Design, Installation, and Initial Performance of Ultra-High-Rate Gas Deepwater Completions - Tamar Field, Offshore Israel

Abstract

A case history from Offshore Israel is presented that describes the successful delivery of five (5) ultra high-rate gas wells (+250 MMscf/D) completed in a significant (10 TCF) gas field with 7 in. production tubing and an Open-Hole Gravel Pack (OHGP). Maximizing gas off-take rates from a gas reservoir with high flow capacity (kh) requires large internal diameter (ID) tubing coupled with efficient sand face completions. When sand control is required, the OHGP offers the most efficient as well as the most reliable, long-term track record of performance. A global study of ultra high-rate gas wells was made to select and finalize the design concept after which the commensurate engineering rigor was applied. This paper will highlight key accomplishments within various phases of a completion delivery process for critical wells. The completions were installed with minimal operational issues (Average NPT 4%). Production commenced on March 31, 2013 without incident thus far. Each well is designed for production rates in excees of 250 MMscf/D. SPE 166368 Project Statement of RequirementsGeneral. The Tamar field is the only local source of natural gas to Israel, a country with a total population of ~7.9 million people. With five (5) wells producing from the Tamar field, each well is required to provide gas to ~1.6 million people, roughly the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. With so many people depending on each Tamar well, delivering wells with the highest reliability and longevity became the key goal of the basis of design and all subsequent decision making. Phase I of the Tamar project was designed for a maximum flow rate through the subsea system and the platform of 1200 MMscf/D. To meet this flow rate, five (5) wells capable of producing 250 MMscf/D each were required with the completions to be finished by year end 2012. To ensure the wells were cleaned up and had the necessary productivity to meet Phase I deliverables, it was required to unload and produce the wells up to 120 MMscf/D to the drilling rig immediately following the completion.Key Project Deliverables. Drill and complete five (5) wells each capable of safely and reliably producing gas at rates of up to +250 MMscf/D for 25 years. Completion Guiding PrinciplesA set of completion key performance indicators (Table 1) and guiding principles ( Table 2) were developed to guide the decision making process for the completion design. These principles were largely based on learnings from other successful high-rate gas well developments and the key project deliverables defined above.

Multiple Zones Completion Using a Proactive Algorithm for a Liquid Rich Deep-water Gas Well

“…However, the reward for such expensive sand control installations is typically very low skins and sand-free production for the life of the well. The cost of a sand control remediation or a recompletion would by far outweigh the incremental cost of installing CHFPs or OHGPs in place of the more economical stand-alone screen techniques (King et al, 2003;Healy, 2012). Sand control completions currently installed in different deepwater fields by different operators (Table 2) show that the great majority in producer wells are OHGPs or CHFPs (Burman et al, 2013).…”

Design, Qualification, QAQC and Operational Performance of Completion Fluid, Reservoir Drill-in Fluid and Breaker - Tamar, Offshore Israel

“…The key performance indicators (KPIs) and guiding principles that were developed to guide the decision making process for the completion design are discussed in detail in previous papers by the Authors. 16,17,19 These completion KPIs and guiding principles were coupled to a completion delivery process (for "critical" wells) which was originally published by the Authors in 2012. 16 The process is comprised of four (4) sequential phases.…”