Value of a Multi-Discipline, Life of Field Approach to Subsea Well Intervention Planning

Abstract

fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractAs our industry continues to move into the deeper waters of the Gulf of Mexico, we are finding more and more complex geologic structures, which present increasingly challenging drilling and completions requirements. Due to the geologic complexity, intervention will become an integral part of the reservoir development plan in order to achieve target recovery factors. After first oil, as the development moves into day-today production operations, subsea well interventions will play a significant role in maximizing production rates to keep the facility at maximum capacity. However, increased interventions will also carry additional OPEX impact. A significant challenge for any deepwater development is to identify the types, frequencies, and cost impact of intervention requirements over the life of the field. Since the ramifications of these issues are so diverse, it is crucial that the team which addresses this issue during the define stage of the project be representative of the stakeholders involved. They must take a holistic, or "Life of Field," approach to evaluating and modeling the anticipated intervention program, in order to achieve an optimum balance between CAPEX and OPEX considerations. Reservoir modeling, intervention modeling techniques, impact on well design, equipment selection, and drilling and intervention vessel strategy will be addressed, as each are related to and affected by the Life of Field approach.

New Water Depth Record for Electric Line Operations, Retrieving Asphaltenes with Riserless Light Well Intervention

“…(Li et al 2010) So, although these fields are very attractive, they pose a technological challenge to operating companies to increase recoverable reserves (Marketwatch 2013). Thus, interventions are a necessary part of production optimization over the life of the field (Byrd et al 2002).…”