Key Development Technologies of Deep Water Oilfields in Angola

Abstract

Sinopec has acquired six deep water blocks in Angola. According to their geological features, a series of key technologies have been developed and applied by all partners under the leadship of operaters, covering reservoir description, reservoir engineering, production engineering, flow assurance, etc. On the Basis of a sedimentary faces study, seismic waveform and amplitude, prediction method was developed to identify turbidity sands with thicknesses of 3-5 m; fault imperviousness and connectivity were determined by using static value potential of shale smear, dynamic interference testing, and dynamic correlation of production data on both sides of the faults; individual well production capacity was evaluated by DST testing results, and residual oil was described by 4D seismic data; six development strategies were made for Angola deep water oil fields development, including fast recovery, high production rate with minimum wells, carefully feasibility study in advance, full utilization of main offshore facilities, optimization of the entire production system, and efficient operation of production facilities. Additionally, certain technical measures were successfully applied to determine development layer series, well pattern and spacing, development sequences, injection strategy, and production rate. Slug flow was minimized by riser base gas lift. Insulation and chemical injection were introduced for flow assurance. Most wells were completed with open hole gravel pack and expanding screen for sand control. Above mentioned technologies were effectively applied and proved to be successes in Block 18, Block 15/06, and Block 32, which have technical significances for the development of oilfields with similar conditions.