Cost-Effective Development Mode for Marginal Oil fields – Best Practice of CNPC

Abstract

Marginal reserves are an important play in future energy development. Based on the statistics of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the low permeability and unconventional reservoirs occupied 92% of newly found proven reserves in China. To overcome challenges such as poor reservoir conditions, weak natural energy, low displacement efficiency, and insufficient single well production, CNPC has conducted years of research and operation to cost-effectively develop China's marginal reserves. To develop the marginal fields economically, it is required to maximize single well production, recovery and reservoir sweep with minimum CAPEX and OPEX reasonably. The production enhancement is realized by 3 key technologies, namely, sweet spot identification, multi-layered 3D short spacing horizontal well pattern, and volumetric fracturing techniques. The cost reduction is achieved by the full life cycle practice of utilizing "large cluster, factory" well design and field operation, drilling prognosis optimization, integrated intelligent surface system, and unmanned operation. CNPC cost-effective development mode is practical and successful, marginal fields characterized with heterogeneous, multi-layered oil-bearing intervals with poor continuity are being economically developed in China. By comprehensive geological study, fit-for-purpose technologies application, and geoscience-to-engineering integration, the fracture control degree of horizontal wells increased from 60% to more than 90% based on micro-seismic events, stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) increased by 46.8%, average cumulative oil production per well is more than 100 times than original production in the field. Fast and early cash flow is realized by minimum production facilities. The average drilling cycle is shortened by 61%, the surface facility construction time is reduced by 65%, and the average single well investment is reduced by 42%.