Horizontal Drilling Application to Recover Incremental Oil in Low-Permeability Carbonate Reservoirs, Partitioned Neutral Zone

Tran, Thanh; Barge, David Lee; Ingham, Stan Parker

doi:10.2118/103865-ms

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Micropore network modelling from 2D confocal imagery: impact on reservoir quality and hydrocarbon recovery

Jobe

Geiger

Jiang

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microporosity in carbonate reservoirs is globally pervasive and commonly used to explain high-porosity, low-permeability reservoirs, higher than expected water saturations, low resistivity pay zones and poor sweep efficiency. The potential for micropores to store and produce hydrocarbons has long been recognized, yet limitations on tools to evaluate microporosity has prevented rigorous evaluation. Here we demonstrate a workflow for evaluating microporosity through a combination of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and pore network modelling. Specific values for microporosity and permeability calculated in our study should not be applied explicitly, as these are simulated values, but they demonstrate the viability of micropore networks to store and flow hydrocarbons. Carbonate reservoir assessment is critical not only in the petroleum industry, but also for applications in hydrothermal and mineral resources, carbon capture and storage, and groundwater supply. This approach can be applied to understand the potential for any reservoir to hold and transmit fluids.

show abstract

Micropore network modelling from 2D confocal imagery: impact on reservoir quality and hydrocarbon recovery

Jobe

Geiger

Jiang

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

ESP Runtime Optimization - Low Volume High GOR Producers

Al-Aslawi

Al-Haimer²,

Zahedi

et al. 2010

All Days

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A limitation of Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs) is the inability to handle significant volumes of gas. The implications of this limitation become even more critical if the fluid production rate is at or below the minimum rate required for cooling of downhole equipment. The oldest and most widely practiced method for forced convection cooling of the motor of an ESP system is to use a motor shroud. However, numerous field case studies have shown that even with the motor shroud in place, motor failure has been the primary cause of ESP failure in low-volume high-GOR wells.The optimal mitigation solution for low-volume high GOR cased-hole producers is to lower the ESP string below the perforations, with a shroud installed for cooling of the motor. For low-volume high-GOR ESP-equipped producers that are producing from an open-hole interval installation of the same conventional shrouding system would take care of the cooling of the motor but it will not function as a free gas eliminating or reducing device. The production strings of the ESPs producing from an open-hole interval usually include an inverted shroud intended to reduce the amount of free gas entering the pump. Such installations would not function as a motor cooling device.The large degree of production loss and the increased operating cost incurred by unplanned ESP shut-down and failure have been two of the major challenges faced by the asset teams of South Fuwaris (SF) and Humma (HUM) Fields in PNZ-Kuwait, in their efforts to maximize the uptime of low-volume high-GOR ESP-equipped open-hole producers. A customized shrouding system was needed to simultaneously resolve the issues of motor cooling and the reduction of the amount of free gas entering the pump. The dual functioning nature of a shrouding system composed of a conventional shroud combined with an inverted shroud was the main feature that had to be incorporated in the design of such system.Through the continuous efforts of the South Fuwaris and Humma asset teams, a novel dual-shrouding system has recently been developed to fulfill the requirements of cooling of the motor and reduction of free gas entering the pump simultaneously. Multiple customized versions of this system have been installed in critical low-volume high-GOR openhole producers since the 4th quarter of 2009. Examination of historical operating conditions of ESP strings equipped with the new shrouding system showed a significant reduction in the number of ESP shut-downs due to underload, overload or high motor temperature trips, and a dramatic drop in the number of ESP failures caused by overheating of the motor.This paper discusses the benefits of the newly-designed shrouding system and its built-in perforated tail pipe, specifically designed for low-volume high-GOR producers in South Fuwaris and Humma Fields, and actual results achieved from field implementation of this system.

show abstract

Horizontal Drilling Application to Recover Incremental Oil in Low-Permeability Carbonate Reservoirs, Partitioned Neutral Zone

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Micropore network modelling from 2D confocal imagery: impact on reservoir quality and hydrocarbon recovery

Micropore network modelling from 2D confocal imagery: impact on reservoir quality and hydrocarbon recovery

ESP Runtime Optimization - Low Volume High GOR Producers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About