Revamping the Water Handling Capacity in a Brown Field through a Surface and Subsurface Integrated Workflow

Abstract

In a 50-year-old brown field, Shushufindi-Aguarico Field water handling capacity is reaching its limits. Shutting off high water cut wells was imminent due to the water handling constrains. The novel approach to a comprehensive workflow from cleaning disposal wells to screen, rank and execute opportunities was the main differentiation to execute the optimization of fluid production in the field. To optimize the water handling in the Field Development Plan (FDP), the following integrated workflow was developed: Reservoir injectivity and Surface plugging modelling: Surveillance for 27 disposal wells using Hall Plots, Hearn Plots and network modelling. Candidates Selection: Ranking and selection for cleaning/stimulation jobs was performed according to the incremental water disposal rates. Field Inspection: Prevent surface constraints prior execution and define the equipment layout and resources to the job. Execution: Equipment rig ups, rigless & WO execution without HSE events. Post job monitoring and surveillance: Post-execution monitoring water disposal capacity. The innovative technology of Coiled Tubing in horizontal surface flow lines and wellbore cleaning increased the capacity for water handling, delivering significant value to the FDP. This paper presents a workflow to identify, execute and prevent future plugging in the flow lines as well as at the near wellbore. This workflow is currently combined with digital implementation of real- time data for an optimum decision-making process of produced water handling in a brown field.