reservoir rock at reduced pressure drawdown. Horizontal wells can offer significant economic as well as recovery benefits when properly applied. Increasing the production rate reduces the operating cost and thus increases the rate of return. In addition, horizontal drilling reduces the number of wells needed to deplete an area. Another benefit of horizontal completions is the diminished risk of water coning due to the lower drawdown in the wellbore. It also improves the areal and the vertical sweep efficiencies. On the characterization side, the horizontal technology improves the information gathering process. Horizontal drilling have proven that formations are more heterogeneous in the lateral direction than indicated by the vertical wells. Failures in horizontal drilling are mostly attributed to inadequate reservoir characterization and poor site selection due to lack of petrophysical data. Planning for a horizontal well includes a thorough review of, but not limited to, reservoir performance, reservoir geology, fracture presence and orientation, permeability anisotropy, well pressure transient testing and well logging. Most of this data are available since horizontal applications are development rather than exploration. Fractured reservoirs are mostly targeted for horizontal drilling. However, as in this case, the fracture systems presented the challenge. Background Horizontal drilling technology was first introduced in the Arab-D reservoir in Ghawar Field in 1994. Initially, the main objective was to deplete thin oil column areas while minimizing water production. The area the well was drilled in is highly swept. There are wells producing at 72% water cut or higher. The average water cut in the area is about 45%. Several workover techniques were tried to control water production, from through-tubing bridge plug isolation to polymer treatment. When successful, these techniques reduced water production only temporarily. In the field, produced water is treated and injected back in the reservoir through water disposal wells. It is imparative that a better way is needed to control water production to cut cost and injection volume when neccessary. Horizontal drilling is one choice.
A large Jurasic Middle Eastern oil field is currently undergoing peripheral waterflooding The flood front advance from down-dip water injection in often irregular. To ensure efficient reservoir management, it is important that flood front and other aspects of the fluid distribution be monitored and modeled as accurately as possible, in conjunction with available geological data. Sweep efficiency is routinely evaluated through the use of pulsed neutron and production logs. This data, in addition to all other production data, is used for reservoir management purposes in determining performance for individual wells and for the total field. Traditional 2D images of vertical and areal sweep data often underestimate the complexity of the actual fluid distribution in the reservoir. New workstation-based modeling technology now allows these data to be visualized interactively in 3D, allowing for a much faster and more detailed evaluation of the displacement process. We incorporated engineering and geological data in the form of sweep efficiency, petrophysical and lithologic data, into a 3D model. The ability to visualize the current and incremental sweep data, along with geological parameters, provides a better understanding of how the flood front is advancing. Factors important in controlling the advance of the front can quickly be brought into focus.
Cwynght 1995, ScxIaty of Patrobum Engmaars, Inc Thm papar was prepared Ior presentation at the SPE M!ddle East Oil Show bald m Sahram, 11-14 March 1995Th!s paper waa Selacted for prwenlalkm by an SPE Program COtWTMtW Iollowmg rawew of mformatmn contamad m an abStIOCl aubmmed by ma amrar(s), Contents of the papaf, as presented, have not been reviewd by tha SccIefy of Petrolem Enginaere and are suqecl to correction by the author(s). The materral, sa fwasanted, dws nol rwcewsriiy refkxt any posmon of the Society 01 Pelroleum Engmaers, !Ia officers, or members Papers presented al SPE mwtmgs we sub@ to pubhcatlon revkaw by EdNorlal Commmem of the Somty of Patmleum Er?@aars Permwslon to copy IS rasfrmlad to an Wstract of not more than SW wcuds. Illustratmns may not ba copIad Tha abstract ahou!d comam cmnapIcu@Macknmufdgmam of where and by whom the papar IS presented Wme Llbranan, SPE, PO Sox 833836, Rchardson, TX 75b8%3B36, U. S.A., Telex, 163345 SPEUT ABSTR ACTA large Jurasic Middle Eastern oil field is currently undergoing peripheral waterfhoding. The flood front advance from down-dip water injection in often irregular. To ensure efficient reservoir management, it is important that flood front and other aspects of the fluid distribution be monitored and modeled as accurately as possible, in conjunction with available geological data.Sweep efficiency is routinely evaluated through the use of pulsed neutron and production logs. This data, in addition to all other production data, is used for reservoir management purposes in determining performance for individual wells and for the total field. Traditional 2D images of vertical and areal sweep data oilen underestimate the complexity of the actual fluid distribution in the reservoir. New workstation-based modeling technology now allows these data to be visualized interactively in 3D, allowing for a much faster and more detailed evaluation of the displacement process.We incorporated engineering and geological data in the form of sweep efficiency, petrophysical and lithologic data, into a 3D model. The ability to visualize the current and incremental sweep data, along with geological parameters, provides a better understanding of how the flood front is advancing. Factors important in controlling the advance of the front can quickly be brought into focus. In
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