First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part1—Flexible Design to Unlock a Tight Gas with Uncertainties—

Kuroda, Shintaro; Kaneko, Masayuki; Ameri, Fahed Al; Zarouni, Asim Al; Zaabi, Mohamed R. Al; Awadi, Farhaad Khaled Al; Sabri, Abdul Moez

doi:10.2118/171705-ms

Day 4 Thu, November 13, 2014 2014

DOI: 10.2118/171705-ms

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First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part1—Flexible Design to Unlock a Tight Gas with Uncertainties—

Shintaro Kuroda

Masayuki Kaneko²,

Fahed Al Ameri

et al.

Abstract: The hydraulic fracturing technology is widely applied in tight reservoirs, including shale reservoirs, as one of the established reservoir stimulation methodologies to enhance the productivity. Even though the hydraulic fracturing is currently a common technique, there are remaining challenges in offshore fields with the high degree of geological and geomechanical uncertainties. In offshore hydraulic fracturing operations, key issues are the limited deck space for the required equipment on-board and economical… Show more

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Cited by 5 publications

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“…However hydraulic fracturing design optimization from subsurface point of view is discussed in the other paper described by Kuroda, et al (2014) as Part 1. Well completion design and equipment arrangement were optimized to overcome an extremely wide range of pressure and temperature condition with multi stage fracturing.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part2—Overcoming the Operational Difficulties—

Ameri

Inukai

Zarouni

et al. 2014

Day 2 Tue, November 11, 2014

Self Cite

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The first application of hydraulic fracturing in the offshore Abu Dhabi was executed safely and successfully. This achievement will be a valuable foothold to expand the field development target toward more challenging reservoirs such as deep tight sand in this region. There were huge amount of operational difficulties to carry out this hydraulic fracturing due to various operational restrictions, limited data availability and high-pressure & high-temperature (HP/HT) condition. Finally, these difficulties were successfully overcome by an intensive designing study on well completion, surface equipment, and operation associated with hydraulic fracturing for a tight gas reservoir.In this paper (Part 2), the key factors that led this trial to the first successful hydraulic fracturing in the offshore Abu Dhabi are described against the difficulties from operational point of view such as well completion design, arrangement of fracturing and surface testing equipment and acquired lessons learnt. However hydraulic fracturing design optimization from subsurface point of view is discussed in the other paper described by Kuroda, et al. (2014) as Part 1. Well completion design and equipment arrangement were optimized to overcome an extremely wide range of pressure and temperature condition with multi stage fracturing. Fracturing and testing equipment of high specification were arranged on the limited space of both the off-shore jack up rig and the fracturing vessel, and then these well-prepared equipment contributed to safe and accurate operation. Acquired lessons learnt will contribute to other offshore tight-sand gas reservoirs development in the offshore Abu Dhabi. These outcomes will be especially applicable in this region to optimize offshore hydraulic fracturing for tight HP/HT reservoirs in order to enhance the well productivity and enable economical development of marginal fields.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part2—Overcoming the Operational Difficulties—

Ameri

Inukai

Zarouni

et al. 2014

Day 2 Tue, November 11, 2014

Self Cite

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Unconventional Fracturing Fluids for Unconventional Reservoir Challenges

Bukovac

Akbari

Gurmen

et al. 2016

Day 2 Tue, November 08, 2016

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To overcome the challenges specific to unconventional reservoirs that are being targeted across the Middle East region a synergy of unconventional technologies is needed. Fracturing fluids are one of the critical components of multi stage proppant fracturing solution when targeting extreme HPHT reservoirs while aiming to preserve freshwater. The objective of this paper is to reveal the performance of unique fracturing fluids that have been recently tailored and applied to tackle tight and unconventional reservoir challenges. Three very different unconventional: polymer-free, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG) and poly-acrylamide based fracturing fluids are presented in this work. They have been field-tested and recently successfully applied in the tight and unconventional reservoirs of UAE as well as the Middle East and Asia. These fracturing fluids collectively address the full spectrum of existing and future reservoir target bottom-hole temperatures ranging from 50 degF up to 450 degF. The unique chemistry characteristics for each of the fluids will be elaborated together with laboratory test results that will include compatibility, rheology and other qualification tests. Furthermore, results of extensive qualification tests performed to address specific local challenges will also be presented. All three fracturing fluids were effectively applied leading to treatment success and proving their performance in extreme reservoir temperature, stress or operational environment that demands high-efficiency. Each fluid proved compatibility with used mixing water and reservoir fluids tested. These fracturing fluid types can be continuously mixed simplifying operation, reducing fracturing equipment layout and minimizing waste. All these improvements are critical in an offshore operating environment. Polymer-free and CMHPG based high viscosity fluids are formulated with sea water to minimize environmental impact. Furthermore, these fluids are continuously mixed with seawater addressing the conventional fracturing fluid logistic constraints offshore. These key improvements made massive offshore and multi-stage proppant fracturing treatments technically and economically feasible. The novel unconventional fracturing fluids elaborated in this paper offer a set of unique technical capabilities that did not exist previously. These three fluids are critical technology enablers and they are part of a multi-disciplinary, integrated technical collaboration project aiming to efficiently and effectively address local complex subsurface conditions and stringent economic requirements of remote offshore operations.

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Extreme Well Condition Demands Customized Completion Design for Fracturing and Well Testing in HPHT Exploratory Well

Magrì,

Repetto,

Sacchini

et al. 2023

Day 3 Thu, September 14, 2023

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New and extreme challenges, from engineering and operational standpoints, were faced during the preparation and execution of an exploration well in an HPHT environment. COVID-19 pandemic outbreak made it even more challenging leading to several issues in terms of material deliverability and personnel availability. The nature of the reservoir required hydraulic fracturing to be performed prior to test the explorative target. The entire fracturing treatment and well testing were performed through an instrumented well testing string which allowed to save rig time and, thus, costs. This paper goes through the selection of proper completion and hydraulic fracturing technologies to withstand the challenges that such environment poses to deliver the job safely and timely. The completion hardware selected to perform the job was a well test/frac string equipped with sensors, tester valve and circulating valve. A mechanical set down weight non-rotating packer isolated the reservoir from the annulus, a standard completion safety valve and a tubing hanger with X-Mas Tree completed the configuration of the DST string. Another important aspect was the need of heavy brine (i.e. bromide based) which exposed the equipment and material to aggressive environment. Hydraulic fracturing operations were carried out smoothly with the support of a dedicated frac vessel reaching up to 10,000 psi at wellhead and more than 12,000 psi at bottomhole. The total amount of proppant pumped into formation was one of the highest in the Operator experience and good results were achieved in unknown formations. The result of the stimulation job was a good values of proppant concentration in the fracture as long as a good frac width. During well testing operations high drawdown was reached without compromising the integrity of the string. This paper outlines and describes the completion and fracturing job engineering, preparation and execution phases including all the mitigation actions and lessons learned gathered during operations. Moreover, this experience showed how a resilient culture and an integrated approach between subsidiary operations and headquarter technical support, lead to successful operative results.

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First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part1—Flexible Design to Unlock a Tight Gas with Uncertainties—

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part2—Overcoming the Operational Difficulties—

First Successful Hydraulic Fracturing in the Offshore Abu Dhabi: Part2—Overcoming the Operational Difficulties—

Unconventional Fracturing Fluids for Unconventional Reservoir Challenges

Extreme Well Condition Demands Customized Completion Design for Fracturing and Well Testing in HPHT Exploratory Well

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