Candidate Selection and Operation of Commingled Production with a Dual ESP System in a Green Field Development

Abstract

This paper presents the first application of a Dual Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) system in an onshore well in OMV. It describes the whole process starting with the selection of the technology and candidate wells to the installation of the equipment and the start-up phase. Challenges in the operations as well as the methods for production allocation are addressed. Commingled production was seen as a key approach for production acceleration in the development of a field with multiple-stacked reservoirs. To proof this idea, a number of candidate wells and technologies were screened and the concept of "Dual ESP" was finally selected for a pilot in the well Erdpress 6. The design process required simulations and preparative selective production tests. Production allocation was crucial to evaluate the performance of the pilot; therefore several techniques were used, like fingerprinting based on chromatography and chloride content. The Dual ESP system was a completely new approach in producing multiple targets in one well. The selective production tests proved to be essential for an optimum design of the ESPs. Two different methods were used to allocate the production rates to the respective intervals. The most significant finding was that results of the nodal analysis could be verified by chemical fingerprints. This also proved that the investment in downhole sensors was valuable. Interferences between the two pumps could be determined with the information of the sensors resulting in adjustments in the ESP settings. The conclusions from that pilot are that the application of the Dual ESP system is fulfilling the expectations from a technical point of view and that the information gathered prior to the design was crucial. However it is obvious that the application of this expensive technology has to be evaluated and justified in every technical and economical aspect. In the case of this pilot, an unexpected steep water cut rise impaired the forecasted profitability. The use of the Dual ESP system was an exceptional approach to tackle the concept of commingled production. This paper covers the whole process from design to operation and shares the experiences and lessons learned to support future applications.

Comparison of commingled and sequential production schemes by sensitivity analysis for Gulf of Mexico Paleogene Deepwater turbidite oil fields: A simulation study

“…Because of its benefits like simplicity, reliability, lower cost, and ease of well intervention, commingled production schemes are a practical approach to developing offshore reservoirs (Al-Shehri et al, 2005). Commingled production schemes accelerate well and field production over time, extend the economic life of wells and, as a result, often increase the net present value of a petroleum resource project (Hoy et al, 2016). Although there are many advantages of a commingled production scheme, it may result in reservoir management challenges.…”