First-Ever Level 4 Multilateral Well in North Kuwait Successfully Completed, Improves Oil Production

Al-Khaldy, Meshal Dawood; Dutta, Abhijit; Goswami, Bijan; Al-Rashidi, Ali; Rondon, Leonque; Warraky, Mohamed; Samie, Mohamed

doi:10.2118/171792-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 1 publication

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“…Filter cake breaker fluid was placed in the open hole as before (Al-Khaldy et al 2014). The inner string stinged into the seal assembly of the outer string enables circulation in the outer annulus from bottom.…”

Section: Kuwait -Level-4 Mlts Combined With Icds/screensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilateral Gravel-Pack Solutions for Single Wellbore Branches

Durst

2016

Day 3 Thu, March 24, 2016

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Drilling, completion, and production monitoring and control of multilateral wellbores in highly unconsolidated sandstone formations have been successfully achieved both technically and operationally in the recent past, helping to ensure that planned production rates and reserves are achieved.Gravel packing lateral branches on multilateral wells is no longer challenging. Sound isolation of the main branch can preserve the mainbore of debris when milling the window and drilling the lateral, helping ensure seamless gravelpack operations. Stable junction isolation exists to support sand placement and subsequent reverse-out gravel pack operations in the main and lateral branches.With respect to multilateral wells, one of the key factors in terms of determining whether or not a multilateral wellbore might be suitable for a given project is the size and type of sand control completion and technique that might be necessary. The use of conventional standalone screens combined with multilateral technology has a long and highly successful history. Where more sand control reliability is necessary, the use of gravel packs or frac packs in combination with multilateral wellbores, technology is now available and beginning to develop its own successful history.In its current form, when combining advanced sandface completions with multilateral completions, gravel pack operations are subsequently followed by the installation of the multilateral and upper completions. As a result of a newly developed system, the junction completion can now be interconnected with the sand control operations in a single seamless operation.

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Section: Kuwait -Level-4 Mlts Combined With Icds/screensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilateral Gravel-Pack Solutions for Single Wellbore Branches

Durst

2016

Day 3 Thu, March 24, 2016

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Enhanced Sand Control of Multiple Branches Connected to a Single Wellbore

Durst

2016

Day 1 Tue, January 26, 2016

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Drilling, completing, and the production monitoring and control of multilateral wellbores in highly unconsolidated sandstone formations have achieved technical and operational success in recent past by ensuring that economic viability is attained and that well life is prolonged. Gravel packing the lateral branch on a multilateral well is no longer a challenge. Sound isolation of the main branch is achieved to preserve the mainbore of debris when milling the window and drilling the lateral, which will ensure seamless gravel-pack operations. Stable junction isolation exists to support sand placement and the subsequent reverse-out of gravel-pack operations in both the main and lateral branch. Additionally, it is no longer considered a risk to run long, stiff, bottomhole completion assemblies across the window junction. One of the key factors in determining if a multilateral wellbore might be suitable for a given project is the type of sand-control completion and technique that might be required. The use of conventional standalone screens has a long and highly successful history. And now, where more sand-control reliability is required via use of gravel packs in combination with multilateral wellbores, technology is available and is also beginning to develop its own successful history. Multiple successful installations of dual-bore, horizontal gravel-pack completions combined with Level-5 multilateral completion systems has resulted in increased reservoir drainage to improve the oil-recovery factor as well as the economic gains. In its current, form when combining advanced sandface completions with multilateral completions, the gravel-pack operations are followed by the installation of multilateral and upper completions. As a result of a newly developed system, one can now interconnect the junction completion with the sand-control operations in a single, seamless operation.

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Challenges and Lessons Learned During Completion of Intelligent Multilateral Wells in Minagish Field, West Kuwait

Suresh

Kumar

Rondon

et al. 2018

Day 1 Mon, September 24, 2018

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Multilateral intelligent wells have been proven effective by both extending reservoir contact and providing proactive reservoir management. This paper highlights the lessons learned and critical well construction and completion steps that improve the efficiency of intelligent multilateral well drilling and completions operations. The case study outlines the successful completion of the third multilateral intelligent well in the Minagish field of West Kuwait. The intelligent level 4 multilateral well was designed and drilled successfully. The sidetrack was performed using a specialized latch coupling that allowed for multilateral window cutting, orienting, and re-entry. The latch coupling was run in hole with the main bore casing, and a key orienting tool was used to confirm its orientation. Once the main bore was complete, a window was cut using a dedicated milling machine. Thereafter, a drilling whipstock was run with a window mill and watermelon mill to allow access to the lateral. This was followed by drilling the lateral section and running and cementing the liner. After the lateral section was drilled to the planned depth and cleaned out, the whipstock was retrieved. The intelligent completion installation consisted of a lubricator valve, two downhole permanent gauges, and two variable choke interval control valves. The presence of surface-controlled, variable choke valves to control inflow from both the main bore and the lateral provides the capability to effectively manage the reservoir and production over the life of the well. This, in turn, prolongs the field life, thus improving overall economic performance and field economics. The case study well is the third multilateral intelligent well installed in Kuwait, and many recommended practices were implemented that allowed for improved efficiency and safety of the operation. Maintaining a clean well was emphasized as a top priority throughout the well construction process. The cement curing time was increased and the completion string was reviewed and redesigned. This paper discusses the lessons learned and improvements made during installation of the third multilateral intelligent well. The steps performed during this operation have become the recommended practices for all upcoming intelligent multilateral well operations in Kuwait.

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First-Ever Level 4 Multilateral Well in North Kuwait Successfully Completed, Improves Oil Production

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Multilateral Gravel-Pack Solutions for Single Wellbore Branches

Multilateral Gravel-Pack Solutions for Single Wellbore Branches

Enhanced Sand Control of Multiple Branches Connected to a Single Wellbore

Challenges and Lessons Learned During Completion of Intelligent Multilateral Wells in Minagish Field, West Kuwait

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