Offshore field development includes not only planning for appropriate well completion designs but also implementing in such a manner that production and economic goals for all stakeholders are realized. Consideration must also be given to operational support functions so that their administration will meet the project needs without compromising environmental, regulatory or safety standards. Often, a multidiscipline team approach offers the best method for developing the solutions needed to accomplish all the objectives. In this paper, Hibernia Management's approach to well development, completion and servicing strategies are discussed. Initial completion strategies were required to meet the designated design criteria of maximum well deliverability, minimal well maintenance, well servicing costs, and finally, minimal overall field-life-cycle costs. To comply with these stringent requirements as well as future needs, the downhole configuration would have to facilitate future non-rig workovers, recompletions or redrills, and have the flexibility to allow incorporation of future technological advances or changes in reservoir management.
In reviewing all options, minimizing overall field-life-cycle costs and the number of potential workovers were to be given primary consideration. Also of significant importance was the need to provide a zonal recompletion method as it was felt that the need for selective isolation of different zones would be needed to maximize recovery throughout the life of the wells. Completion strategies, the completion configuration, pre-installation shop tests, personnel training, completion servicing considerations and other challenges such as a "green field site" and rig requirements were reviewed; from these analyses, operational strategies were developed.
The initial completion installations were successful. The first two wells flowed approximately 40,000 BOPD and are Canada's highest producing wells recorded to date!