Open-Hole Solid Expandables Eliminate Slim-Hole Configuration in Integrated Solution Workover Well

Sanders, Tom; Saad, Marc Antoine; Roushdy, Marwan Ahmed; Ferhat, Ali; Zeghouani, Rabah

doi:10.2118/127792-ms

All Days 2010

DOI: 10.2118/127792-ms

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Open-Hole Solid Expandables Eliminate Slim-Hole Configuration in Integrated Solution Workover Well

Tom Sanders

Marc Antoine Saad

Marwan Ahmed Roushdy

et al.

Abstract: In Algeria about 60% of the proven oil reserves are in the Hassi Messaoud region which was discovered in the 1950's. Several oil production wells drilled over 40 years ago have been shut in and are awaiting workover plans to revive those wells and get them back into economic production. A typical workover program is comprised of extending the open-hole in the reservoir zone, below 7-inch casing, and producing that through a new 4-1/2-inch perforated production liner. At the time of initial drilling of those we… Show more

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Cited by 3 publications

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Solid Expandable Solution for Wellbore Stability in Developing Khafji Offshore Field

Kumamoto¹,

Qadmani²,

Hanak

et al. 2011

All Days

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Development of existing mature fields can pose a wide variety of specific challenges originiating from earlier programs and extended production operations. Wellbore stability parameters can change as fields mature and wells age requiring suitable combinations of innovative techniques and new technologies to further develop these fields. Added challenges arise when the development program is based on re-entering existing wells. Al-Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) is developing and producing the offshore Al-Khafji field, located in the former offshore neutral zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The field has commenced oil production in 1961. To sustain and meet the increased production targets, the operator started implementing a novel drilling and workover project. The program was designed to mitigate expected challenging borehole instability problems in the Wara and Burgan shale formations, resulting in issues such as stuck bottom-hole assemblies, poor hole enlargement and cleaning, and poor deviation control. The instabilities are encountered in the build sections of the horizontal wells and are further complicated in re-entry wells, due to the limitation is casing string sizes from surface. The novel program implemented incorporated an optimized drilling fluid system and a solid expandable open-hole liner that was utilized to case off these unstable formations and allow the well to be drilled without downsizing the planned production zone size and compromising well objectives. This paper details the extensive studies and planning, originating from lessons learned that were implemented in the integrated program with focus on the innovative techniques and new technologies used in this field. Specific focus is placed on the solid expandable system used as it formed an integral part of allowing a successful implementation of these programs.

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Solid Expandable Solution for Wellbore Stability in Developing Khafji Offshore Field

Kumamoto¹,

Qadmani²,

Hanak

et al. 2011

All Days

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Real Results of Optimizing Economics and Operations in a Workover Campaign in the Hassi Messaoud Field using Solid Expandables

Stringer¹,

Saad²

2012

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Revitalizing aging fields can be complicated when viewed through an outlook of economic viability versus the associated operational and design risks. However, workover campaigns may be deemed more economically efficient and lower risk with the continuous advancements in technology, especially applicable to smart well designs. Workover projects are becoming ever more viable, with production being optimized through the application of advanced well construction products such as Solid Expandables along with existing brownfield infrastructure.The operator of the Hassi Messaoud field, one of the largest and oldest onshore oil producing fields in Algeria, embarked on a large scale workover campaign to revitalize this field and optimize oil production from wells which have been drilled over 40 years ago. The typical workover program targeted extending the open-hole below the 7-in. casing across the Cambrian reservoir and completing the wells with a 4-1/2-in liner. Challenges with various formations encountered and the depleted reservoir resulted in the viability of only a slim hole configuration restricting production. Maximizing the wellbore diameter across the reservoir while isolating higher pressured shale's directly above and balancing the economic return on investment required the inclusion of multiple technologies to achieve the well and production objectives, all using the existing well infrastructure.A total of 7 wells have been worked over to date since early 2010 which avoided slim-bore configurations through the inclusion of 939m of 5-1/2" expandable tubular maximizing reservoir diameter and serving as a permanent mechanical barrier. The campaign also incorporated underbalanced drilling operations as a tool for mitigating subsequent pressured formations and testing production as required. The actual campaign had a reduction in operational time of 40% while significantly increasing and optimizing production rates.

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Integrating Optimized Casing Exit and Solid Expandable Technologies: Bringing New Life to Dead Wells

et al. 2012

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractSix recent well recompletions in Hassi Messaoud Field, Algeria utilized shallow angle casing exit technology in conjunction with solid expandable liner systems to optimize a workover campaign and revitalize an aging field. The operator in this field faced recompletion challenges such as existing well size constraints, reducing top-down drilling cost, and maximizing completion clearance while creating maximum reservoir contact (MRC) wells. The combination of shallow angle and expandable technology proved to be beneficial by reducing the dogleg severity (DLS) at the window exit, reducing the risk of expandable pipe damage across the window exit, and allowing the solid expandable liners to be run out the window and seal above the window. Once in place, these liners were cemented and expanded successfully in both the openhole and through the casing exit window.In the past, casing exits resulted in significant size step downs for the resulting production liners. This in turn limited the completion options available, particularly for water shut-off. The development of solid expandable liner systems has significantly reduced such sizing limitations and provides greater size and flexibility, enabling the creation of larger laterals and optimum-sized completions. The ability to run expandable liners through a conventional casing exit window has been of some concern due to much higher DLS and possible damage to expandable pipe due to rugged window (if not properly milled and polished). This paper demonstrates that the integration of optimized casing exit and expandable liner technologies is a proven successful strategy for re-entry workover wells. This well enhancement strategy has successfully increased production in this field and others, facilitating the economical development of remaining oil reserves.

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Open-Hole Solid Expandables Eliminate Slim-Hole Configuration in Integrated Solution Workover Well

Cited by 3 publications

References 2 publications

Solid Expandable Solution for Wellbore Stability in Developing Khafji Offshore Field

Solid Expandable Solution for Wellbore Stability in Developing Khafji Offshore Field

Real Results of Optimizing Economics and Operations in a Workover Campaign in the Hassi Messaoud Field using Solid Expandables

Integrating Optimized Casing Exit and Solid Expandable Technologies: Bringing New Life to Dead Wells

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