The Future State of Completions for the Lower Tertiary in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The Wilcox formation in the Lower Tertiary is an interesting and challenging development. The industry is currently seeking ways to increase efficiencies, increase production, and optimize performance of this reservoir. This paper discusses the current status in generation V single-trip multizone completions as well as future prospects to predict industry options for the formation.This paper seeks to spur the industry into thinking about the future cost benefits and management of change necessary to design solutions for this unique development. Regarding Lower Tertiary wells, operators sometimes assume the wells are similar to the Wilcox formation in South Texas. However, studies indicate these wells should be treated like other Gulf of Mexico (GOM) wells, and they do require sand control. Is the industry willing to take these technical development risks? If unique solutions are proposed, what preparations are necessary, and how should planning proceed?There are unique solutions that operators can apply to the deepwater GOM as well as alternative solutions, processes, and procedures developed for land applications that can be adapted to the deepwater GOM. Land production has adopted the horizontal approach for efficiencies, but is this the correct approach for deep water? The multilateral approach is an interesting option that has been applied in other offshore environments, but is this a concept adaptable for the Lower Tertiary? How can monitoring and control be applied to these two concepts from land applications? How do operators take industry knowledge and apply it to the unique offshore environment of deepwater and subsea completions?The ultimate goal of this paper is to examine these questions and initiate the thought process of how the industry can optimize the returns from the Lower Tertiary by increasing production and recoverable reserves through technology and reservoir management.