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18 GUEST EDITORIAL
DOWNHOLE FIBER OPTICS ARE CHANGING THE
WELLS FOOTPRINT
The idea of doing more with less is at the heart of advances in downhole
fiber-optic technology, writes Greg Powers, Halliburtons vice president
of technology, and its application is not far removed from doing nearly
everything with almost nothing.
Printed in US. Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers. An Official Publication of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
TECHNOLOGY MicroScope
HIGH-RESOLUTION RESISTIVITY
AND IMAGING WHILE DRILLING
90 Well Stimulation
Gerald R. Coulter, SPE, Consulting Petroleum Engineer and
President, Coulter Energy International
The complete SPE technical papers featured in this issue are available
free to SPE members for two months at www.jptonline.org.
Were Changing
Mindsets Weatherfords Tactical TechnologyBOEFYJCJMJUZDBODIBOHF
UIFXBZZPVUIJOLBCPVUZPVSTFSWJDFOFFET
2012 Weatherford. All rights reserved. Incorporates proprietary and patented Weatherford technology.
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Our Tactical Technology and services span the life cycle of a well:
Drilling services make well construction safer, reduce nonproductive time
and enhance reservoir deliverability. Evaluation services combine more
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services offer systems engineered for all environments from conventional
to the most challenging. Production services maximize reservoir recovery
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Breaking News from the 2012 Offshore Technology Conference
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help you reach strategic goals.
OU Shale Research Pursues Cutting-Edge Rock Analysis
Members of the Shale Gas Simulator Consortium at the University of Oklahomas
Mewbourne School of Geological and Petroleum Engineering are taking the Advancements in drillingJODMVEF
guesswork out of fluid behavior in tight reservoirs, toward more effective PVS3FWPMVUJPOSPUBSZTUFFSBCMF
methods of chemically induced fracturing in unconventional shale formations. TZTUFNUIBUNBLFTFYUSFNF
New Slot Drilling Technique Is a Viable Alternative to Hydraulic Fracturing DPOEJUJPOTSPVUJOF"OE
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THOUSAND BOPD
OP EC 2011 AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2012 JAN
Algeria 1540 1540 1540 1540 1540 1550
Angola 1790 1840 1790 1940 1890 1890
Ecuador 495 496 502 504 501 504
Iran 4050 4050 4000 4000 3950 3850
Short on time?
Saudi Arabia* 9940 9740 9540 9840 9840 9840
UAE 2720 2720 2720 2720 2820 2620
Venezuela 2240 2240 2240 2240 2240 2240
This volunteer TOTAL 31900 31951 31657 32459 32606 32619
For less than one hour Australia 353 355 365 385 427 340
of your time each month, Azerbaijan 927 977 946 986 991 959
Brazil 2052 2099 2105 2188 2214 2231
you can help shape the
Canada 3068 2983 3032 3022 3120 3189
future of SPE products China 4030 3964 3926 4006 3998 4089
and services. Colombia 952 891 940 965 930 941
Denmark 213 210 217 211 185 197
Join the SPE Opinion
Egypt 510 505 505 505 505 558
Panel and give feedback
Eq. Guinea 270 270 270 307 315 314
about the Society and Gabon 236 246 246 246 245 246
its programs, as well as India 782 776 775 768 765 765
participate in industry and Indonesia 926 943 914 916 896 901
technical topic research. Kazakhstan 1558 1513 1515 1528 1519 1538
Malaysia 517 500 508 514 541 540
Mexico 2598 2534 2598 2573 2601 2562
Norway 1714 1636 1756 1764 1713 1761
Getting started is easy. Oman 908 894 899 871 900 894
Russia 9832 9557 9902 9595 9869 9894
www.spe.org/volunteer/ USA
Vietnam
5660
298
5579
280
5866
318
5958
351
5973
346
6094
348
opinion_panel Yemen 160 185 170 160 155 160
Other 2531 2464 2315 2216 1857 2674
Since 2000, Packers Plus has completed over 7,750 open hole StackFRAC ball-drop systems accounting for over 80,000 fracture stages.
Contact us today and let us help you maximize your assets.
Bookstore
www.spe.org/store US NATURAL GAS WELLHEAD PRICES
5
FEATURED TITLE 1
USD/Mcf
2011
MAR
APRIL
MAY
JUN
JUL
FEB
AUG
SEPT
OCT
NOV
DEC
2012
JAN
WORLD CRUDE OIL PRICES (USD/bbl)
INDICES KEY
+ Figures do not include NGLs and oil from nonconventional sources.
* Includes approximately one-half of Neutral Zone production.
1 Includes crude oil, lease condensates, natural gas plant liquids, other hydrocarbons for refinery feedstocks, refinery
gains, alcohol, and liquids produced from nonconventional sources.
Source: Baker Hughes.
Source: US Dept. of Energy/Energy Information Admin.
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JPT JUNE 2012
Production accelerated.
Tiandi turns months into days.
Tiandi is different. By thinking outside the box, we were able to come up with the game-changer.
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2011 Knight Oil Tools, All Rights Reserved.
COMPANY NEWS
equity. Williams will acquire the pipeline analysis laboratory for measuring porosity,
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
unit Caiman Eastern Midstream, which saturation, and permeability. It also has
National Oilwell Varco purchased built pipelines, two processing plants, and a special core analysis laboratory for
Wilson, a unit of Schlumberger, in an a gas-liquids fractionator with backing more complex tests of capillary pressure,
all-cash transaction, subject to regulatory from private equity firm EnCap Flatrock relative permeability, electrical properties,
approval. The value of the deal was not Midstream. Caiman has agreements with nuclear magnetic resonance, and
disclosed. The Wilson unit sells pipes, 10 producers to gather and process gas enhanced oil recoveryevaluations.
valves, fittings, and other tools for oil and and petroleum liquids from wells drilled
natural gas companies. across 236,000 acres in West Virginia,
CONTRACTS AND TENDERS
Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Cairn Energy agreed to buy Norwegian Aker Solutions was awarded a contract
oil firm Agora Oil & Gas. Cairn will pay by Enerserv WLL to deliver 600 sets of
COMPANY MOVES
USD 450 million for Agora, which holds surface wellheads and trees to the Awali
several assets in the Norwegian and UK BMT ARGOSS, a subsidiary of oil field in Bahrain. The total contract value
North Sea. Agora holds a 15% stake in the BMTGroup, an international maritime is USD 17 million. The first delivery will be
Catcher P1430 license in the central North design, environmental, and engineering a total of 45 sets of surface wellheads and
Sea and a 20% interest in the Tybalt P1632 consultancy, opened an office in Atyrau, trees that will be delivered in June.
license in the northern North Sea, along Kazakhstan, which will provide a local
with nine other licenses. presence for oil and gas companies Samsung Engineering signed a
operating in the region. The companys lump-sum turnkey contract, worth
Expro has agreed to sell its Connectors initial focus will be on providing and approximately USD 1 billion, with Lukoil
& Measurements (C&M) business, including further developing weather forecasting Mid-East for the project management,
the Tronic and Matre brands, to Siemens and emergency response capabilities to engineering, procurement, supply,
for USD 630 million. Expros C&M business itscustomers. transportation, construction, and
specializes in the design, manufacture, precommissioning of facilities comprising
assembly, and installation of subsea Intertek, a worldwide provider of the oil gathering system, central
electrical power and data connectors and quality and safety services, is investing processing facilities, and water supply
temperature and pressure sensors. USD 23.7 million in new 41,000-ft2 system for the development of the West
Aberdeen headquarters in Scotland for Qurna (Phase 2) Contract Area, Iraq, and
Hercules Offshore closed the its energy services. The Intertek Moody thereafter to assist Lukoil with its carrying
acquisition of the offshore drilling rig teams, with contracts that include out of the commissioning and start up.
Ocean Columbia from a subsidiary training, systems certification, technical Samsung expects to complete the contract
of Diamond Offshore Drilling for inspection, and staffing services for oil within 29 months.
USD40million in cash. Ocean Columbia, and gas operators and service companies
to be renamed Hercules 266, is a operating in the North Sea and abroad, Saipem said it won new engineering
LeTourneau Class 82 SD-C self-elevating are among the first to move to the and construction offshore contracts
drilling rig. Hercules will invest about newpremises. in Brazil and Saudi Arabia worth
USD45 million to repair, upgrade, and USD700million. The contract in Brazil
mobilize the rig and use it to execute TWMA, specializing in integrated oil was awarded by Petrobras, while
a 3-year contract with Saudi Aramco, and gas drilling waste management and the Saudi Arabian deal was within a
from which it expects USD160 million environmental solutions, opened the framework agreement with Saudi Aramco.
inrevenue. companys newest manufacturing base
in Houston. The new facility will allow Keppel Shipyard has secured floating
Schlumberger entered into an TWMA to manufacture American-made production storage and offloading (FPSO)
agreement with Altor Fund II to acquire equipment and meet growing demand upgrading projects from its long-term
SPT Groupa privately owned software for its services. Operating both offshore partners SBM Offshore and Bumi Armada
company that provides a combination and onshore, TWMA handles and treats Berhad. The combined contract value of
of software and consulting services for drill cuttings and associated oil industry the two projects is USD 135.34 million.
multiphase flow and reservoir engineering wastes. Using state-of-the-art technology,
applications. Closing is subject to drilling wastes are recovered, recycled, Technips UK subsidiary was awarded
customary regulatory approvals. SPT and reused. a contract, worth approximately
Group, founded in 1971, is headquartered USD790million, by BP and partners to
in Norway and employs approximately Schlumberger opened a new develop the subsea infrastructure for the
280people in 11 countries worldwide. 30,000-ft2 Houston Geoengineering Quad 204 project located in the West
Laboratory, the companys latest addition of Shetland area. The Quad 204 project
Williams Partners agreed to buy to its global network of laboratories that involves replacing the existing Schiehallion
a natural gas pipeline system in the offer an array of reservoir core analysis production facility with a new purpose-
Marcellus shale from closely held Caiman services for the oil and gas industry. built FPSO vessel and installing extensive
Energy for USD 2.5 billion in cash and The new facility has a conventional core new subsea infrastructure. JPT
2011 President
2013 President
REGION DIRECTORS
During my 38 years in the industry, I have been dedicated to res- AFRICA
Alek Musa, Total E&P Nigeria
ervoir and well productivity improvement, particularly focused
CANADA
on enhanced oil recovery (EOR). As many of you know, I have Keith MacLeod, Sproule Associates
talked about our industrys need to increase recovery during my EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
many section and conference presentations and have written John Cramer, Superior Well Services
numerous papers on the topic. I feel that productivity improve- GULF COAST NORTH AMERICA
Sid Smith Jr., PolyFlow
ment is both one of the industrys biggest challenges and one of
its most promising opportunities, and it is a constantly moving MID-CONTINENT NORTH AMERICA
Mohan Kelkar, University of Tulsa
target. The worlds desire for energy will continue to grow. By 2030, our global chal-
MIDDLE EAST
lenge will be to meet a projected 40% increase in energy demand and to do so in a way Hosnia Hashim, Kuwait Oil Company
that protects the environment. NORTH SEA
The often-quoted industry average of 35% recovery efficiency for conventional Lon Beugelsdijk, Shell International E&P
crude oil raises the question: Can we double it to produce several trillion barrels more? NORTHERN ASIA PACIFIC
Yiaw Hin Wee, PETRONAS
The many technology breakthroughs and thousands of incremental advances in explo-
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NORTH AMERICA
ration and production since the beginning of oil production have increased oil recov- Arnis Judzis, Schlumberger
ery levels in many shallow heavy oil reservoirs from less than 10% to in excess of 70% RUSSIA AND THE CASPIAN
by steam injection. Andrey Gladkov, Modeltech
We can add 600 to 900 billion bbl of recoverable oil with only a 10% incremental SOUTH AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
Nestor Saavedra, Ecopetrol ICP
recovery of oil from the remaining conventional resource base by improved recovery
SOUTH, CENTRAL, AND EAST EUROPE
through improved oil recovery (IOR) and EOR technologies. Although by no means an Maurizio Rampoldi, Eni E&P
easy task, if we can raise total recovery to 70%, we can add a few trillion bbl of recov-
SOUTHERN ASIA PACIFIC
erable oil. The future will be even brighter if we can use IOR and EOR in exploiting John Boardman, RISC
unconventional resources, with the potential to defer the impact of peak oil far off SOUTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICA
into the future. Enormous progress is already taking place through the integration of Peter Schrenkel, Vision Natural Resources
unconventional resource exploitation with horizontal drilling and multistage fractur- WESTERN NORTH AMERICA
Sam Sarem, Improved Petroleum
ing. As a result, US oil production is on the rise for the first time in many decades, pri- Recovery Consultants
marily due to liquids from unconventional reservoirs.
Now, I know what many of you are going to say: A 70% recovery efficiency can- TECHNICAL DIRECTORS
not be achieved. I believe it can be. Such efficiency gains are happening today. Many DRILLING AND COMPLETIONS
Joseph Ayoub, Schlumberger
operators are improving recovery efficiencies by being innovative and infusing more
HEALTH, SAFETY, SECURITY, ENVIRONMENT,
technology and know-how, increasing capital, and working with regulators. It is not AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
unreasonable to imagine that implementing advanced IOR and EOR technologies can Roland Moreau, ExxonMobil Upstream
Research Company
create another step change for this game-changing resource. When we start thinking
MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION
of the integration of unconventional resources with the potential of IOR and EOR, the Cindy Reece, ExxonMobil
possibilities are mind boggling. PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS
The challenge we must face is how to accelerate innovation and the development Ahmed Abou-Sayed, Advantek International
of essential technology. Commercializing technology in the oil and gas market is cost- PROJECTS, FACILITIES, AND CONSTRUCTION
John Walsh, Shell Exploration & Production
ly and time intensive, with an average of about 16 years from concept to widespread
RESERVOIR DESCRIPTION AND DYNAMICS
commercial adoption. The key is more collaboration in R&D and sharing innovations Gene Narahara, Chevron Energy
among industry, governments, and academic institutions, as well as with scientists Technology Company
outside the E&P industry. We must continue to expand our capabilities through inno-
AT-LARGE DIRECTORS
vation as our industry has relentlessly done in the past.
Sudhir Vasudeva, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation
mation on any case studies, discuss what would cause the new technology to not work Jacques B. Salies, Drilling Manager,
Queiroz Galvo E&P
or fail, and describe the possible health, safety, and environmental impact. The tech-
Helio Santos, President, Safekick
nology must provide significant benefits beyond commonly used technologies. It must Luigi A. Saputelli, Senior Production Modeling
also be original and, to a certain degree, groundbreaking. Advisor, Hess Company
If you are interested in submitting information on your new technology or have Jerome J. Schubert, Associate Professor,
Texas A&M University
any questions about this process, please contact me at jdonnelly@spe.org. JPT
Brian Skeels, Emerging Technologies
Manager, FMC Technologies
Erik Vikane, Manager Petroleum Technology, Statoil
Scott Wilson, Senior Vice President, Ryder Scott
To contact JPTs editor, email jdonnelly@spe.org.
pressure control personnel and the deepest, most comprehensive portfolio of wellsite
services, including: coiled tubing, hydraulic workover/snubbing, HPHT
challenges require surface equipment, nitrogen, thru tubing and risk management.
All seamlessly connected and coordinated to help reduce the number of
is one steady hand contractors on site which saves you time and trouble, delivers enhanced
World famous for its well control work, Boots & Coots is the pressure
control expert. Whats your pressure control challenge?
Greg Powers is Ephemeralization is the term coined by engineer Buckminster Fuller, the father
vice president of the geodesic dome and an early environmental activist, to describe the advance-
of technology at ment of technology that achieves more and more with less and less until eventually
Halliburton. He you can do everything with nothing.
oversees technology This idea of doing more with less is at the heart of advances in downhole fiber-
investment and optic technology, and, in relative terms, its application is not far removed from
intellectual asset doing nearly everything with almost nothing.
management, the development of Using light-transmitting optical fibers slightly thicker than a human hair and
new products and services, and the similar to the technology that brings Internet capacity to your home, we have been
strategy and structure of the companys measuring wellbore parameters such as temperature, pressure, strain, vibration,
global technology organization. and sound (acoustics) for years. In the near future, with the development of new
Powers technology experience spans optical or photonic sensing methods for chemical, microdeformation, resistivity,
three decades of work in engineering, magnetic field, and other monitoring solutions, the industry will be able to inte-
research, and development in a broad grate, visualize, and analyze numerous operations and activities downhole in real
range of industries. Most recently, time, thus extending the life of the well and the reservoir.
he was executive vice president of
research, development, and biofuels More Photons, Fewer Electrons
operations at Verenium. Before Fuller illustrated his concept of ephemeralization by comparing the tons of copper
that, he was vice president of global wire required for a trans-Atlantic communication cable that could be replaced with
engineering at United Technologies ounces of the copper wire that it takes for a single communications satellite. With
Carrier. Powers has also worked in fiber-optic cables, the comparison is equally dramatic in many ways.
General Electrics Specialty Materials, Legacy electronic systems require deployment of complex, dedicated downhole
Lighting, and Plastics divisions. instruments with millions of transistor junctions to make discrete wellbore mea-
He earned bachelors, masters, surements at specific points and times. In marked contrast, fiber-optic technology
and doctoral degrees in chemical uses low-cost, low signal loss, high-bandwidth, silica glass transmission lines down-
engineering from the University hole in concert with surface opto-electronic instruments to continually acquire real-
ofPennsylvania. time, remote, fully distributed measurements over the entire length of the installa-
tion, making the solution highly scalable.
Leaving instrumentation on the rig floor, and not within the wellbore, removes
risk from the hostile environment and enhances operating parameters. For instance,
fiber-optic sensing and monitoring have been used in environments of up to 300C
(572F) for years with great success. Solutions exist today for much higher tempera-
tures. In contrast, electronic solutions are limited to less than about 200C (392F)
for permanent deployment.
As the technology evolves, surface instrumentation can be upgraded and con-
nected to the same downhole fiber-optic sensors, instantly providing better data
and potentially new sensing applications. For example, instrumentation connect-
ed to fiber-optic cables originally deployed on pipelines for telemetry decades ago
is now being used to monitor distributed flow, temperature, acoustics, and tubular
strain across many kilometers, thus enabling leak detection, flow restriction identi-
fication, object tracking, and other capabilities.
Condition-Based reducing failure rates by eliminating the future process optimization with ele-
Monitoring and Intervention root cause. These optimization process- vated environmental conscientiousness.
Fiber-optic-based systems provide high es are widely used in other industries Take the case of improving forma-
sampling rates and fully distributed meas- in which monitoring is less challeng- tion heating in heavy oil plays. Steam-
urement data, thereby enabling immedi- ing. For well drilling, completion, stim- assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oper-
ate feedback and the ability to under- ulation, and production processes, the ations are widely implementing down-
stand a problem and/or identify trends. advent of noninvasive downhole fiber- hole fiber-optic technologies to moni-
Using conventional monitoring methods, optic sensors provides the data needed tor injected steam for its relative dis-
once a problem becomes obvious at the by CBMI methods to 1) increase over- tribution over the length of these wells.
surface, a costly and lengthy process of all knowledge of the field and opera- Downhole pressure and temperature
deploying tools, using coiled tubing or tions, 2) predict and reduce equipment measurements using fiber-optic tech-
wireline, is required to understand the failures, and 3) perform pattern rec- nologies are key to understanding the
nature of the problem before mitigation ognition. This leads to lower resource SAGD process. Results over the past
is initiated. This typically leads to loss of requirements, less risk to the environ- decade show significant improvements
production and potential environmental ment, and reduced life-cycle owner- in steam-chamber specific warming,
risks. Real-time fiber-optic monitoring shipcosts. injectivity, and steam/oil recovery ratio
enables early identification of abnormal- performance, with reduced input ener-
ities and prevents problems from occur- Illuminating a Greener Future gy and water requirements.
ring in the first place. Downhole fiber-optic technology pro- Another major benefit of fiber-
Improved wellbore knowledge sup- vides an elegantly simple, highly effec- optic technology in wellbore monitor-
ports the application of sophisticat- tive solution across a broad and grow- ing is a remarkably new level of efficien-
ed, condition-based maintenance and ing range of applications. This solution cy and risk reduction. For example, use
intervention (CBMI) methods aimed at moves the industry toward present and of fiber-optic temperature and acoustic
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Pipeline Maintenance
TDW Offshore Services A/S announced
successful design and build of a cus-
tomized 48-in. SmartPlug pipeline-
pressure-isolation tool (Fig. 2). Weigh-
ing approximately 12 t, it is the largest
of these tools ever produced. The com-
pany assisted in developing contingen-
cy solutions for pipe lay, pressure test-
ing, and planned future maintenance
of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Upon
completion, the two 48-in. pipelines
will extend approximately 1220 km
from Russia through the Baltic Sea to
Germany. The new tool will be used to
isolate pipeline pressure during sched-
uled pipeline maintenance and poten-
tial valve changeouts. It is currently
Type Approved by Det Norske Veritas
for a maximum operating pressure of
199 bar. The pipeline pressure-isolation
method is designed to enable safe isola-
tion of the area targeted for work from
hydrocarbons without bleeding down
the entire work zone. In the case of Nord
Stream, there are no midline valves
available, so the entire 1220-km pipe-
Fig. 1Baker Hughes Mastiff rigless intervention system. line would have had to be depressur-
ized. Given the minimal amount of gas
released while isolating a work area, it
Rigless Intervention 24,000 lbm, each module can be trans- is also very effective in minimizing envi-
Baker Hughes new Mastiff mechanized, ported in a standard 40-ft open-top con- ronmental effects.
self-pinning rigless intervention sys- tainer. The self-pinning mast-erection For additional information, visit
tem (Fig. 1) enables carrying out pipe- system improves safety and enables the www.tdwilliamson.com.
installation and -retrieval operations unit to be rigged up or rigged down
that typically require an offshore rig. The in 24 to 48 hours by use of hydraulics Marine Broadband
rigless intervention system can reduce built into the system. The systems mast WesternGeco introduced its ObliQ
the cost of abandonment, workover, and is rated for operation at wind speeds sliding-notch broadband acquisition
drivepipe-installation operations. The of up to 50 miles/hr. The system has a and imaging technique, which enhanc-
modular design and light weight enable 352-T pulling capacity. In conductor-pipe es low-frequency content of marine-
operations on platforms with limited removal, the system can support cutting seismic data without compromising
load capacity. With a maximum weight of and pulling lifts of 50-ft-long sections high frequencies. The technique increas-
TWO AWARDS
for subsea separation:
MARLIM & PAZFLOR
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
Fig. 2The 12-t 48-in. SmartPlug pipeline-pressure- Fig. 3The WesternGeco ObliQ technique deghosts
isolation tool designed by TDW Offshore Services data acquired with a variable streamer depth.
for Nord Stream.
es the penetration depth of seismic Coil Shooting and Dual-Coil Shooting ening or amplification between vibra-
imaging and helps geoscientists extract full-azimuth acquisition to combine tion nodes can be determined relative to
rock properties from seismic data. Opti- broad bandwidth with full-azimuth, tool performance. By deploying multiple
mized seismic bandwidth is achieved long-offset acquisition. This combina- devices in V-mode, software models can
by combining variable-streamer-depth tion is particularly important for imag- be fine tuned with real multinode data,
acquisition with a proprietary deghost- ing below complex structures such as enabling accurate predictions of bot-
ing methodology (Fig. 3) and a newly subsalt andsubbasalt. tomhole-assembly behavior. Data are
developed broadband-seismic source. For additional information, visit stored on the basis of threshold values
This proprietary processing is applied www.slb.com/obliq. programmed into the sensor with a time
early in the sequence, making the data stamp, which can be correlated with
suitable for both time- and depth- Multinode Vibration Monitoring rig operational data. Data are retrieved
domain analysis. Enabled by the com- The OTS International DataPlug by reading through a universal-serial-
panys Q-Marine point-receiver marine- (Fig. 4) is a patent-pending indepen- bus port upon reaching the surface.
seismic system, the technique can be dent vibration-monitoring tool for use Upgrades will read data as the tools pass
used with other technologies such as in downhole components. With a high- through the rotary table.
temperature battery, large memory, and For additional information, email
triggering thresholds, it can record mul- info@otsintl.com.
tiple axis-vibration types. In V-mode,
it can be installed in most downhole Fracturing Sliding Sleeve
components by machining a thread- Weatherfords MASS fracturing-treat-
ed receptacle for the sensor, includ- ment sliding sleeve (Fig. 5) enables
ing expandable or eccentric reamers, treatment of more than 50 zones in a
motors, stabilizers, hole openers, mill- single job, enhancing the efficiency of
ing tools, dog subs, and drill bits. The multizone fracture-stimulation oper-
vibrations are recorded at the source, ations. The technology is based on a
providing discrete, local vibration data multiarray stimulation system. The sys-
relative to the tool. It enables qualify- tem groups up to five sleeves per stage,
Fig. 4The OTS DataPlug can ing vibrations relative to their occur- and the array is opened with a single
record multiple axis-vibration rence in the drillstring. This device ball. This design will enable fracturing
types. The bullet shaped DataPlug provides better incident investigation, of up to 10 stages in a single trip. The
is for pressure and temperature improved tool selection, and consistent sliding sleeve opens when a ball lands
(PT-Mode); the squared-off end is field performance from downhole tools. on the seat and applied tubing pressure
the V-Mode. These plugs will fit Analyzing the data enables identifying shears the sleeve open. The ball passes
into a drill-bit port. vibration sources. The degree of damp- through the ball seat and on to the next
sleeve. This process repeats until it lands turing, improving the uniformity of the
on a solid seat sleeve. Balls are staged fracturing pressure across the interval.
from the surface after the appropriate The size and number of diffusers used on
amount of proppant is pumped for the each sleeve can be customized to meet
stage. This method of isolating below the needs of the reservoir.
the sleeves, opening the ports, fractur- For additional information, visit
ing, and then moving up hole to the next www.Weatherford.com/zoneselect.
stage optimizes efficiency and reduces
overall completion costs. The sleeves Well-Abandonment Tool
built-in port diffusers prevent preferen- Proserv has introduced its Multi-String
tial flow in the isolated zone during frac- Cutting tool (Fig. 6), a customizable
1917 2012
1 95 YEARS OF SERVICE
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The growth in unconventional resource type, the level of thermal maturity must The analyst first constructs a
plays in the past several years has pro- be established. To solve for kerogen, the dry rock model, which consists of the
duced a burgeoning need for new soft- TOC measured by core pyrolysis can be response equations, parameters, and
ware tools for organic shales. Geoscien- calibrated to logs, using eight industry constraints available for the input tools
tists need tools to help them understand accepted correlations. Organic maturi- and includes TOC. The key to the entire
complex hydrocarbon generation, stor- ty, VRo, is measured by actual vitrinite analysis is solving only for those miner-
age capacity, and migration paths in reflectance or calculated from pyroly- als that are actually found by core x-ray
source rock reservoirs, enabling them to sis-derived Tmax (temperature between diffraction (or alternatively x-ray fluores-
flag and map optimized pay. Engineers 300C and 600C that generates peak cence). Key constraints relating relative
need tools to help them define optimum hydrocarbons from existing kerogen). abundances of the different types of clay
techniques to deliver the most shale gas This maturity value is used to make the mineralogy to one another, and to the
and oil to the market and enable them to final TOC calibration and predict hydro- base matrix silica or calcite, help com-
build the best reservoir models to exploit carbon type. plete the dry rock model.
these resources. And for unconventional When a good match of all measured
resource development to proceed as it Fluid and Minerals Evaluation log inputs for the dry rock model case
should, these tools must work together The heart of the volumetric analysis is has been achieved, the wet rock model
in a common framework. its probabilistic solver. Total porosity in case, which uses available resistivity
An advanced integrated petrophysi- organic shales can only be resolved by inputs, is applied. While all conventional
cal evaluation software package, based logs when relative amounts of geochem- saturation models are supported in soft-
on a calibrated workflow, was recent- ically derived minerals are measured ware, the Simandoux model has worked
ly developed by Halliburton for organ- and combined with the TOC calculation. best in matching GRI core gas satura-
ic shales. The concept behind it was to Minimum requirements for this type of tions because of its more robust handling
bring all the requisite pieces of an explo- analysis include a triple combo log, neu- of clay water response. Even with the
ration shale play analysis into a single tron capture spectroscopy, and natural best saturation equation, cementation
vantage point for an asset team. This is gamma spectroscopy. The software uses m and saturation n constants must
critical when very few vertical explora- a probabilistic error minimization meth- be adjusted lower to match core because
tion wells are used to define the econom- odology to determine formation fluid only a portion of the internal pore sur-
ics of these resource plays before full- and mineral volumes. face has seen water as a wetting phase.
scale horizontal development begins. The idea is to construct theoretical Internal kerogen porosity has either oil
The softwares workflow modules logs that closely replicate actual logs. or gas as a wetting phase, as it has never
encompass the following capabilities: Tool response equations are expressed been exposed to water. Microfractures
total organic carbon (TOC) and organic in terms of fluid and mineral volumes internal to the matrix, where migrating
maturity estimation; fluid and minerals and their corresponding tool response oil and gas have escaped internal kero-
evaluation; advanced saturation model- parameters. Most response equations gen containment, are also nonwater wet.
ing; mechanical properties and brittle- are linear. Some, such as neutron, con- This explains why conventional water
ness; 3D stress and stress orientation; ductivity, and certain acoustic equa- saturation equations will fail unless cali-
permeability; and pay analysis. tions, are nonlinear. The inclusion of brated to core.
additional evaluation tools, such as the
TOC Estimation and dipole sonic travel time curves DTC Advanced Saturation Modeling:
Organic Maturity (compressional velocity) and DTS (shear NMR and Dielectric Volumes
To define the resource volume, one velocity), helps add coherence to the All organic shales exhibit both water and
needs to determine an accurate volume analysis, as long as the correct acous- hydrocarbon wetting phases as a result
of organic kerogen present in the rock. tic equations are used for harder rock- of the varied porosity systems present
To determine potential hydrocarbon clay shales. in the rock. This makes it appropriate
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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
to apply resistivity independent satu- pores, gas exists in a restricted diffusion from DTC and DTS dipole sonic data
ration measurements, such as nuclear environment and will be detected ear- and are calibrated to static rock proper-
magnetic resonance (NMR) and dielec- lier in a normal water signal range and ties using surface core stress tests and
tric porosity. These allow direct mea- not later in a T1 bulk signal. Even with analysis from small volume diagnostic
surements of total fluid-filled porosi- that, a T1 measurement gives the analyst fracture injection tests (DFIT) in cased
ty (NMR T1 time constant dimension) a much more robust spectrum in which vertical exploration wells. After final cali-
and total water-filled porosity (dielec- an enhanced spectral BVI technique can bration to the DFIT analysis, the program
tric). The difference between the two is be used to discriminate clay- and capil- determines fracture initiation pressure,
typically unflushed oil and gas that is lary-bound water from small amounts of fracture closure pressure, and closure
picked up in TOC pyrolysis data as an S1 free fluid. stressgradient.
free hydrocarbon volume. It should be The wet rock volumetric analysis can Since 2008, we have used the con-
noted that the accuracy of the dielectric directly use all the discriminated NMR cept of shale brittleness, a simple ratio
water porosity measurement depends and dielectric porosity measurements. between Youngs modulus and Poissons
on determining the mineralogy and Clay-bound water can be constrained to ratio, as a technique to predict induced
watersalinity. what is seen from NMR. Total water can fracture complexity and enhanced sur-
The NMR porosity data is best be constrained by a total dielectric poros- face area contact. It has been used exten-
viewed in a T1 dimension, as that time ity. A solved oil or gas volume can be sively as a powerful fracture fluid system
constant spreads out the measured constrained to the difference observed design tool and to aid in sweet-spot iden-
porosity spectrum to twice the extent between NMR and dielectric porosities. tification. This same technique is imple-
of that seen in conventional T2 porosity mented as pseudobrittleness and is
measurements. This allows a much more Mechanical Properties color palette calibrated to core-measured
detailed analysis of the ultrasmall pores and Brittleness brine hardness.
in the lowest part of the spectrum. Recent Conventional vertical Youngs mod- Using directly measured DTC and
laboratory data show that in ultrasmall ulus and Poissons ratio are calculated DTS values, calibrated synthetic DTC and
www.spe.org/events/hees
3D stress
vertical vs. horizontal
Poissons ratio,
Youngs modulus,
and closure stress
Fig. 1A final composite reservoir source rock analysis from the Haynesville and Lower Bossier shales
in east Texas.
DTS curves can be generated from miner- sure stress is a much better predictor Pay Analysis
alogy and effective porosity data. These of true fracture geometry when used in The software allows the analyst and asset
calibrated models can be used on future current and future 3D fracture model- team up to six criteria for flagging and
wells in which the operator may not have ing software. The orientation of the fast counting net pay. Typical criteria used
actual sonic data but still needs an accu- shear azimuth will always be in the direc- include effective porosity, effective water
rate mechanical properties prediction. tion of maximum principal stress, which saturation, pseudobrittleness, and clo-
The prediction of mechanical proper- is orthogonal to the optimum horizontal sure stress. Either gas or oil, or both, can
ties from mineralogy data also allows well direction. be volumetrically solved and cumulative
the calibration of a mineral brittleness reserves are output alongside flagged net
to the conventional pseudobrittleness. Permeability pay. If core canister isotherm data is sup-
This allows mineralogy from advanced This software uses a linear regression plied, free vs. sorbed gas volumes are also
cuttings analysis techniques or neutron- technique to match core-measured GRI calculated in this module.
induced spectroscopy logs to be used for matrix shale permeability. This can be The ShaleXpert tool is then used
mechanical proxy measurements. several orders of magnitude less than to develop a final composite analysis
permeability estimated from a DFIT anal- (Fig. 1) that brings together all the dif-
3D Stress and Stress ysis but is often used as a shale qual- ferent workflow modules in a display that
Orientation ity indicator. The DFIT effective perme- aids in primary sweet-spot identification,
Laminated clay-rich shales often exhib- ability can be used to calibrate Timur or shows in-place reserve estimates, and
it large differences between vertical and Coates model system matched permea- delivers everything required for an opti-
horizontal elastic properties. This anisot- bilities, or one of two new regression per- mized fracture stimulation design. In this
ropy is quantified in a 3D stress analy- meabilities with better dynamic range. process, it can also generate individual
sis requiring a fast shear, slow shear, Fracture simulators require an estimate quality-control plots and logs from any of
and Stoneley shear from an oriented x-y of fluid leakoff that uses such permea- its workflow components, so all process-
dipole sonic tool. The computed 3D clo- bilty estimates. es are transparent to the enduser. JPT
A new ceramic proppant has made propped fractures is insured. With tra- Detection Methods
detection possible without placing ditional radioactive tracers, which are Three methods for detecting the tagged
radioactive material downhole. The new blended into the slurry at extremely proppant have been developed. Two of
detection method makes use of a high small ratios compared with total prop- the methods require before-fracture
thermal neutron capture compound pant volume, segregation can occur, and after-fracture logs, and the third
(HTNCC) incorporated into the ceram- which can lead to misinterpretation of requires only an after-fracture compen-
ic proppant. fractures in which no radioactive parti- sated neutron log. As in most cases,
Traditional fracture-height or prop- cles are contained near the wellbore in the Putumayo Basin field application
pant-placement evaluation after hydrau- the propped fracture section. A related uses only one method for the determi-
lic fracturing relies on the detection of but opposite problem also can occur in nation of proppant location. However,
radioactive tracers pumped downhole situations in which a stray radioactive in some cases, multiple methods may
with the proppant. Although this tech- particle is located in an area that is not be employed when logs are available,
nique is useful, it raises environmental, a propped fracture (e.g., a casing col- regardless of changes in borehole con-
safety, and regulatory issues. lar or perforation). These false posi- ditions or formation hydrogen index
The HTNCC is added to the prop- tives are eliminated by the new method (HI) values between the before-fracture
pant during its manufacture and is because the small quantities of HTNCC and after-fracture logs. The use of mul-
included in concentrations low enough in a few stray pellets will not create a tiple methods increases the consistency
not to affect the proppants strength or logresponse. of the results, and the independent vali-
conductivity. The proppant is detected A second advantage, and more dation increases the degree of certainty
using standard compensated or pulsed important in many cases, is that the in the proppant locationinterpretation.
neutron tools, with detection based on new method contains only inert mate- The first of the two methods requir-
the high thermal neutron capture of the rials, thereby eliminating the need for ing both before- and after-fracture logs
compound relative to the surrounding the special requirements or permitting requires a conventional neutron log,
downhole constituents. necessary for handling, transporting, preferably from a compensated neutron
This new detectable proppant was pumping, or flowing back of hazard- tool (CNT), with a continuous neutron
used in the T sand of the Villeta and ous materials associated with tradition- source and one or more thermal neu-
Caballos formations of the Juanamb al radioactive tracers. This new method tron detectors (or with capture gamma
field in the Putumayo Basin of Colombia. provides intrinsic value to operators by ray sensing detectors). Before the frac-
Two detection methods use a com- providing an environmentally friendly ture treatment, this tool needs to log the
parison of before-fracture log count and virtually hazard-free alternative to interval of the wellbore that includes
rates and after-fracture count rates, radioactive tracers. depths spanning the zones intended
with reduced after-fracture count rates A third advantage is that the to be fractured, with both the detec-
observed in zones containing proppant. HTNCC is inherently stable and perma- tor count rates and count rate ratios
Another detection method, especially nently incorporated within the prop- recorded for use in the final analysis.
useful when formation gas saturations pant. The HTNCC can be logged at any The wellbore is logged a second time
change, uses only the after-fracture log. time in the future to evaluate remedial after fracture treatment across the same
The HTNCC method has advantag- operations or determine whether prop- wellbore interval. The observed after-
es over the common radioactive parti- pant has flowed back from any interval. fracture count rates are then compared
cle method. First, the HTNCC tagging Typical radioactive tracers experience with corresponding values recorded in
material is incorporated in very small radioactive decay, and the detectabil- the logging run made before the well
quantities into each proppant grain dur- ity declines as a function of the isotope is fractured. Intervals in which after-
ing the manufacturing process. Because half-life, which prevents the accurate fracture count rates are suppressed
it is present in every particle of the identification of proppant location after to a lower level than the before-frac-
fracture treatment, the detection of all a few months. ture count rates identifies the presence
Gamma Ray Perf Zones LITH Depth Porosity Resistivity Neutron CH Near Neutron CH Far
Fig. 2Neutron log interpretation for HTNCC proppant detection in the T sand. Proppant is indicated by the
yellow shading in the two rightmost tracks, and fracture height is shown by the pink shading.
Despite the good petrophysical technology developed to assess stim- For both stimulations, two diag-
properties measured in the produc- ulation jobs, the Juanamb-2 well was nostic pumping stages were performed
tive reservoirs, the production histo- proposed to be a pilot project for prop- to collect information to match fracture
ry of Juanamb and offset wells shows pant tagged with HTNCC to determine parameters in the simulator. The first
reduced production because of fines fracture height. Radioactive tracers were stage was a step-down test (SDT) used
migration. For this reason, the skin considered but were not used because of to calculate the entry hole and near-
bypass fracturing job is designed and environmental and safety risks. wellbore friction losses. In this specific
executed as a standard practice in the case, a 35 lbm/1,000 gal linear gel was
productive sands to bypass the region Work Description injected at 20 bbl/min.
damaged during drilling and completion Engineers determined that skin bypass Minifrac or calibration tests were
and thereby regain productivity. fracturing treatments in the Caballos designed to calculate fracturing fluid
After 20 hydraulic fracture jobs in and the T sand formations would leak-off coefficient, fracturing fluid
the offset wells, matching the geometry increase the recovery of reserves. efficiency, fracture closure pressure,
with net pressure values recorded during A baseline, before-fracture CNT closure time, and fracture geome-
minifrac and main treatment stages has that could be compared with an after- try (height, width, and length). These
been difficult. One of the more critical fracture CNT for determination of parameters (obtained by G-function
points to control is the fracture height proppant location was run. Taking analyses) are used to alter the subse-
because contacting deeper water-bear- into account offset well experience, quent fracture treatment to prevent pre-
ing zones is possible, which would cause the target intervals were reperforat- mature screenout.
water-cut increases in producer wells. ed using a new technology that reduc- The fracture treatment designs
To improve fracture design, geomechan- es the near-wellbore friction. Before reflect the results of the mini-
ical studies have been conducted that the injectivity test, a pad acid was frac analysis. All stimulations have a
include core routines, dipole sonic logs, pumped to remove the formation dam- 35 lbm/1,000 gal borate crosslinked
image logs, and electrical logs. Taking age generated by fines migrations and fluid and 16/20 lightweight ceramic
into account all these data and the new scale precipitation. tagged withHTNCC.
SPONSORS 2010
For more information Adam Evan - Cook Nataliya Yatsenko Ingrid Burchell
please contact: Key Account Manager Sales Executive SPE Conference Manager
T: +44 (0)208 439 8905 T: +44 (0) 208 910 7194 T: +44 (0)207 299 3300
E: adam.evan-cook@reedexpo.co.uk E: nataliya.yatsenko@reedexpo.co.uk Email: iburchell@spe.org
www.russianoilgas.com
Gamma Ray Perf Zones LITH Depth Porosity Resistivity Neutron CH Near Neutron CH Far
Fig. 3Neutron log interpretation for HTNCC proppant detection in the Caballos formation. Proppant is
indicated by the yellow shading in the two rightmost tracks, and fracture height is shown by the pink shading.
The production history before conditions (50%) will be pursued; able proppant pack reduces flow veloc-
stimulation indicates this well showed a however, the current drawdown condition ity in the matrix by creating a very large
high decline rate (total fluid rate) because is maintained at 30% to assess the water- connection between the reservoir and
of fines migration and scale precipitation. cut trends at consistent drawdown. wellbore. The proppant pack made up
After stimulation, the well has maintained These results indicate that the fines of large diameter, uniformly sized light-
a stable total production rate. Despite the migration problem was overcome with weight ceramic proppant allows small
water-cut increment, the net oil production a highly permeable pathway created particles to more easily travel through
increased from 385 to 625 BOPD. It between the wellbore and the nondam- the pore throats, thereby avoiding any
is anticipated that initial drawdown aged reservoir zone. This highly perme- blocking or fines plugging. JPT
As oil reserves mature around the either the CT or JT is unable to provide and trip out, which requires redundant
world, oil companies look to improve the required reach efficiently and safely. safety measures and reduces the effec-
the recovery of existing assets and to Combining CT and JT can bring the flex- tiveness of downhole operations.
tap into unconventional reserves such ibility of CT to extended-reach horizon- In shale plays, operators have deter-
as shale gas and tight gas. Coiled tub- tal wells. mined that laterals in excess of 10,000ft
ing (CT) and jointed tubing (JT) have Typical well intervention opera- and more than 30 fracturing stages are
progressed to larger sizes and premi- tions present several challenges, includ- necessary to maximize production and
um material grades to adapt to these ing equipment and reel availability, achieve the desired return on investment.
new and extended applications. How- transportation issues, achievable flow These wells are challenging to complete
ever, some situations, such as long hori- rates, and the ability to reach the tar- using only CT.
zontal or ultradeep wells, remain where get depth of the well. CT is prone to
sinusoidal buckling and eventual lockup PowerReach Service
in deviated and horizontal wells. This Boots & Coots, a Halliburton service,
Editors note: Last year, SPEs means that friction-reducing agents or developed PowerReach, which com-
Technology Pipeline Task Force began mechanical aids such as tractors may be bines CT and JT to form a hybrid string
soliciting information through JPT
on young technologies to publish
necessary to reach target depths. Small- that offers the best of both. The result-
and inform the upstream oil and er CT reduces the flow rate that can be ing string allows for greater depth
gas community of their potential. achieved and requires higher horsepow- for long horizontals, high flow rates
Once reviewed and approved by the er to overcome fluid friction. JT, on the when using larger CT, and a smaller
task force, the information would other hand, is larger and heavier than equipmentfootprint.
be published in JPT describing the
technology and what it can do. These
CT but requires constant making and The PowerReach system consists of
are the first two entries in this ongoing breaking of connections during trip in JT at the bottom and CT on top to have
series. Future articles will be published
on an ad hoc basis depending on
the number of company submissions
approved by the taskforce.
Tower with
A template (available at www.jptonline. tubing guide
org) outlines the minimum content
necessary for inclusion. Developers
of technology are asked to define the
reason or need for the technology,
outline its purpose, describe how it Reel trailer
works, state its target applications,
and note how and where it has been
used. In addition, the submission
must provide information on any case
studies, discuss what would cause the
new technology to not work or fail, and
describe the possible health, safety,
and environmental impact.
Rig
If you are interested in publishing assist
information on your new technology or
unit
have questions about this series, please
contact JPT Editor John Donnelly at
jdonnelly@spe.org.
Fig. 1Rig assist unit with tower, tubing guide, and crane.
8\HSPLK\W[V* -
)\PS[[VJ\Z[VTLYZWLJPJH[PVUZ
YOUNG TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE
the stiffness and weight of the JT at the cial connectors and a safety valve to Case History
bottom of the string and the freedom manage pressure in a live well. Modified Since June 2010, the hybrid system has
to move the CT portion on top without slip bowls and special inserts grab and been used in 10 wells across the US.
making connections. The length of CT align the CT. This two-tier rig-up allows Seven wells have been completed with
depends on the length of the lateral or for more manageable transportation of the techniques (Table 1). A fracturing
the distance from the first to the last sec- the JT sections, equipment, and CT reel. method was applied in three wells where
tion being treated. This ensures that the The resulting CT now has a larger outer sand pumped through the tubing and
string can be moved freely without mak- diameter (OD) than that in a convention- water pumped through the annulus is
ing a connection. Fig. 1 shows the setup al CT-only operation. The hybrid string mixed downhole before being placed in
of a hybrid unit on location, including a provides the size and flow benefits of the formation. This multistage fractur-
reel trailer, rig assist unit, and tower with JT with the speed and easy maneuver- ing process relies on high concentra-
tubing guide. ability of CT. Many combinations of CT tions of sand that cannot be pumped
First, the JT is tripped in the well and JT are possible, such as 2-, 2-, economically through smaller tubing
using a rig assist unit. The free end of or 3-in.-OD CT with 2- or 2-in.- and has saved time, money, and horse-
the CT, the tubing guide, and the tower OD JT. The resulting string is snubbed power compared with conventional
are then lifted from the reel trailer and using a hydraulic jack on a hydraulic plug-and-perforationcompletions.
bolted onto the rig assist unit. Then, workover unit, eliminating the need for The hybrid string has been used
the CT is connected to the JT with spe- an injector. in milling operations also. More than
True
Vertical Measured Vertical
Well Well Depth Depth Section
State Formation Configuration Production Stages (ft) (ft) (ft)
Montana Upper Bakken Horizontal Oil 18 7,823 12,170 6,850
Montana Upper Bakken Horizontal Oil 17 7,708 11,850 6,955
Montana Upper Bakken Horizontal Oil 16 7,750 11,700 7,000
Montana Upper Bakken Horizontal Oil 23 7,700 11,790 7,140
West Virginia Marcellus Horizontal Gas 6 7,045 9,861 6,538
West Virginia Marcellus Horizontal Gas 15 7,068 9,084 6,493
West Virginia Marcellus Horizontal Gas 30 7,001 10,969 6,712
True
Vertical Measured Vertical
Well Depth Depth Section
State Formation Production Stages (ft) (ft) (ft)
North Dakota Three Forks Oil 14 of 15 10,414 19,235 9,791
North Dakota Three Forks Oil 29 of 30 10,438 20,080 9,851
North Dakota Three Forks Oil 29 of 30 10729 20,332 7,10,210
70 plugs were milled in three wells in It allows for reaching activated and deactivated at various
North Dakota, one with a lateral sec- greaterdepths before lockup by using stages of operation.
tion more than 10,000 ft long (Table 2). 2-in-OD CT with 2-in.-OD JT; It requires a smaller equipment
The conventional CT-only operation did a CT-only operation could use only footprint. With the ability to use
not have enough weight at the bottom to 1-in.-OD CT. larger CT, 30%50% reductions in
drill these plugs. The hybrid string, using It allows for higher flow rates horsepower were observed in the
2-in.-OD Grade-1000 CT combined because of the larger diameter CT. Marcellus Shale play on a pinpoint
with 2-in.-OD JT, provided enough Flow rates greater than 9 bbl/min with stimulation operation.
force to drill these plugs successfully. 20-lbm/gal proppant were achieved It can reduce completion
with a 2-in-OD CT/JT combination. time.The JT can be hanged off as
Value to Industry It allows for continuous forward production tubing at the end of
Some of the benefits of PowerReach are and reverse circulation. The hybrid the operation, thereby reducing
as follows: string uses safety valves that can be completiontime. JPT
Since 1968
2012
Regular Washers improve Torque and Tension Accuracy
(ASME & TUV)
In December 2011, a record-setting position. Subsequent balls of the same plier technology has allowed stage num-
60-stage openhole fracturing system size will either provide another passive bers and port diameters to increase.
was installed in the Marcellus Shale in shift or prime the port to be opened with Reducing total friction of fluid pass-
western Pennsylvania. One of the key the next ball. In the latter case, the ball ing through the ports by having a rela-
technologies that enabled this applica- will move the port to an active shift posi- tively large port size has allowed stage
tion is a new stage multiplier device tion allowing the next ball to shift it to numbers to increase to an average of 30
called the Packers Plus RepeaterPORT the openposition. stages in a 4,600-ft lateral well. Produc-
sleeve, which allows the same sized ball This technology creates a number tion results indicate a 50% increase in
to be dropped multiple times. Initially, of advantages. First, the ability to run initial production, and, based on sev-
reservoir fracture modeling indicated the same size ball multiple times enables eral months of data, a similar increase
that a relatively small number of pla- an increase in stage numberscurrent- appears to occur in ultimate recover-
nar fractures would adequately drain ly up to 60 stages in 5-in. casing. A sec- ies for these wells. In addition, indi-
unconventional resource plays such as ond advantage is that the smallest port cations are that the liquids content of
shale and ultratight rock for both oil size can remain relatively large com- the gas has been increased. The high-
and gas. However, empirical evidence pared with other approaches, reducing er liquids content is beneficial because
has shown that this is not the case. No accumulated friction from fluid pass- prices for liquids are higher than those
matter which completion technique is ing through multiple port restrictions. for gas.
used, stage numbers have been increas- In addition, access with coiled tub-
ing and spacing between fractures has ing is enhanced for operations such as Future
been decreasing. In many cases, how- production logging and well cleanout. The technology has been used on a trial
ever, operational efficiencies are near- Third, operational efficiency is great- and commercial basis on more than 150
ing an economic limit for conventional ly enhanced by allowing uninterrupted wells. This technology will continue to
cemented liners and plug-and-perfora- stage-to-stage advancement. Further- be used as available stage numbers con-
tion completions. more, pumping rates can be reduced, tinue to increase. As long-reach lateral
Long planar fractures may not be saving on hydraulic horsepower and completions greater than 14,000 feet
the best approach to effective resource equipment requirements, because sin- continue, such as in the North Dako-
recovery; instead, shorter fractures, gle intervals are being treated per stage ta Bakken formation, the desire for
smaller fluid volumes, and higher stage rather than three or four perforation increased stage density will continue
numbers have increased productivity clusters. This means that the effective to grow. Decreased interfracture spac-
and ultimate recovery numbers by as rate will be similar for individual inter- ing combined with longer laterals will
much as 50%. In addition, liquids and vals, but the total pump rate at surface produce extremely large stage numbers,
condensate numbers (bbl condensate/ can be reduced by approximately one- likely approaching 100 in many plays.
MMcf/D of gas) increase with openhole third, thus saving on surface treating The technology is on its third revision.
completions and ultrahigh stagedensity. pressure and friction whilepumping. The fourth revision will be released
shortly, doubling the number of stages
Technology Description Case History allowed with current stage multiplier
The stage multiplier technology oper- The Montney Shale formation, a high tools. In addition, the ability to refrac-
ates by allowing the ball to pass through liquid gas play in western Canada, has ture existing cemented-liner horizontal
the port, putting it through a passive seen a steady increase in stage numbers wells through slimhole systems will con-
shift that does not open the port but but has plateaued at approximately 15 tinue to be enhanced with stage multi-
instead moves it to the next operating stages. The introduction of stage multi- pliertechnology. JPT
to succeed.
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EM IMAGING
Potential: Low-frequency
EM signals can clearly
distinguish between salty
water in a reservoir, which
is a good conductor, and oil,
which is not.
Challenge: When work
began, EM imagings range
was too short to cover the
space between most wells.
Progress: It is now possible
to use EM imaging to cover
an area between two wells
more than 1 km apart, and
the range is even greater
when signals are transmitted
from the borehole-to-
surface receivers. The cross-well EM image was created by sending electromagnetic waves
Next: Improve the range and among three wells. The color differences reflect whether the rock is a good
resolution quality. conductor or resistive. The green and yellow zones can indicate oil-bearing
rocks or water tight zones. Actual interpretation requires incorporating EM
data into the reservoir interpretation model.
GRAVITY MEASUREMENT
Potential: Measure the oil in the ground with a
device able to distinguish oil and water by the
difference in density.
Challenge: Create an extremely sensitive
loggingtool slim enough to fit inside a well
and durable enough to operate under extreme
conditions.
Progress: A proof of concept was delivered in late
2010. The tool, with a diameter of 3 in., could be
used to distinguish between gas and liquids over
a wide area.
A device capable of measuring the difference in density
Next: Build and test progressively better devices between oil and water in a reservoir would need to be
able to function in narrower wellbores with the sensitive enough to record the weight added by a fly
sensitivity to tell oil from water. landing on the back of a whale and slim and tough enough
to do it deep inside an oil well.
NANO AGENTS
Potential: Ultrasmall particles able to move
through reservoirs and perform tasks, from
tracking water flows to delivering chemicals.
Challenge: Create particles that are small enough
to travel through rock, remain stable under harsh
conditions, and can be made in large quantities for
an affordable price.
Progress: The first nanoagent was able to travel in
and out of a Saudi reservoir in a single-well test.
Next: See if it can flow from an injection well to a
production well, and develop varieties with new
properties.
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Archer 2012
A TRICKY TRADEOFF
Can Adding a Little Solvent
Yield a Lot More Heavy Crude?
Stephen Rassenfoss, JPT Emerging Technology Editor
ears of small-scale testing have shown that adding a Lowering the steam/oil ratio (SOR)which represents
Cenovus has shown it can significantly increase production and reduce the energy needed to do so using its solvent-aided
process (SAP) method, which adds a solvent to steam. The wells at Christina Lake produce both heavy oil and a stream of
solvent, which will be used again after processing. Tanks storing the butane are seen in the background.
Cenovus pilot program, which was run at two locations, Its method is called LASERan acronym for liquid addi-
showed it could reduce its steam/oil ratio by 25%, said Subodh tion to steam to enhance recovery. The goal is to increase
Gupta, chief of technology development for the company spun the efficiency of the cyclic steam process that periodically
off by Encana. He also said the greater efficiency could allow injects high-pressure vapor into the ground to mobilize the
wide well spacing. viscouscrude.
Imperial said it sees a significant increase in the amount Imperial and Cenovus are also working on using solvent
of oil it will ultimately be able to produce. The operator, which plus steam in wells using steam-assisted gravity drainage
improved its estimated recoveries from 20% to 40% at its (SAGD), which is the most common in-situ method used in the
Cold Lake field by improved reservoir analysis, steam injec- oil sands. Cenovus has submitted a plan to provincial regula-
tion, and drilling techniques, said that solvent use plus contin- tors to perform a large-scale application of its solvent-aided
ued improvements in those three areas have the potential to process (SAP), in a field it is developing, the Narrows Lake oil
increase recovery to more than 60%. sands project.
Despite the potential, many working on the technolo- A decision by regulators was expected late in the first
gy express concerns about the cost of the solvent required. half of 2012, said Jessica Wilkinson, a spokesperson for Cen-
There is no doubt it works, but solvent is quite expensive, ovus. The company would then decide whether to use the SAP
said Neil Edmunds, vice president for enhanced oil recovery at on the 139 wells in the first phase of the SAGD development,
Laricina Energy, who has long been involved in solvent research which is expected to begin producing in 2016, according to the
and simulation work. For companies considering the idea, he environmental impact statement.
said, the cost of the solvent can be sobering. The new field would be equipped with storage caverns for
Large-scale operations multiply the variables under- the solventbutane has been used so farplus equipment to
ground. Solvent is more expensive than water, and you really recycle and distribute the solvent.
do not want to lose it. And reservoirs are finicky things, they are Imperial said it is still analyzing data from its Cold Lake
all different and all have a mind of their own, said Les Little, LASER installation. It did say in a paper (SPE 150706) that
executive director for energy technology for Alberta Innovates, results from the pilots to date are generally encouraging,
a government agency supporting technology development in and it is expected that solvent-based recovery processes will
the province. emerge as the next generation of heavy-oil processes with
Gupta said he sees solvent addition becoming a regu- improved environmental and economic performance.
lar element of heavy-oil extraction. More and more of this is But the company cautioned that the process is subject
definitely expected in the future. Eventually, the technology to change. Due to the complexity of the process, commercial
will progress, either (through) a breakthrough such as ours or application is expected to be evolutionary rather than instan-
someone elses, he said. But much needs to be learned about taneous, according to the paper.
how to apply something that is not a one size fits allapproach. One of the critical aspects of applying the technique will
be minimizing solvent losses. Solvent recovery is a key con-
Putting It to the Test sideration in proving that these technologies are viable, said
Imperial Oil is the first company to perform a field-scale test Pius Rolheiser, a spokesman for Imperial Oil.
of solvent-assisted production in a cyclic steam system. The Gupta said Cenovus has been able to recover around 85%
Canadian arm of ExxonMobil, which was a pioneer in in-situ of the butane used in its pilot tests and expects that, by apply-
production from oil sands too deep to mine, is adding a small ing what it has learned, a 90% recovery is reasonable. But he
percentage of solvent to the steam injected into 240 wells in cautioned that the percentage alone is not a good measure of
its Cold Lake field. how much solvent is expended.
The boilers and heat exchangers in this complex are making the steam needed for Laricina Energys Saleski pilot project near
Wabasca, Alberta. The steam will be added to solvent and injected into wells as part of a test to see if the company is able to
commercially produce heavy crude in a carbonate formation, the Mississippian Grosmont dolomite.
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The opposition that delayed construction of the Key- cies gained using more solvents could also reduce the capital
stone pipeline was driven by environmentalists who oppose oil spending per barrel to produce steam and process water, which
sands production because the energy needed to extract bitu- is 38% of the cost of production.
men results in carbon emissions greater than those from tra- And gas prices are subject to unpredictable swings over
ditional oil production. time. The industrys interest is likely to rise considerably if gas
Regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions expect- prices hit USD 7/Mcf down the road, said Gates of the Univer-
ed from the European Union and the state of California penal- sity of Calgary.
ize the use of fuel refined from dirty oilsources associated Solvent research is one of many initiatives at Cenovus
with high carbon emissions, such as oil sands. The regulations and Imperial to reduce the energy and emissions required to
are expected to be based on the amount of carbon dioxide produce a barrel of oil sands crude.
emitted per barrel of oil produced. In 2010, Cenovus operated the two oil sands fields with
Even at these low prices, natural gas is one of the larg- the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide per barrel of crude pro-
est operating expenses for oil sands operators. The cost of duced, according to a study by Evaluate Energy, a consulting
producing a barrel of oil with SAGD was USD 44.75 in 2011, firm that bases its reports on government records. The low-
according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute, which est was Cenovus Christina Lake field, which emitted 48.3 kg of
said fuel represented 10% of that cost. The cost of comply- CO2 /bbl. That is close to the average for conventional oil pro-
ing with emissions laws added another 1%. Over time, efficien- ducers in the United States, according to a recent estimate by
Tanks hold sales oila mixture of bitumen thinned by gas condensatefor shipping by Laricina Energy. The company is
combining solvents and steam with the SAGD method to try to commercially produce oil in a type of reservoir that has
frustrated others.
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A recent report by the US National Minimize the environmental subsurface infrastructure such as elec-
Academy of Engineering (Grand Chal- footprint. trical cables or pipelines.
lenges for Engineering, NAE 2008) Protect people.
identified 14 grand challenges covering Make the Earth Transparent
the broad range of engineering disci- The primary objective of Earth That the solid Earth is opaque is a major
plines that await engineering solutions resources engineering is to apply engi- obstacle in all aspects of Earth resources
and that, when accomplished, will make neering principles to the discovery, engineering. The challenge for subsur-
significant improvements to the broad development, and environmentally re- face engineering is similar to the imag-
realms of human concern: sustainabil- sponsible production of subsurface ing problem in medicine. We need tools
ity, health, vulnerability, and joy of liv- Earth resources. The traditional engi- that will allow us to see into the subsur-
ing. Two of those challenges are in Earth neering disciplines for this objective are face just as medical tools allow doctors
resources engineering: developing car- mining engineering, mineral process- to see into the human body.
bon sequestration methods and provid- ing engineering, petroleum engineer- Geological structures range from the
ing clean water. Many other engineering ing, and geological engineering. How- microscopic grains and crystals of the
challenges fall into the category of Earth ever, other science and engineering rock matrix and associated pore spac-
resources engineering so a task force disciplines contribute critical expertise, es to the topography of a basin. This
composed of members of the academys particularly geophysics and hydrogeolo- range spans nanometers to kilometers,
Earth Resources Section identified four gy. The skills needed to explore and pro- or 12factors of 10. To complicate matters
challenges that were the most critical. duce resources from the Earth are also further, geological properties are mostly
They are: important in the study of earthquakes, anisotropic (vary with direction) and het-
Make the Earth transparent. the subsurface flow of groundwater, the erogeneous (vary in space). Because of
Understand, engineer, storage of wastes such as carbon dioxide the scale effect, many methods and tools
andcontrol subsurface or nuclear wastes, and the design of sub- are required to characterize geological
coupledprocesses. surface structures for human habitat or structures. On the largest scale (110km
During 2010, the SPE Research and Development the benefits of R&D in the upstream oil and gas industry so
(R&D) Committee developed a list of some of the great this third series of invited guest JPT articles was begun in
challenges facing the oil and gas industry. The committee May 2011. These have been published every two or three
prioritized these needs and called them the R&D Grand months with two remaining articles to appear.
Challenges: increasing recovery factors, in-situ molecular Readers will find interesting the recent effort by the
manipulation, carbon capture and sequestration, produced Earth Resources Section of the US National Academy of
water management, higher resolution subsurface imaging Engineering to also identify critical challenges. After carbon
of hydrocarbons, and the environment. These grand capture and sequestration and clean water, it identified
challenges incorporate as much as possible enabling transparent Earth, coupled processes, environmental
technologies (e.g., drilling performance can improve footprint, and protection of people as their grand challenges.
recovery) as well as address the technical disciplines within These critical areas correlate very well with the view of
the SPE organizationDrilling and Completions; Facilities the SPE R&D Committee and add clear messages related to
and Construction; Reservoir Description and Dynamics; complex underground processes and protection of people
Production and Operations; Health, Safety, and the through operational excellence and isolation ofwastes.
Environment; and Management and Information. It is the Arnis Judzis, Schlumberger
intent of the SPE R&D Committee to articulate and promote Chairman SPE R&D Committee
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FRACTURING SYSTEMS
Ra
dio
mass expansion and displacement and,
che
mic
al
consequently, fluid flow and permeabili-
Permeability Alteration
Eq ty. Aqueous ionic reactions, such as those
Frictional/Deformational Heating
uili n
bri atio
lter
Mass Transfer
um
ty A ge
s occurring in groundwater, are affected by
bili an
m ea e Ch pore surface electrical charges, the ionic
r r Ch
Pe ssu em
e Pre ica
l strength of the aqueous solution, and the
r R
Po ea
ctio
Re ns applied electrical field. Moreover, when
act
ion
Kin
etic organic contaminants enter groundwa-
s
ter as waste products, complex coupled
chemical reactions occur involving the
Modified Reactive Surface Area chemicals in the waste stream, the ambi-
ent groundwater, and the rock matrix.
Mechanical
Heating/Weathering/Dissolution
Chemical
Adding to this complexity is the dif-
ficulty of quantifying or upscaling the
Modified after Yow and Hunt (2002) effects of the large range of both time and
physical dimensions on the process equa-
Fig. 1Coupled thermal, hydrologic, mechanical, and chemical processes.
tions. The mechanics of deformation and
fracture of rock depend on the size of the
spatial resolution), airborne gravity, mag- ogists to assess groundwater resources rock under stress and the duration of the
netic and electromagnetic imaging, and and quantify movement of contaminants loading. Injection of fluids into fractures
satellite-based synthetic aperture radar in the subsurface. Geophysical methods can induce seismic slip and tremors as
measurements are used. On the scale of that would sharpen the ability to see frac- observed when fluid is injected into geo-
10100 m, seismic waves are used, either tures or changes in rock or fluid proper- thermal reservoirs. The effect of long peri-
actively generated by explosive charges ties ahead of a drill bit or just a few (three ods of time on subsurface processes is par-
or mechanical vibrators or naturally gen- or more) tunnel diameters ahead of a tun- ticularly important for long-term storage
erated by distant earthquakes or ocean nel-boring machine could improve the of waste and the diagenesis of minerals.
waves. On a smaller scale of centimeters efficiency of subsurface engineering. In Deciphering this complex coupling
to 1 m, a variety of well logging tools that addition, they could save lives. Monitor- and dependence is a fundamental chal-
use electromagnetic, nuclear, and gamma ing the stability of mine pillars or tunnels lenge in Earth resources engineering. The
ray technology exist. would provide information on the risk of efficacy of numerical simulation models
Geophysical techniques that sense rock failure. of subsurface processes directly depends
the subsurface ahead of a drill bit are on the accuracy of the equations used to
reaping enormous benefits for effective Understand, Engineer, describe the processes. Development of
recovery of resources. Such techniques andControl Subsurface better field-scale models requires that we
provide clear images of the rock within Coupled Processes understand coupled processes sufficient-
a radius of several meters around a bore- Underground thermal, mechanical, chem- ly to quantify them, to characterize and
hole and enable a drill bit to be steered ical, and hydrologic processes are com- quantify heterogeneity, and to raise lab-
precisely into producing horizons either plex and interactive (Fig. 1). For example, oratory and field observations to a scale
automatically or under real-time control pressure gradients lead to momentum suitable for modeling.
by an operator on the surface. flux and fluid flow, but they also may A better understanding of subsurface
Better imaging will enable better esti- affect the displacement of rock masses coupled processes will benefit the engi-
mates of the Earths potential resources. (e.g., in fractured reservoirs) or trigger neering, design, and control of all subsur-
In addition, it will enable geoscientists to landslides. Conversely, mechanical stress- face projects, including enhanced recov-
monitor both anthropogenic and natural es on rocks change fracture apertures and ery of oil and gas, exploration of minerals,
changes in the subsurface. Monitoring affect flow permeability. Chemical reac- surface and underground mining opera-
subsurface fluid flow in real time provides tions affect fluid mobility because of vis- tion, geothermal recovery, in-situ mining,
invaluable input to the management and cosity alteration, and the dissolution of a subsurface disposal of wastes, fate and
optimization of the recovery of oil and pore surface-lining mineral would affect transport of contaminants in groundwa-
gas resources. It can also enable hydrol- permeability. In the presence of hetero- ter, and earthquake mechanics.
Minimize the water supply. Thus, the real-time moni- that, companies recognize the business
EnvironmentalFootprint toring of fluid flow, both in and around imperative to be more socially respon-
Minimizing the environmental footprint the ore deposit, is critical to success. sible. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil
of operations is a major challenge for When producing oil and gas, one way spill in the Gulf of Mexico reinforced
all industries, but particularly for Earth to reduce the environmental footprint is thistrend.
resources engineering because it deals to drill many wells from a single surface Management systems involve a com-
with enormous volumes of both Earth site by using extended-reach boreholes. prehensive set of instructions, policies,
material and materials introduced to the The direction of the inclined holes is con- best practices, and operational proce-
subsurface, many of which are flamma- trolled from the surface by signals to the dures to minimize risk. Engineers must
ble, corrosive, or toxic. The effect of steerable rotary drill to stay within the design equipment and processes that
the extraction process on surface water narrow producing horizon. The number minimize accidents. Operators must be
and groundwater ranks among the major of boreholes needed to develop an oil or trained in safe operating procedures and
concerns of the industry and the public. gas reservoir can be reduced if effective to respect the environment. Clearly, the
Extraction of minerals from the conduits can be created to link the fluid penalties for noncompliance are major
Earth can involve many square miles of in the rock matrix with the borehole. incentives, but it is critical to business
the surface, which must be restored after This can be accomplished by hydraulic success to create and maintain a safety
completion of the extraction operations. fracturing. Recent public concern about culture throughout an organization.
The processes often use large amounts of the environmental consequences of the Prescriptive regulations for design
water, which can be very difficult to sep- application of fracturing in the devel- of equipment and facilities, such as the
arate from the finely ground produced opment of oil and gas from shales has height and dimensions of handrails or
material. Reagents are needed that are increased attention on the need to ensure the placement of alarm systems, are not
more effective in the separation and are that development operations adequate- enough to prevent accidents. One out-
not toxic to workers or the environment. ly protect groundwater. Public concerns come of the Piper Alpha accident was
Mineral processing also can consume about the potential for stimulating earth- a set of risk-based regulations that
prodigious amounts of energy for the quakes by injecting high pressure fluid required operators in the North Sea to
comminution of ore and for slurry trans- into the ground must also be considered. analyze all the risks in their operations
port. Reducing this energy consumption and to develop risk reduction procedures
is a major challenge. Protect People and contingency plans. The US regula-
Developing an ore body by in-situ Operational Excellence. The highest pri- tors did not adopt the North Sea regula-
leaching would eliminate the need for a ority for any industry is to ensure the tions at that time because of the compli-
surface or underground mine. Recovery health and safety of the public and its cations involved in applying the concepts
by in-situ processes also would reduce workers. Safety is particularly impor- to the very large number of facilities in
the number of workers exposed to poten- tant for the extractive industries because US coastal waters. The incident at the
tially dangerous underground environ- workers are exposed to the high risks of Macondo well has prompted US regu-
ments and could possibly reduce the working in confined subsurface openings, lators to implement regulations requir-
costs of production. The major challenge on remote offshore platforms, or in other ing operators to develop comprehensive
in in-situ leaching is the creation of con- extreme environments. The public could management programs to address and
duits between a borehole and the rock be exposed to health and safety risks from manage safety and environmental risks.
matrix to enable fluids, called lixiviants, air emissions from operations, failure of
to extract the ore. The conduits are then impoundments, spills, and contamina- Subsurface Isolation of Wastes. Safe
used to transport the extracted fluid to tion of surface or groundwater. Design- isolation of nuclear wastes from the bio-
the borehole for delivery to the surface. ing the appropriate equipment and pro- sphere for thousands of years is a major
Hydraulic fracturing is a technol- cedures, as well as creating a culture of challenge for society. Success in meet-
ogy that creates one or more fractures operational excellence and environmen- ing this challenge, especially following
that emanate through the rock matrix tal awareness, is a major challenge. the tsunami-related nuclear disaster in
through which fluids can flow into the Operational excellence should per- Japan in 2011, will have a major effect
borehole. However, the fractures must meate through all levels of an organiza- on the future of nuclear power. Safe iso-
not communicate with active or poten- tion. In response to the 1988 Piper Alpha lation requires a firm understanding of
tial sources of groundwater. Groundwa- accident in the North Sea and the Exxon subsurface coupled processes to predict,
ter in the mining zone, which may be Valdez oil spill in 1989, the oil and gas with some assurance, the long-term fate
contaminated by the ore body or the industry increased its diligence in devel- of radioactive material. Sequestration of
lixiviant and chemicals used in the frac- oping comprehensive management sys- carbon dioxide in subsurface formations
turing process, should not be allowed to tems to reduce accidents and to ensure has been demonstrated on a small scale.
contaminate groundwater being used for compliance with regulations. Beyond However, it will require a massive effort
Conclusion
The Earth is richly endowed with many
resources, but its burgeoning population From design to decommissioning,
is consuming them at a rate that is unsus-
tainable. In addition to the challenge of
you will find it all inside.
supplying the raw materials, the genera-
tion, processing, and eventual discharge
of the enormous quantities of materi-
als and energy used in a modern society
creates a massive burden on the plan- Oil and Gas
ets capacity to sustain the ecosystem.
Today, oil, gas, coal, and uranium provide Facilities 2
2 | April 201
93% of the energy currently consumed Magazine Vol. 1 No.
The project challenges of the oil and gas ing and managing the processes to get responding to email in meetings, taking
industry are characterized by change the right knowledge to the right people at calls in line at the supermarket, and so
and uncertainty. Work operations span the right time and help people share and on. But that feeling may be an illusion.
the globe and smooth working part- act on information in order to improve Are todays employees as savvy as
nerships cannot be anticipated. How- organizational performance. Organiza- they appear at multitasking? Not accord-
ever, we can confront that uncertainty tions implement a KM program to insti- ing to Clifford Nass, a professor at Stan-
by becoming more agile. Greater lev- tutionalize and promote knowledge shar- ford University and the director of the
els of agility rest upon using the power ing practices. An enterprise program is Communication Between Humans and
of knowledgethe cornerstone of suc- usually a centralized, organizationwide Interactive Media Lab. His data sug-
cessful corporations. effort to standardize and excel in KM. gested that even the brightest people
The difference between a powerful are hampered by an unwillingness (or
knowledge management (KM) program Strategy in a New Context inability) to focus on one thing at a time.
and the also-ran is the ability to identify The defining book on how to implement Nass and his research team predict-
and enable critical knowledge. The KM an effective KM strategy was written in ed that multitaskers might be good at
system is a tool and not the end prod- 1998 when the discipline was less than threethings:
uct. People still make the system work a decade old (If Only We Knew What We 1. Filtering. Focusing on what is rel-
and are the critical component for input, Know by C. ODell and C.J. Grayson). evant while ignoring distractions and
expert collaboration, and mentoring. In Since then, we have seen many momen- extraneous information.
fact, business value is created when criti- tous changes affecting KM: rising Inter- 2. Switching. Moving between tasks
cal knowledge gets to the right person net and broadband access, the explosion quickly and getting up to speed with a
at his or her teachable moment and is of mobile devices and smartphones, the minimum amount of ramp-up time.
applied. The crucial knowledge set with- continued rise in virtual work and glob- 3. Organizing memories. Trans-
in your organization is often hidden al teams, the international equalization ferring information from short-term to
sometimes buriedbecause it resides in of competitive prowess and knowledge, long-term memory to ensure that impor-
people or in many electronic reports or the decline of readership for the print- tant facts are retained.
in stacks of lessons learned. The question ed word, the rise of digital readership, However, his research results indi-
we need to ponder is this: Can too much and so on. It would be hard to overstate cated the opposite: It turns out multi-
knowledge flow? how profoundly these developments taskers are terrible at every aspect of
have both challenged and enhanced the multitasking, Nass wrote. Theyre ter-
What Is Knowledge promise and practice of KM. The core rible at ignoring irrelevant information;
Management? objectives have not changed, but how we theyre terrible at keeping information in
From a practical perspective, knowledge accomplish them has. their head nicely and neatly organized;
is information in action. Until people and theyre terrible at switching from one
take information and use it, it is not Force 1: Digital Immersion task to another. (Nass, 2010). Even more
knowledge. In a business context, knowl- We are experiencing the incursion of the disturbing, almost all the research par-
edge is what employees know about their Internet and digital technology in almost ticipants thought they were good at these
customers, each other, products, pro- every aspect of our lives. Wireless con- aspects of multitasking.
cesses, mistakes, and successes, whether nections and mobile devices have made If you are familiar with Lean manu-
that knowledge is tacit or explicit. the Internet available from almost any- facturing techniques, you know that set-
The American Productivity and where, and ever-increasing bandwidth up time does not add value. And when
Quality Center (APQC) defines KM as a has enabled the rise of streaming video you switch what you are working on,
systematic effort to enable information and other high-impact content. Many there is set-up time. Research indicated
and knowledge to grow, flow, and cre- people are comforted by the feeling that that it can take 15 minutes to fully reset
ate value. The discipline is about creat- they are always getting things done your focus after an interruption. You are
tive aspects of these new technologies ments, and new business models for edents for how to manage security; who
while addressing these concerns. offshoring work requires just as much pays for the device and its text, voice,
Another key concern is how em- careful identification and transfer of and data charges; how to ensure the
ployees participate. Social computing knowledge. We have also seen shortfalls security of information; and how the IT
works when enough people participate. of skilled employees in key disciplines organization can establish, manage, and
And participation historically has been and time-to-competency issues for integrate the whole system.
the biggest challenge for KM. We see an those entering the workforce. Employ- What are not well established are
important, sobering parallel in terms of eesespecially new hiresface steep- guidelines for KM professionals to capi-
content contribution. er, longer learning curves at the same talize on this ubiquitous, addictive pock-
On Facebook, 80% of the time that employers are looking for et computer. What is appropriate to share
contentis posted by 20% greater revenue and higher productivity. through that tiny screen? How much do
ofusers. The scarcity of talent will be a driv- employees want to know, and when do
Only one in five Twitter ing force in KM. Despite the handwring- they want to know it? What can we learn
accountholders have ever ing that every generation does about from RSS, alert systems, and Twitter to
posted anything, and 90% of the next one, since the beginning of communicate withemployees?
the content is posted by 10% the Industrial Revolution, every genera- The future also belongs to stream-
oftheusers. tion has been more productive than the ing video, and KM will benefit. Too
last. Innovative technologies along with expensive until now, cheap digital video
Force 3: Demographics education and free market models have is literally in the hands of millions of
andDynamics been the reason. people. YouTube and big bandwidth
We could get so caught up in the hype KM needs to adapt to these evolving have made video a feasible and desirable
around generational differences at demographics and power dynamics. We medium for millions of average people
work (which may not be that great) that are just seeing the first wave of a larger to teach, learn, and share. Demands to
we may be overlooking the elephant phenomenon. Employees increasingly show me, dont tell me make video
in the room: retirement of the huge expect more engagement and informa- far superior to text for communicating
baby boomer generation. Many organi- tion and want to achieve it the same way something physical. It is also terrific for
zations face looming knowledge reten- they do in their personal lives. communicating emotion. Now the buzz
tion and transfer issues, regardless of is to use it for a wide range of internal
industry, annual revenue, or number Force 4: Mobile Devices communication and not just the annual
ofemployees. andVideo CEO speech.
The retirement of a record 77 mil- The tagline We have an app for that Yet many, if not most, organiza-
lion baby boomers has the potential has entered our lexicon, and everyone tions block access to YouTube. It is a
to result in huge losses of critical tacit seems to be perpetually in a Crack- quixotic effort, considering the sophis-
knowledge, including the loss of organi- berry prayer mode or immersed in tication of the personal devices that
zational and technical knowledge on key his or her iPhone to the exclusion of employees have at their disposal. Orga-
processes and competencies. And churn all else. So what? Smartphones have nizationsand KM programswould
from organizational reorganizations, been around a long time. There are well- benefit instead by taking advantage of
rapid growth, layoffs, internal redeploy- established company policies and prec- employees comfort and familiarity with
mobile devices and streaming video. In
time, more powerful applications will
be developed for mobile devices and
Cindy Hubert is the executive director of APQCs Delivery Services Group, which streaming video, which will expand the
provides individualized and collaborative approaches to solving business problems power of these tools for finding and
and addressing strategic needs. Her background includes developing knowledge sharing information.
management, business process management, and measurement systems. She has These are some of the major forces
worked with several industries including manufacturing, health care, financial, at work on KM today. KM can help the
retail, nonprofit, and consumer product. Previously, she was APQCs director of digitally immersed, socially networked,
knowledge management and learning. Before joining the company in 1995, Hubert information overloaded, smartphone
spent 15 years in the oil and gas industry as a controller and in the retail industry as obsessed, and busy knowledge worker
a general manager. Hubert is the coauthor of a book, The New Edge in Knowledge: oftoday. JPT
How Knowledge Management Is Changing the Way We Do Business. A graduate
of the University of Texas at Austin, Hubert holds a bachelors degree in business An extended version of this article is
administration and marketing with an emphasis on accounting and finance. available at www.onepetro.org.
Introducing WellLock Resin.
An annular barricade.
Learn more at www.halliburton.com/welllock
COILED TUBING
John Misselbrook,
SPE, is senior
advisor global
APPLICATIONS
coiled tubing with
Baker Hughes.
Previously, he was
with Nowsco Well
Service Company, which merged with
BJ Services in 1996. Misselbrook
has worked in various operational,
engineering, research, and management The coiled-tubing (CT) industry has experience unparalleled growth in the past year,
roles involving CT in the North Sea, driven directly by the massive expansion in multistage-fracturing operations in North
Canada, Southeast Asia, and the America. Various sources estimate that the US consumed 50% of the worlds CT in the
United States. He was a member past 12 months, helping to contribute to a massive 80% growth in product coming off
of the original team of engineers the CT production lines.
involved directly in the development The growth in the United States was fueled primarily by three applications: mill-
of improved engineering techniques ing out composite plugs, milling out fracture-sleeve ball seats, and toe shoots (the
for underbalanced drilling in name given to the first perforating operation before plug-and-perforate operations).
western Canada in 1991. Misselbrook Because toe shoots take place without any pressure on the well, the amount of CT life
subsequently became responsible consumed by fatigue during the operation is small. Plug or seat milling, on the other
for Nowscos initiative to develop hand, takes place after fracturing operations are complete and with the wellbore fully
underbalanced-drilling technology pressure charged by the formation; therefore, the CT life consumed by fatigue is high.
by use of CT. He holds several US Superimposed over the wellbore pressures are the pressures arising from circulating
patents and has authored several SPE fluids through the CT and the milling assemblies. In some of the higher-pressure shale
papers on the use of CT. Misselbrook plays, CT strings last only for a few jobs.
is a mechanical sciences graduate Accordingly, any technology that reduces the superimposed pressure could lead
of Cambridge University. He served to longer CT life and potentially to lower completion costs. Two of the papers selected
on the 2008 and 2009 SPE/ICoTA for this months issue involve new technologies that might be helpful to operators in
Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention this respect.
Conference Committees and serves on However, of possible greater concern to CT companies in North America is the
the JPT Editorial Committee. fact that CT use is now clearly dominated by well-completion operations, or, to put it
another way, by rig count. Until recently, the CT intervention business was primarily
remedial in nature and, thus, was partially cushioned from the extreme cycles expe-
Recommended additional reading
rienced by drillers. However, in North America, a change has already arrived and,
at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.
with gas prices at historic lows, CT service companies, CT pipe manufacturers, and CT
SPE 152351 Comprehensive Approach equipment manufacturers probably need to prepare for the same swings that the rest
to Production Stimulation of Massive Cold
of the well-construction industry is used to. JPT
Heterogeneous Carbonate Formation
Using Coiled Tubing by Vladimir
Dnistryansky, Schlumberger, et al.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
eRED can be
ing/CT annulus and into the formation aggressively as desired without fear of
as planned. After the fracture treatment, major setbacks.
all pumping equipment was shut down CTFSs reduce water usage because
and a slight pull was applied on the BHA
to release the packer by equalizing pres-
sure between the top and the bottom of
no wireline BHA needs to be pumped
down the wellbore. Reduced flush vol-
umes are also realized because CT is in
remotely
the isolation element. Then, the BHA the wellbore at all times. actuated multiple
was moved to the next treatment depth The targeted fracturing process
64 ft uphole. This procedure was fol-
lowed until all 48 fracture sleeves were
requires considerably less hydraulic
horsepower than conventional stimula-
times without
open and treated as per the program.
At the end of the job, the well has
tion methods such as P&P and BDFSs.
This provides an improved environmen-
intervention
been treated successfully and as expect- tal and location footprint and makes
ed. The average fracture gradient for pumping equipment available for other
all 48 stages was 0.747 psi/ft, and the operations.
treating pressure averaged 3,142 psi at NPT is reduced considerably visit our website to
an average rate of 30.9 bbl/min. A total using CTFSs because the time between
of 3.15 million lbm of sand was used, stages is reduced to 10 minutes or less. nd out how often
with 3.106 million lbm of that being CTFSs allow for real-time pres-
40/70-mesh white. The total amount of sure monitoring through use of CT as a and win an iPad!
fluid used was 92,263 bbl, with each stage dead leg.
using less fluid after Stage 15. The isolation-packer BHA can
One of the advantages of this com- reliably and repeatedly activate multiple
pletion technique is the flexibility that fracture sleeves in a single trip, reducing
is allowed for the treatment design to operational downtime. Our eRED valve reduces
change from one entry point (or stage) Having a single vendor on loca-
to the next. In multicluster stimulation tion streamlined on-site communication wireline runs; saving time,
techniques, several perforation clusters between service lines and proved to be money and removing risk
(typically four to eight) are treated at key to enabling swift informed decision
once using the same fracture design for making during critical stages. JPT from well operations.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
DEVIN ANSWERS
Motion Compensation Solutions For Optimal Performance
sion because of the splashback observed pressure inside and with minimum
Visit SPT Group at:
during the hydrajetting process. cycles in the same spot, little fatigue will
occur during the job because the CT is SPE EAGE, Copenhagen
Conclusion moved very little during the high-rate 4-7 June 2012 Stand 1200
The training provided before the exe- pumpingstages.
cution proved to be essential because Production results are currently
any contingency required during the pro- unavailable. JPT
www.sptgroup.com
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
Fig. 1Abrasive-jetting yard tests showed that the technique creates large, clean holes and deep caverns
(a) to handle fracturing fluids without damage to the nozzles and perforator (b).
The new method can be described the APFTC operations on Well A with the cases, 12/18-mesh proppant was
by the following sequence (how many 146-mm casing was to stimulate five lay- pumped with resin-coated proppant of
times the cycle is repeated depends on ers of the well through abrasive perfora- the same mesh as a tail-in to prevent
the number of targeted zones): tions. Intervals were isolated by pump- proppant flowback.
Workover crew scrapes casing ing sand plugs immediately after the
and cleans out well. main fracturing treatments. Abrasive Perforating and
Wireline crew tags bottom depth. The overall completion cycle Fracturing Through Tubing
CT crew correlates depth and including perforations, fracturing, well Drilling new wells is not the only way
performs abrasive jetting in bottom cleanout, and kickofftook approxi- to increase production; sidetrack drill-
interval. mately 17 days of continuous fractur- ing from existing wells in Malobaliks-
Fracturing crew performs ing and CT operations. Including prepa- koye and Priobskoye fields is increasing
proppant stimulation job through casing ratory work by the workover crew and each year. Sidetrack drilling with sever-
and pumps sand plug right after last installing an ESP, the full cycle of well al fracturing stages in multilayer forma-
treatment stage. completion was reduced by 21 days. tions allows for a significant increase in
CT crew removes excessive oil recovery.
proppant (if necessary) and creates Results of APFTC To increase the candidate pool sig-
abrasive holes in next interval. Implementation nificantly for the improved comple-
Fracturing crew performs next As a result of APFTC operations in tion technique, a new approach to the
fracturing treatment. 200809, more than 30 multilayered abrasive-fracturing process was devel-
CT crew cleans out wellbore and wells were completed, with more than oped in 2010 that provided an option
kicks off well with nitrogen. 100 fracturing stages pumped in total. to treat the wells through tubing and
This completion sequence is called That period is considered the most rep- packers; this approach is called abrasive
abrasive perforating and fracturing resentative for the comparative analy- perforating and fracturing through tub-
through casing (APFTC), for the sake sis of technique effectiveness and well ing (APFTT). The method uses almost
of simplicity. This combined technique productivity because many of the off- the same sequence as APFTC, with the
requires simultaneous presence of both set wells had been completed with the only difference being that perforat-
fracturing and CT fleets; thus, sufficient conventionalapproach. ing and fracturing operations now are
space at the pad needs to be available. On the whole, during 200809, performed through tubing and pack-
Such operations must be planned prop- APFTC was optimized and a high qual- er, the latter being set only once above
erly to comply with the schedules of ity of operations was reached. Comple- all the intervals. The full completion
other operations on offset wells [e.g., tion cycles were reduced to approxi- cycle now can be described as follows
drilling and electrical-submersible- mately half the conventional time. In (how many times the cycle is repeat-
pump (ESP)installations]. most cases, abrasive jetting consisted ed depends on the number of tar-
of only a few (three to six) stations of geted zones):
APFTC Case Study three holes and caverns. Nevertheless, Workover crew scrapes casing
This method of completion was imple- this number was enough for success- and cleans out the well.
mented successfully in the Priobskoye ful placement of any fracturing treat- Wireline crew tags the bottom
oil field at the end of 2008. The goal of ments. During that period, in most of depth.
Blowout Specialists
Freeze Operations
ZZZFXGGZHOOFRQWUROFRP
Well flowback
RESOURCES
Perforating
and kickoff
Workover
Fracturing
Workover
Workover
Workover
Cleanout
ESP
Repeat the cycle two times
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Repeat
CT rig down
Perforating
and kickoff
Well killing
Fracturing
Workover
CT rig up
Cleanout
APFTC
the
ESP
cycle 15 days of cycle reduction
two
times
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Repeat
CT rig down
Perforating
and kickoff
Fracturing
Workover
Workover
CT rig up
Cleanout
the
APFTT
ESP
cycle 15 days of cycle reduction
two
times
Workover crew runs tubing and tions on well deviation because wellbore
special packer in hole and sets packer on cleanout is conducted with direct flow
top of all intervals. and not reversed, as in the case of remov-
CT crew correlates depth and al of proppant from a well through casing.
performs abrasive jetting in bottom At least 95 wells have been com-
interval. pleted with a combination of CT and
Fracturing crew performs stimulation, and more than 30 of them
proppant stimulation through the usedAPFTT.
casing, pumping the sand plug right
after the last treatment stage. Conclusions
CT crew removes excessive The well-completion cycle was
proppant (if necessary) and creates reduced by more than 50% on average.
abrasive holes in next interval. This reduction in completion-cycle
Fracturing crew performs next time was achieved by removing the
fracturing treatment. requirement to run the fracture string
CT crew cleans out wellbore and and packer in and out of hole between
kicks off well with nitrogen. each operation because CT can perform
Workover crew pulls packer and these operations in the well under
tubing out of hole and installs the ESP. pressure (as opposed to workover
operations that can start only after the
Effectiveness of well has been flowed back and pressure
APFTC and APFTT has been released).
To compare the effectiveness of these two Well productivity after abrasive
options, we analyzed several representa- perforating and fracturing assisted
tive three-layer wells. Fig. 2 shows the typ- by CT is higher than in offset wells
ical operational sequence and duration completed by separate fracturing stages
for the different completionscenarios. that depend on cumulative perforation
Both APFTC and APFTT have similar and workover operations between the
completion-cycle lengths (approximately stimulation treatments. One advantage
13 to 14 days). However, APFTC requires of abrasive perforating and fracturing is
Now Available additional procedures for casing- that the increase in productivity of the
pressure tests before the CT rig up and wells may reach up to 14% in formations
a longer cleanout process to complete with high reservoir quality where an
Download the free JPT app to read an additional run-in-hole and well-killing aggressive fracturing schedule can be
current and past print issues. operations. Assuming the rest of the con- placed. Another contributing factor is
Search Journal of Petroleum ditions are the same, APFTT will have an a better and faster fracture-cleanout
Technology in the Apple AppStore advantage because it can be implement- process in CT-assisted operations as
and Android Market. ed in wells with regular Grade-D casing. opposed to long workover cycles and
Also, this option does not have limita- damaging well-killing operations. JPT
* As of December 2011
Gerald R. Coulter,
SPE, is a consulting
petroleum engineer
and president of
WELL STIMULATION
Coulter Energy
International.
He is involved in
consulting and technology transfer of
well-completion, formation-damage,
and well-stimulation technology.
Coulter is currently an instructor with Well stimulation continues to be a hot topic in our industry, particularly with hydrau-
PetroSkills. His industry experience lic fracturing of shales. Having been in the industry since the Dark Ages, (at least, it
includes work with Sun Oil/Oryx seems like it at times), it is interesting to see the technology changes over time and
Energy Company, Halliburton, what areas are currently in the spotlight. Certainly, hydraulic fracturing continues to
and Conoco. Coulter has authored lead the industry interest; however, we do pump a lot of acid, and we have not forgot-
numerous technical papers and holds ten its importance. Our acid blends have not changed much since the very early days
numerous patents, has been chairman the late 1800sof acidizing. Hydrochloric acid has been the mainstay, with primarily
of and has served on numerous SPE hydrofluoric acid and formic and acetic acids being the complimenting acids. Specialty
committees, and is currently serving acids, such as phosphonic, sulfamic, and others, have also been playing a role.
on the JPT Editorial Committee. He Major technology developments in nonproppant-fracturing well stimulation, as
holds a BS degree in geology and a BA evidenced by the numerous publications over the last few years, have been primarily
degree in chemistry from Oklahoma in carbonate acidizing. This is a continuing trend brought about by the significance of
State University and an MS degree the carbonates to the worlds oil supply. However, our industry does use a lot of acid
in petroleum engineering from the in the noncarbonates. One of those areas is in spearheading fracturing treatments to
University of Oklahoma. reduce near-wellbore tortuosity, most of these in sands and shales. My experience with
this approach in horizontal shale wells has not always been successful; however, one of
the papers selected for this months feature shows a unique acid blend that has shown
Recommended additional reading some success in tight-gas-sand fracturing. Perhaps this and other unique acid blends
at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. could provide increased success in shales.
Horizontal wells in all reservoir types are now quite common, allowing our indus-
SPE 144803 Selective Stimulation and
Water Control in High-Water-Cut Wells: try to exploit lesser-quality reservoirs economically. Shales are excellent examples.
Case Histories From Upper Magdalena Many reservoirs have a high water cut, and stimulating wells in these reservoirs can
Valley Basin in Colombia by E. Rodriguez, be a real challenge. Acid-placement techniques, as well as diagnostics while acidiz-
Ecopetrol, et al. ing, are a significant challenge to our industry. Of course, in our industry, challenges
SPE 154257 Acidizing Optimization: beget solutions. A recent development helping with well stimulation and production
Monterey Shale, California by Rakesh diagnostics is distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and distributed acoustic sens-
Trehan, Halliburton, et al. ing (DAS). From reviewing numerous technical papers from worldwide SPE meetings
SPE 143942 Sandstone Reservoir held in the last year or so, the development and application of DTS and DAS appear to
Stimulation Using High-Temperature be in the forefront. Two of the papers selected for this months feature reflect on these
Deep-Penetrating Acid by Puyong Feng, developments and applications.
China Oilfield Services, et al.
Readers are advised to review the following synopsized papers as well as the
SPE 148835 Fracture-Stimulation recommended additional reading to gain information on recent advancements in
Diagnostics in Horizontal Wells Using DTS wellstimulation. JPT
by M. Tabatabaei, Texas A&M University,
et al.
SPE 152320 Stimulation in Wells With
Electrical Submersible Pumps Increases
Production and Saves Costs Without
Damaging Pumps by M. Gallegos,
Schlumberger, et al.
stimulation treatment pumped through the water zones. Temporary Water Isolation
coiled-tubing (CT) with real-time Real-time DTS had not been used The treatment had two objectivesmax-
distributed-temperature-sensing (DTS) to evaluate the effectiveness of tempo- imizing the oil-production rate and min-
technology helped improve the real-time rary isolation and subsequent stimula- imizing the water cut. To increase oil
decision process of fluid placement, tion; however, real-time DTS has been production, the oil-rich Zone-1 reservoir
temporary-plugging placement, and used with matrix-acidizing treatments to must be matrix acidized, while acid must
treatment-efficiency evaluation. To evaluate zonal coverage. The approach be prevented from penetrating the Zone-
facilitate on-site decision making, a presented here enables engineers to deal 2 reservoir. Also, uniform acid coverage
temperature-inversion technique was with the uncertainty of predicting fluid is desired in Zone 1 to ensure stimulation
used to translate the actual-temperature placement along the well and to act in real of the whole production interval.
profiles into fluid-invasion profiles time following the interpretation of the
across the horizontal openhole section DTS logs recorded during the treatment. Preliminary Design. The preliminary
of the well. Also, full-scale acid- design consisted of using 1-in. CT with
placement and thermal modeling is Background an enclosed DTS system to acid stimu-
proposed to perform in-depth post- The horizontal well produces oil from a late Zone 1 from the CS to the boundary
treatment evaluation. formation with porosity in the 155% between Zones 1 and 2 (Z1-2) at 3277-m
range. It produces from an openhole sec- MD with 15 wt% HCl, and to apply a
tion 2720 m deep, with the casing shoe selective, nonacidic, viscoelastic gel as
Introduction (CS) at a measured depth (MD) of 2887 m acid diverter from Z1-2 to TD. The visco-
The South Umm Gudair field, discov- and a total depth (TD) of 3343 m. elastic gel, referred to as water-blocking
ered in 1966, is in the neutral zone The well was drilled and completed gel, selectively plugs zones with high
between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It pro- in August 2010. A swabbing test during water saturation, forcing acid to enter
duces mainly from the Ratawi oolite, a the completion indicated poor productiv- zones with high oil saturation. This non-
Lower Cretaceous reservoir, by a water- ity, with water being the dominant phase. polymeric nonparticulate aqueous sys-
drive mechanism. The drilling-and- Therefore, chemical stimulation was per- tem gels in water-saturated matrices or
completion strategy has evolved from formed. During the stimulation design, fissures, but not in the oil-rich zones. To
simple vertical wells to horizontal wells the decision was made to split the hole optimize zonal coverage of the acid above
to maximize reservoir contact and to section into two partsZone 1 and Zone Z1-2, another surfactant-based diverter,
minimize the producing water cut. Over 2. Zone 1, with relatively higher resistiv- referred to as self-diverting acid, was
time, an increase in the water cut is ity and heterogeneity, was considered used in stages with the acid. This self-
inevitable. The task of performing an the primary zone of interest. Zone 2, diverting acid contained 17 wt% HCl.
efficient stimulation, which is required with lower resistivity and higher poros-
for improving the wells production, ity, was suspected to contribute water. Final design. The true nature of carbon-
becomes more challenging without It then was decided to exclude Zone 2 ate formations and how they connect
to the wellbore are revealed only when
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights the treatment fluids are pumped. Typi-
cally, carbonates are heterogeneous and
of paper SPE 154387, A New Methodology for Stimulation of a High-Water-Cut
may be fissured. Their damage distribu-
Horizontal Oil Well Through the Combination of a Smart-Chemical System With Real-
tion may not be well understood, and
Time Temperature Sensing: A Case Study of South Umm Gudair Field, PZ Kuwait, by the injectivity profile may be difficult
A. Al-Najim and A. Zahedi, Chevron; T. Al-Khonaini and A.I. Al-Sharqawi, Kuwait to predict. Therefore, uncertainty must
Gulf Oil; and P.M.J. Tardy, SPE, A.R. Adil, SPE, I. Nugraha, P. Ramondenc, SPE, and be considered when designing an acid
F.S. Al-Hadyani, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2012 SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing & treatment. One approach to deal with
Well Intervention Conference & Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, 2728 March. The such uncertainty in real time is based
paper has not been peer reviewed. on the use of CT and DTS to identify the
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
2950
3000
3050
Measured Depth, m
3100
3150
3200
3250
Zone 1
3300
Zone 2
347 348 349 350 351 346 347 348 349 350 347 348 349 350 351 352 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350
Temperature, K Temperature, K Temperature, K Temperature, K Temperature, K
Fig. 1The five DTS sets acquired for the whole treatment during their associated shut-in times. The blue
trace is the first DTS set, the red trace is the last DTS set, and the black traces are intermediate DTS sets.
fluid-placement profile during interme- plex history of previous fluid placements. on the DTS profiles. The inversion sug-
diate shut-in periods. It was decided that DTS sets may be analyzed independently gests that the observed warm-back rate
the actual spotting volumes and posi- only if very long shut-ins (tens of hours) is explained more by the formation cool-
tion of the acid and self-diverting acid occur between them, but in practice this ing under conduction during the trip in
would be decided on site on the basis of cannot be achieved. the hole than by fluid invasion. Given the
observed injectivity profiles. short shut-in, the inversion result must
Baseline. During the initial trip in the be considered with care, but it seems rea-
Real-Time and hole to TD, brine was circulated at sonable to conclude that a low volume of
Post-Treatment Evaluation 0.25 bbl/min. Approximately 19 bbl was fluid was being injected during the trip in
During each shut-in period, DTS profiles pumped while the CT was between the the hole.
were acquired, processed, and sent to be CS and TD, and an unknown amount may Preflush pumping started approxi-
processed by a DTS inversion that yields have invaded the formation during that mately 20 minutes after the last baseline
the fluid-placement profile. On the basis time. Acquisition of the baseline DTS pro- DTS profile was acquired. The pump-
of the interpretation, corrective actions files started 17 minutes after the pump ing and CT pull-out-of-hole/run-in-hole
could be taken in subsequent treatment was stopped, with CT at TD, and lasted sequence lasted approximately 2 hours,
steps with the goal of optimizing the for 15 minutes. The temperature values during which only 16 bbl of preflush
treatment objective. In particular, iden- on the DTS survey (Fig. 1) suggest that could be injected.
tifying thief zones from the DTS profiles the near-wellbore region cooled down During the acid wash, an inert fluid,
acquired after the acid-wash step was by approximately 1 K at TD and 45 K the water-blocking gel, was pumped
key to define the zones where the self- at the CS. Such gradients are typical and into Zone 2 and acid was pumped into
diverting acid must be squeezed. Inter- are influenced by the time interval dur- Zone 1. The DTS inversion algorithm
pretation of a given DTS set required that ing which the formation is exposed to requires that only a single fluid, either
all previous treatments be simulated with a cooler fluid. The inversion algorithm inert or acidic, be pumped at one time.
the DTS inversion algorithm and that indicates a fluid-invasion profile. Two To perform the inversion, the two-part
interpretation is possible. The later the zones appear to have taken some of the openhole section was used and it was
DTS survey, the more complicated it is to fluid (approximately 6 bbl) where high- assumed that acid and gel did not mix
interpret, because it depends on the com- er temperature gradients were observed during injection. It was assumed that the
SOLUTIONS
Hydraulic Workover
Hydraulic Drilling
D istributed-temperature sensing
(DTS) is used in wells to determine
the effectiveness of acid treatments.
age are important for matrix-acidizing
treatments, scale-inhibitor squeeze treat-
ments, water-control treatments, water
ids uniformly across a zone or from one
zone to another. Without diversion, fluid
placement tends to occur in zones of
Concerns include where the acid was injection for enhanced recovery, and highest permeability, highest acid solu-
placed in the well, if the acid went where hydraulic-fracturing treatments. Case bility, or lowest formation pressure. In
it was supposed to go, and if the acid studies in this paper concentrate on the studied fields, typical stimulation
went into the first least-resistive zone matrix acidizing and productionprofiling. treatments had yielded increased pro-
while subsequent zones went untreated. During these acid treatments, ductivity, but only for a short period of
By use of DTS, it was determined that running a diverter involved the use of time. Large portions of the reservoir
information seen at the surface can be surface-pressure response, and the post- that should have been treated and that
misleading. Surface pressure can be treatment-production improvement contain a large portion of the reserves
masked by friction and is, therefore, was used to determine if the treatment were not treated and had poor connec-
not a valid indictor for what occurred was effective. If effectiveness was ques- tion to the wellbore, or none. For water
downhole, and diversion can take place tioned, design changes were tried, such injectors, there were few zones taking
without surface indication. DTS enables as increasing or decreasing the rate, the fluid. In these cases, the goal was to
practical real-time adjustment to the changing the percent of acid, and drop- divert acid across the entire zone and to
diversion strategy. ping diverters. Use of surface pressure remove damage in other places so that
to determine design changes for the the sweep efficiency could be improved.
current well and for the next well was The basic understanding of diver-
Introduction not sufficiently accurate to make these sion treatments is that the original flow
As fluid flows in or out of the wellbore, it determinations effectively. Fluid-friction distribution across the treated interval
creates a characteristic thermal-gradient pressures in the tubulars are not always should be altered to provide a more near-
signature. DTS technology uses a fiber- known accurately, and they can affect ly equal fluid distribution. If new fluids
optic cable to read temperature in real the surface pressure, yielding erroneous are put into the same areas that were pre-
time, enabling validation of fluid place- bottomhole-pressure calculations. Case viously acidized, stimulated, or swept,
ment. During production, reservoir fluid studies revealed that, during the divert- then there is incomplete zonal coverage.
flows from the high-pressure reservoir er stages, the surface pressure might The result is incomplete damage remov-
into the low-pressure wellbore. Liquid indicate diversion even though DTS data al, no contact with additional hydrocar-
recovery will result in a warming trend showed no diversion had occurred. Sur- bon reserves, and ineffective use of the
in the wellbore, while gas recovery will face indicators falsely reported a down- stimulation budget. The diversion meth-
result in a cooling effect. These basic hole phenomenon because of fluid- od that is best suited for a particular situ-
characteristics help determine liquid and friction pressure. In other case studies, ation depends on many factors, including
gas movement. the diverter was dropped and no surface type of well completion, perforation den-
Effective fluid placement in the well- indicators of effectiveness were detected. sity, type of fluid produced or injected
bore is critical for an optimized acid- Again, downhole DTS data revealed the after the treatment, casing and cement-
treatment design. When determining opposite: Diversion did occur. sheath integrity, bottomhole tempera-
fluid flow inside the wellbore, an under- ture, and bottomhole pressure.
standing of the geothermal gradient and Diversion
the internal Joule-Thomson effect is nec- Diversion of injected fluids attempts to Well Candidates
essary. Fluid placement and zonal cover- control the distribution of treating flu- and DTS Numbers
The DTS number is the number of times
a temperature anomaly was shown in
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights
the completed interval. In this case, the
of paper SPE 145055, DTS Sensing: An Emerging Technology Offers Fluid Placement flow rate would be constant from the
for Acid, by Robert Reyes, SPE, Gerard Glasbergen, SPE, and Valerie Yeager, SPE, surface to the bottom of the comple-
Halliburton, and Joseph Parrish, Occidental Petroleum, prepared for the 2011 SPE tion. Tracking such a disturbance in the
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 30 October2 November. The temperature profile across the complet-
paper has not been peer reviewed. ed interval is one of the main methods
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
Temperature, F 102
100
T:
46F
98
96 T<1F
94
92
5,400 5,600 5,800 6,000 6,200
Radius, in.
10
5
0
5
10
5,400 5,600 5,800 6,000 6,200
Measured Depth, ft
Fig. 1Pretreatment profile: yellow curvegeothermal baseline; blue curvetemperature with injection-
fluid influence.
for flow-distribution quantification. It is, deployed into the well before the acid Then, the diverter stage was inject-
therefore, required that the anomaly be treatment. Fig. 1 shows a pretreatment- ed into the bottom perforations, forc-
visible in at least three temperature pro- temperature profile, which can be used ing more acid into the top and, there-
files over time. A DTS number that is larg- to determine long-term water injection. fore, more diversion to the top. Damage
er than 2.5 will fulfill this requirement, The tubing showed a quick temper- was removed, and a lower-pressure zone
even in a scenario in which all fluid flows ature restoration, the casing showed a opened, forcing more treatment to the
to the lastperforation. slow restoration (first dotted line, 5,550 top. No pressure increase at the sur-
In the campaign, it was planned to to 5,900 ft), and the liner showed a face was evident during the treatment.
have an inventory of wells accessed and medium restoration (second dotted line, The diverter and acid opened up a low-
ranked by the DTS experts according 5,900 to 6,249 ft). Analysis indicated pressure zone, causing the well to be in
to an order of magnitude for candidate that a more-delayed temperature resto- better balance.
strength. A well would rank high in the ration would occur at the bottom perfo-
candidate-selection process if DTS anal- rations compared with that expected in Denver Unit 5816. Denver Unit 5816 is a
ysis revealed an answer to fluid place- the upper regions. This analysis indicat- producer in the Wassom field in Yoakum
ment. In contrast, a well would score low ed that much water had been injected. County, Texas. The San Andres forma-
if analysis revealed it was more difficult Limited and delayed temperature res- tion is perforated from 4,875 to 5,125ft,
or impossible to quantify flow percent- toration was observed at the top per- and the well was completed in August
age. Parameters that affected the candi- forations compared with the expected 1981. The well is open hole from 5,135 to
date selection were treatment injection temperature restoration. On the basis of 5,226 ft. The well was cased to 5,135 ft.
rate, length of the zone of interest, open- many thermal tracers, a flow distribu- The treatment was pumped down 2-in.
hole or perforated zone, and perforation tion over time is shown in Fig. 2, indi- tubing, with a packer set at 4,750 ft.
spread. A DTS number was calculated to cating that a clear and sustained diver- The acid/diverter treatment was
determine candidate strength quickly. sion occurred. The dramatic changes in designed as 17% hydrochloric acid (HCl)
flow fraction percentage were a result in 2,000-, 3,000-, and 4,000-gal stages,
Case Histories ofdiversion. with diversion between each acid stage.
GLDU 33. Well GLDU 33, in Andrews Initially, it was observed that almost The diversion strategy was to begin
County, Texas, was a water injector with all fluid was placed in the bottom set of with 1- and then change to 1.5-lbm/gal
two sets of perforated intervals totaling perforations (the high-pressure zone), coarse rock salt pumped in gelled satu-
280 ft. The treatment was a matrix-acid which could have been a result of the top rated brine. DTS data would be used to
process with a polymer diverter. DTS was set of perforations being heavily dam- determine if diversion occurred. If no
deployed inside capillary tubing. This aged. While acid was flowing to the bot- diversion occurred, the operator would
well had been on long-term water injec- tom perforations, some of the top perfo- proceed to a polymer diverter and then
tion. The retrievable DTS system was rations were treated, removing damage. go back to acid. A 22-month production
Time, hour:minute:second
Fig. 2Flow-distribution changes over time. Crossflow indicated a high-pressure zone at the top of
the bottom set of perforations. Therefore, fluid flowed out of the reservoir at the top of the bottom
perforations and moved to a portion of the formation with lower pressurethe top perforations.
survey observed average production of ment design was to pump down the tub- ume would have improved the treat-
oil, water, and gas with an annual oil- ing at 1 bbl/min. A step-rate test would ment. Wormholing reduced the effect
production increase of 80% for 2009. determine fracture pressure, and then of the diversion mechanism. Lessons
Acid was placed in the region above the rate would be adjusted to pump the learned were to take more diverter to
5,000 ft with ease. With much effort by matrix treatments for the well. Three location than designed, in the event that
way of diversion strategies, as much as acid stages were designed to use 28% DTS data indicate more diverter is need-
20% of the fluid placement (1.35 bbl/min) HCl because a high-concentration acid ed, and that use of diversion before
was placed below this depth for a short would achieve better dissolving capabili- wormholing would have made diversion
time period. Acid did not reach the bot- ty in the cool dolomite. Polymer diverter moreeffective.
tom perforations. The assumption was was used between the acid stages.
that all previous acid treatments must Temperature increases in the well- Conclusions
have treated the region above 5,000 ft, bore, caused by exothermic heat of reac- Surface pressure can be masked
which was observed as the least-resistive tion, were observed. This phenomenon by friction and, therefore, is not a valid
region and, historically, had taken all of has been rare, and the authors have seen indicator for what occurred downhole.
the acid treatment. Although more diver- it only when injecting fluids with high Diversion can take place without
sion was desired, by use of DTS analy- HCl concentrations in openhole comple- surface indication.
sis there appeared to be some acid/fluid tions with low flow rates. In such a case, Surface-pressure response can be
placement below the 5,000-ft region. In no wormholing occurs, and the HCl/car- a false indication of diversion.
the future, possibly with more divert- bonate reaction takes place at the surface Rock salt does not always work
er volume, a more-aggressive diversion of the formation. and, in most designs, will show an early
would be achieved. Real-time DTS did Post-treatment average injection indication of success, but diversion will
indicate that, by use of a diverter strate- into the well increased by 104 bbl/min at be lost as acid reaches its destination.
gy, some acid was diverted into the more- 71 psi less pressure. The injection index Polymer diversion fluids used
resistive region. went from 74 to 97%. The job sum- in these cases seemed to work more
mary indicated acid stimulation from reliably, but sufficient product must be
Midland Farms Unit 507. Midland 4,720 to 4,740 ft. A small percentage of on location to allow volume changes as
Farms Unit 507 is an injector well in acid went to 4,700 ft in the beginning the treatment progresses.
Andrews County, Texas. The Grayburg and at the end of the procedure. There DTS enables practical adjustment
formation is completed open hole from were flow-distribution changes, indi- to the diversion strategy while the
4,697 to 4,804 ft and is a dolomite lithol- cating that some diversion had taken treatment is in progress.
ogy. Casing is set at 4,697 ft, and the place. Overall, it was observed that the Candidate selection by use of
acid treatment was down 2-in. tub- polymer diverter did not work as well the DTS-number process is highly
ing with a packer at 4,593 ft. The treat- as desired. An increase in diverter vol- recommended. JPT
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
Conclusions
The SAS method at fracturing conditions proved
effective in overcoming tortuosity problems and in reducing
treating pressures significantly.
Significant pressure improvements were obtained in 21
of 22 fracture stages in which the SAS-pretreatment technique
was used.
No problems with formation mineralogy have been
detected in the wells studied for this paper.
The SAS-pretreatment technique is a promising
method to improve hydraulic-fracturing treatments in tight or
unconventional gas formations with tortuosity problems. JPT
Casey McDonough,
SPE, is a drilling
engineer for
Chesapeake
WELLBORE
Operating. He has
7 years of practical
drilling experience
TUBULARS
working in the Permian Basin and
with the Barnett and Marcellus shale.
McDonough has nearly 20 years of
combined consulting, managerial, We wear small bands on our fingers for many reasons. The rings have many mean-
technical, and field experience in the ings; the wedding ring may be the most common. This band, signifying no beginning
oil and gas industry. He has worked as or end, represents a union or reminds the wearer that he or she is married. It is tradi-
a consultant for Knowledge Systems, tionally worn on the left hand, on the vena amoris, the digit that the Romans believed
providing clients with pore-pressure was connected directly to the heart. Puzzle rings, or gimmel bands, are another type
and wellbore-stability studies. of ring used as wedding bands that has dual meanings. The word gimmel comes
McDonough also held technical and from the Latin gemellus and means twin or paired. Engaged couples would each
managerial positions in downhole wear one piece of the puzzle ring and, upon marriage, join the two bands with another
logging-while-drilling development provided by the priest. Once joined, the bands formed a puzzle that, if removed, was
for Dresser and Halliburton, where difficult to piece back together. Deceit that led to infidelity was made more difficult
he contributed to density, neutron, because the wearer might not be able to put the puzzle back together. Wedding rings
vibration, and hot-hole technology. He have different traditions in eastern and western cultures, but they always hold a strong
began his career as a field engineer for mental connection for the wearers.
Sperry Sun Drilling Services and holds Rings also tie us to our accomplishments or recollections. School rings and cham-
a BS degree in industrial engineering pionship rings can tie us to a collegiate career or a significant athletic accomplish-
from the University of Oklahoma. ment. The purpose of these rings is to remember. I have always been inspired by a
McDonough serves on the JPT tradition that many Canadian engineers have of wearing an iron ring. The ring is worn
EditorialCommittee. on the little finger of the engineers dominant hand so that, when writing or tasking
with the dominant hand, the engineer is reminded of his or her obligations. The tradi-
tion holds that the iron in the ring came from a bridge that failed and cost many lives.
Recommended additional reading The ring is small and is designed to be a constant reminder. The tradition continues
at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. when the engineer retires; the ring is returned to service as an experienced ring.
Preventing failures in our field is imperative for safety and economic opera-
SPE 147747 Quantification of Drillstring-
Integrity-Failure Risk Using Real-Time tion. Learning from these failures, properly documenting and remembering them,
Vibration Measurements by Yezid Arevalo, is important for avoiding catastrophes. We may engineer a process, a method, or a
Schlumberger, et al. particular part to reduce failures and enhance operations. Solid-expandable-tubular
SPE 146959 Stability Analysis of Pipe technology is a fairly new technology that is gaining more promising and important
With Connectors in Horizontal Wells applications in oil- and gas-wellbore design. Constant improvements to the deploy-
by Guohua Gao, Shell, et al. ment of this technology are increasing its reliability and number of applications. Heat
SPE 146344 Development of Ball-and- treatment of the expansion-cone material used in an expanding tubular is one such
Pocket Gripping Technology To Overcome modification. The drillpipe-connection phase of the drilling operation can be one of
Slip Handling Limitations by Justin Jarski, the greater opportunities for failures and mishaps. An improperly handled connec-
Canrig Drilling Technology, et al. tion procedure can damage drillpipe; stick a drillstring; and, in the case of managed-
SPE 148516 Post-Expansion pressure drilling, induce an unwanted influx. One of the selected papers reviews a
Characterization of Expandable Tubular: database of drillpipe-connection damage, and another reviews a method for making
Progress and Challenges by T. Pervez, connections in the managed-pressure environment. JPT
Sultan Qaboos University, et al.
Time
Introduction
The use of MPD enables accurate, pre-
cise, and dynamic bottomhole-pressure Fig. 1BPP technique of making a connection during MPD.
(BHP) control. Current MPD technolo-
gy incorporates automated-choke (auto- significant is the drillpipe-connection tional pressure loss (or dynamic pres-
choke) systems coupled with real-time phase. Because of the regular frequen- sure) that may be affected by flow rates,
hydraulics models to provide engineered cy and highly dynamic nature of mak- fluid rheologies, pipe movements, or geo-
control within set limits. However, there ing connections, effects on the BHP metric restrictions; and applied surface
is a common misperception that current can be significant, and if not managed pressure (backpressure) at the annulus
MPD systems can provide the same con- effectively, they can negate the benefits returns line. Automated MPD technology
sistent level of accuracy and precision in achieved by MPD. In the worst case, they actively manipulates the applied surface
all phases of drilling. The most-accurate can lead to unintentional induced kicks. pressure by means of the autochoke to
control usually is attained only in lim- The rig-pump diverter (RPD) addresses control the BHP within a desired range.
ited technical windows, such as the on- this problem directly and provides an This control relies on a continuous sta-
bottom drilling phase in which steady- improved level of control and efficiency ble pressure source. While drilling, this
state conditions enable more-accurate on connections. source is the rig pumps and it is throttled
evaluation and prediction. by the autochokes to apply the desired
All MPD systems have struggled Background surface pressure. The challenge arises
with periods in a drilling operation that The BHP (downhole pressure at a datum) when the rig pumps are switched off, as
usually involve a variety of transient consists primarily of hydrostatic pres- in the case of connections. During this
(startup/shutdown) behaviors. The most sure of the annular mud column; fric- scenario, the loss of rig pumps equates to
loss of frictional (or dynamic) pressure,
which in turn causes a reduction of BHP
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights
(if not managed properly). The aim of
of paper SPE 147278, Field Demonstration of a New Method for Making Drillpipe
MPD technology is to maintain a constant
Connections During Managed-Pressure-Drilling Operations, by Rachel Johnson, BHP by increasing the surface pressure
Halliburton; Julio Montilva, SPE, Shell; Mohamed Sati, Jeff Grable, and Saad proportionally, accounting for the lost
Saeed, SPE, Halliburton; and Richard Billa and William Derise, Shell, prepared dynamic pressure. Without a pressure
for the 2011 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 30 October source, increased surface pressure can
2 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. be achieved only by pressure-trapping
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
Rig Pumps
techniques. Several alternative schemes can cause pressure spikes. These pres-
have been used to remedy this problem, sure spikes can result in oscillation of
with the most popular providing an alter- the MPD chokes as they try to regain
native pressure source (on the annulus) pressure control and could lead to well
that is used to drive the autochoke (in breathing. This situation is especially
the absence of rig flow rate) and, in turn, apparent when drilling with a more-
apply the required surfacepressure. compressible fluid, such as an oil-based
This alternative setup uses an addi- mud. Although other methods are used
tional dedicated pump, commonly to make a connection during MPD, the
referred to as the backpressure pump BPP demonstrates some of the issues that
(BPP), which is connected in the annulus exist with any of the currentmethods.
returns line upstream of the autochoke
system. The BPP provides a continuous Concept
and stable independent pressure source To address the concerns, the following
in the absence of the rig pump and is used items were set as the impetus for the use
by the autochoke system to apply the of the RPD method in conjunction with
required surface pressure. MPD technology.
With the BPP method, the rig pumps Successfully and safely make
are shut off or ramped down, while the drillpipe connections by use of a fully
BPP is turned on or ramped up. The sys- automated RPD method that uses
tem traps the amount of frictional pres- the rig pump, achieving a smooth
sure loss caused by the ramping down connection with a pressure variation no
of one pump and the ramping up of greater than 30-psi while maintaining
another against the automated MPD a connection time of less than
choke manifold, as shown in Fig. 1. The 10minutes.
result is a delicate balance that attempts Divert flow smoothly from the
to synchronize two separate operators annulus to the flow-diverting process
and pieces of equipment, while main- equipment without creating a pressure
taining a set pressure point with the spike or dip in MPD control.
www.spe.org/atce/2012 MPDmanifold. Close the standpipe valve,
The pressure fluctuations result- isolating the standpipe and enabling
ing from ramping pumps up and down the operator to make a connection
350
gal/min 300
250
200
150
100
50
0
19:45:00 19:47:53 19:50:46 19:53:38 19:56:31 19:59:24
Rig-Pump Rate Injection Rate RPD Flow Rate Choke Flow Rate
Fig. 3Typical connection made by use of the RPD method, showing the flow rates.
while holding the desired backpressure by reducing drilling duration and to the rig and existing MPD equipment.
on thewell. minimizing such problems as kicks, The manifold comprises an onboard
Smoothly redivert flow to the losses, and stuck-pipe events. choke, valves, sensors, pneumatic-control
annulus, and continue with drill-ahead panel, and remote data-input/-output
and standard MPD operations. RPD (I/O) devices. The unit has two inlet-flow
Implement a fully automated During MPD operations, the RPD sys- connections that tie the RPD into the rig
diversion process and well control by tem diverts the rig-pump flow from the standpipe, and two outlet-flow connec-
use of a hydraulics model. drillpipe to the annular side of the well to tions. The first outlet connects the RPD
Drill the production hole with enable the driller to make a connection to the MPD equipment; the second outlet
MPD with the lowest possible ECD, while maintaining backpressure on the connects the RPD to the pits to bleed off
to minimize nonproductive time well. Fig. 2 shows how the RPD connects the standpipe during a connection and to
S P E / A P P E A I n t e r n at i o n a l C o n fe r e n c e
on Health, Safety and Environment
I N O I L & G A S E X P LO R AT I O N A N D P R O D U C T I O N
CO-ORGANISERS H O S T O R G A N I S AT I O N
Stress
heat-treatment process comprises
annealing, hardening/austenitizing, air
or oil quenching, and single or double Elastic region
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
Hardening at 970C
Time
OF LINE PIPE
Conclusions
In line with the behavior of D-type tool
steels, testing of the AISI D6 samples
revealed that with increasing temper-
ing temperatures (>300C), hardness
increases and then gradually decreas-
es; impact toughness remains almost
stable (except for an anomalous behav-
ior of dipping down at 500C for oil-
quenched samples); yield strength gen-
erally increases, then decreases, and
Call 800-289-7447 or visit then increases or becomes stable; ulti-
mate (tensile) strength remains con-
www.highpressure.com stant up to 500C before dropping
down sharply; and ductility (per-
High Pressure cent elongation) remains almost con-
Equipment stant, with a slightly higher value
at 400C.
Company Considering all mechanical proper-
ties, the optimum heat-treatment strate-
gy would be DTA at 400C (i.e., judicious
combination of hardness, toughness,
yield strength, ultimate strength, and
ductility). For better understanding of
this behavior, tempering in a narrower
range (350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600,
and 650C) is recommended, together
Valves Fittings Tubing with optical and scanning microscopy of
the tested samples. JPT
www.nexeninc.com
Check us out
on Youtube
Damages and Repairs
on Drillpipe Connections
Toward Double-Shouldered
T he drilling industry has
experienced major changes in
both drillpipe connections and related
inspection, inspectors, and standards
vary by customer, geographic region,
well profile, rig, drilling contractor,
Connections
Many in the industry have moved from
inspection criteria. Many operators and rental company. API connections (Fig. 1) to double-
and contractors regularly use premium A better understanding may be shouldered connections (Fig. 2) for
drillpipe connections to drill all gained after tracking several databases a significant portion of their drilling
sections of their wells. There are of inspection data and damage results work. In general, double-shouldered
few or no established statistical data for the last several years. The informa- connections have increased torsional
available to budget repairs in any given tion contained within these databas- strength. The inspection of these pro-
well program. This study reviewed es should form a basis for the drilling prietary connections usually is han-
data from two inspection databases community to understand the average dled in the same manner as for conven-
coveringmore than 200,000 joints results and the variations in damage to tional connections. However, because
of drillpipe. The databases contain drillpipe connections. they are manufactured to proprietary-
inspection records for premium, design criteria, the manufacturers con-
double-shoulder, and American Drilling Complexity trol the rejection criteria, which typi-
Petroleum Institute (API) connections. Drilling complexity has changed signif- cally involve much tighter tolerances
The objective was to provide a basis icantly over the last few decades, and for acceptance and rejection. Also the
forbudgeting repair costs. wells are drilled routinely that were double-shouldered connections gener-
considered ultradeep or extended ally are inspected to a higher inspection
reach 20 years ago. Therefore, revi- class than the conventional counterpart.
Introduction sions have been made to ensure that Even though the inspections are strik-
A financial surprise in well planning the drillstem elements are fit for pur- ingly similar, many inspectors modify
can be the cost of repairing drillpipe. pose, requiring inspection standards rejection criteria as the levels increase.
These costs can be high, and, in some to evolve also. A driver for increased There is a need to better understand
cases, the damage incurred can result scrutiny of drillpipe inspections in the how the selection of this type of connec-
in the downgrading and replacement 1990s was the increased use of hori- tion may affect the likelihood that it may
of an entire string of drillpipe. This is zontal drilling. The change in drilling need repair during an inspection cycle.
not the normal case, but what is? The practice gave rise to a significant fatigue
industry has been inspecting drillpipe damage on the drillpipe. To ensure that Inspection-Database Programs
for decades, meticulously recording the drillpipe would survive increased Data were studied from two inspec-
the state of the drillpipe during the drilling challenges, operators, contrac- tion databases that contain more than
inspection; but what has been done tors, and rental-equipment providers 3 years of drillpipe-inspection records
with this information? Many drill- improved their inspection standards involving more than 200,000 inspect-
ers have developed personal knowl- significantly. However, the change ed joints. These data are not a complete
edge of a normal amount of damage to more-frequent or more-rigorous survey of all inspection jobs complet-
for their drilling conditions, but this inspections has not necessarily led ed during the period, but they do pro-
information is rarely shared or placed to better pipe quality, and, without a vide a significant sampling. The first
in the public domain for comparison. mechanism in place to track them, the inspection database covers mainly pipe
As a result, a full understanding of the effect of these changes remains masked used in land-based drilling operations
inspection data is lacking. Also, the in the other processvariables. throughout the continental USA and was
designed specifically to collect informa-
tion on the causes and frequency of dam-
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights
age to drillpipe and the connections.
of paper SPE 151253, Comprehensive Review of Damages and Repairs on Drillpipe Established in 2008, beginning in a sin-
Connections, by Thomas M. Redlinger, SPE, P. Steven Griggs, and Albert Odell, gle pipe-inspection facility, the database
Weatherford International, and Stein Bergo, EuroIncon A/S, prepared for the 2012 has expanded to include data from five
IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, San Diego, California, 68 March. The facilities with 125,000 records. The sys-
paper has not been peer reviewed. tem is Web based and includes reporting
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
features, management metrics, and key tion report directly into various statis- Drillpipe-Connection Repairs
performance indicators. The standard tical records. The statistics report pro- Table 1 lists types of damage, common
reporting features include the ability to vides information regarding the total causes, and whether the box or pin was
compare performance between regions, amount inspected, rejection rates, and affected. Although there are many types
rigs, connections, and end users. causes of rejection. Data used in this of damage, it is almost always mitigated
The second database was estab- study were collected after those chang- by one of four repair mechanisms: reface,
lished in 2004 and covers approxi- es: from 2007 to the middle of 2011, recut, rehardband, rebuild, or scrap.
mately 180,000 inspection records approximately 90,000 joints. The databases allow a complete track-
from drillpipe used in the North Sea. It is important to note that these ing record of the mechanism required
The database was developed to han- databases represent results of inspec- to bring the connection back to a fit-for-
dle inspection reporting, but in 2006, tions on drillpipe used or supplied by a purpose condition.
with a significant amount of data, it wide range of customers, drilling con- Refacing is required when only the
was realized that it was not being used tractors, and service and pipe-rental shoulder seal surfaces must be repaired.
to its potential. At the end of 2006, companies. The databases also contain Normally, a recut means that the damage is
a comprehensive statistics module was inspection records for double-shoulder, severe enough that the threads, either box
added to process data from the inspec- premium, and API connections. or pin, must be removed. (A new thread is
cut into the tool joint, reducing the length
TABLE 1TYPICAL TRACKED CONNECTION DAMAGES AND CAUSES of the joint.) Rehardbanding is performed
when the hardbanding that protects the
Connection Damage Box Pin Common Cause(s)
tool joint reaches a rejection threshold,
Benchmark Refacing sealing surface which typically is set by the drillpipe
Cracked threads Cumulative fatigue owner. Rebuilding of tool joints normally
Bending Forces is a commercial decision when the drill-
Vibration pipe tube is in very good condition but one
Counterbore depth Refacing sealing surface
or both of the tool-joint outside diameters
have encountered excessive wear (often
Damaged sealing Not using stabbing guides a result of the hardbanding being worn
shoulder Handling damages below the rejection limit without the pipe
Galled shoulder
being pulled from service).
Pitted shoulder
Weighted connection damages are
Damaged threads Handling damages summarized in Table 2. Damaged seal
Galled threads surfaces and damaged threads are the
Corrosion and pitting most common reason for recuts. These
Service damages
two damage categories are the root cause
Pin thread length Overtorque for almost all recuts. The averages for
Excess tensile load recut and reface can be used to deter-
Pulled thread Overtorque mine, in advance of drilling, what dam-
Excess tensile load ages and repairs might be expected dur-
ing an inspection. The averages should
Swelled box Overtorque
also help identify when a particular oper-
Worn thread Mechanical wear ation is above or below a level that might
30,000psi
Wireline Pressure Control Equipment
Another world first from NOV ASEP Elmar.
Designed to a massive 54,000 psi ASEP Elmars
new NOLA wireline pressure control set is a true
record breaker.
ENHANCED OIL
Luciane Bonet-
Cunha, SPE, is a
senior reservoir
RECOVERY
engineer for
Petrobras America
in Houston. She
has 27 years of
experience in applied research and
development related to reservoir
engineering in exploration and
exploitation projects in Brazil, Canada, Enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) operations are what moves EOR processes from the lab-
and the US Gulf of Mexico. Before oratory to the field. They involve a series of activities, from a detailed planning stage
joining Petrobras America, Bonet- to efficient application, consistent monitoring, and results analysis. When reviewing
Cunha was an associate professor of results from field pilots or full-field applications, it is noticeable that significant tech-
petroleum engineering at the University nical hurdles such as facilities, drilling and completion, and production-technology
of Alberta, Canada. She also worked developments need to be overcome in order to deploy and run a successful EOR oper-
for 16 years with Petrobras, Brazil. ation. Technology developments in water management, intelligent-well completions,
Bonet-Cunha holds a PhD degree and downhole innovation are key for EOR operations to achieve the expected increas-
in petroleum engineering from the es in reserves.
University of Tulsa and serves on the Over the past year and during the first quarter of 2012, SPE was host to several
JPT EditorialCommittee. events focusing on EOR operations, and more than 400 papers were presented. Sev-
eral of them explored topics related to enhancements associated with the three key
areas mentioned. Emphasis in many papers concerns extending the use of smart-well
completion technologies to EOR operations, targeting customization to set out an EOR
Recommended additional reading process and provide more flexibility for the solution to unexpected setbacks during
at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.
process startup. Also, several publications stress the importance of downhole innova-
SPE 150477 SAGD Field Trial for a New tion aiming at oil- and gasfield production maximization by continuous optimization
Intelligent-Well Completions Strategy To of steam and CO2 downhole injection rates in heavy-oil recovery and CO2-EOR pro-
Increase Thermal EOR Recoveries
by Joel Shaw, Halliburton, et al.
cesses, respectively.
Dealing with EOR operations adequately is a great challenge, and a broad and
SPE 154318 The Design and Execution of integrated set of competencies is required. Nevertheless, as some of the papers fea-
an Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer Pilot Test
by A. Sharma, Rex Energy, et al.
tured in this issue illustrate, success is attainable with the right use of technology
and creativity. I hope that you enjoy reading these paper highlights and will search
SPE 154122 Mobility and Conformance for additional interesting contributions available in the OnePetro online library. JPT
Control for CO2 EOR Via Thickeners,
Foams, and GelsA Literature Review of
40 Years of Research and Pilot Tests
by R.M. Enick, University of Pittsburgh,
et al.
SPE 144893 Seventeen Years of
Development of Artificial Lift Technology
in ASP Flooding in Daqing Oil Field
by Yang Yonghua, China University of
Petroleum, et al.
A successful cross-discipline
workflow used in a Campos basin
multiproducer-system waterflood
in the Polvo C_3 reservoir (Fig. 1). The
workflow ensured the communication of
constraints and raised potential decision
interpreted as a sea-level rise shifting
the reservoir facies northwest. The ver-
tical rise in sea level coupled with the
program encompassed subsurface points for local dip on the Macae surface will con-
characterization, well planning, Reservoir characterization trol the lateral offset distance of reservoir
data acquisition, well controls, and Numerical modeling and facies from layer to layer, which, in turn,
surveillance to support efficient oil uncertainty assessment affects the local vertical communication
recovery. Drilling from a central Well planning (constraints and between reservoir layers. The expecta-
platform, extended-reach wells were data acquisition) tion is that there will be vertical perme-
necessary to access a structured series Well completion (integrity and ability barriers, at least locally.
of near-shore, laterally amalgamated sustained injectivity) The three layers of concern were
channel sands separated by variable Operational issues and called C_2, C_3, and C_4. The subsur-
barriers posing significant subsurface- surveillance tactics face team analyzed areas within well con-
modeling, well-design, and drilling Remediation and optimization trol to reduce risk on reservoir presence
challenges. A cross-discipline-team Robustness of proposed solutions is and distribution, preserve the benefit of
approach employed robustness particularly critical in terms of reservoir sand/sand and sand/shale character, and
measures to find a near-optimal solution characterization where certain geologi- support updip production while miti-
with controlled risk management. cal outcomes, such as fault transmissi- gating premature water out. The team
bility or sand/sand connectivity, can be investigated interlayer connectivity in
discrete in nature (sealing or not seal- the model, constrained by geophysical
Introduction ing). Therefore, capturing key geological and geological reservoir correlations,
The Polvo complex is a system of clastic assumptions in the CSS and communicat- for a number of mechanically plausible
(Upper Cretaceous) and Macae carbon- ing the critical decision points and possi- wellplacements.
ate (Lower Cretaceous) reservoirs in the ble outcomes across the team played piv- With early indications of pressure
Campos basin with 1822API oil. The otal roles in the workflow. depletion (based on 5 months of ramp-
clastics have been on production for 3 up production data from C_3) and a
years with natural waterdrive and water Reservoir Characterization downdip idle wellbore available for side-
injection. Development drilling started and Waterflood Design track, the subsurface team recognized
in mid-2008 for the Cretaceous sand sys- Detailed descriptions from core data the potential cost savings to sidetrack
tem (CSS) where wells were completed indicated that channels and lagoons are to the likely pressure-depleted sands at
with openhole gravel packs and electrical the primary depositional environments two drill locations. In the end, a complex
submersible pumps. for these reservoirs. Analysis of all the injection well (called I_1) was designed
Robust waterflood design and execu- data collected on the CSS reservoirs sug- to penetrate both stratigraphic intervals
tion require a proactive, risk-minimizing gested uniform layering, where each to confirm pressure and sand commu-
reservoir-management strategy. The sand-prone layer exhibits a high degree nication. If the C_4 interval showed vir-
team used a cross-discipline workflow of internal lateral continuity. Each sand- gin reservoir pressure, the well plan was
to achieve a near-optimal performance prone interval is capped by a shale layer to have sufficient permeability-thickness
product in the younger unit to support
This article, written by Editorial Manager Adam Wilson, contains highlights of the needed injectivity. However, if C_4
was drawn down, the optimal plan was to
paper OTC 22560, Production Optimization in a Campos Basin Reservoir: A Case
blank the younger unit and extend the toe
for Applying Robustness Measures to a Waterflood Project from Subsurface and
in the older unit to take advantage of baf-
Operational Design to Execution, by Ozan Arslan, SPE, Kyle Koerner, SPE, Stephen fled connections. The model outcome for
Knapp, Nate Biddle, Alwin Bok, SPE, and Paulo Chaves, BP, prepared for the 2011 the proposed plan indicated results simi-
Offshore Technology Conference Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, 46 October. The paper has lar to those for the I_0a location (Fig. 2)
not been peer reviewed. but that would save substantial cost and
mitigate risks of extended-reach drill-
Copyright 2011 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. ing, a costly pilot, and likely sidetracks
Reservoir Interpretation
and Uncertainties
Well Completion
ighlight Po
dH ten Integrity and Injectivity
an
tia
int
lD
Constra
ecision Poin
fine
De
Remediation and Optimization Water Source and Quality
ts
and Produced-Water
Handling
searching for reservoir (which may be after completion. The standard CSS-well completed CSS producers, which ben-
disconnected) when drilling far removed water-based drilling fluid (with an addi- efited from an external breaker spotted
from well control (uncertainty in veloc- tive of 2% Starglide plant-derived oil) after placing the gravel pack. The injec-
ity modeling beyond well control posed a was chosen to maintain wellbore integ- tor completion was based on the typical
significant risk in positioning I_0a). rity and increase lubricity. CSS producer, with a gravel-pack design
The practical solution from a sub- The bottomhole assembly (BHA) based on the 1000-m expected openhole
surface perspective was to perform the was designed to drill the entire 1100-m length. The potential design consider-
sidetrack, but this operation presented section in one bit/BHA run. The ability to ations were:
significant drilling and completion chal- drill this section in one BHA run was con- Running the lower completion
lenges of its own. tingent upon high rates of penetration through the casing-exit window
(ROPs) to minimize time in hole while also (potential for damage or inability
Well Planning minimizing downhole shocks/vibrations. to get the screens to total depth)
The drilling design of the injector had the Real-time shocks and vibrations were Predrill uncertainty concerning
primary objective of hitting and evalu- monitored both on the rig and remote- exact openhole length; preferred
ating all targets in C_3 and C_4 sands. ly to make real-time changes to drilling completion interval required a
The opportunity to sidetrack out of the parameters. The geological team used combination of blank-pipe vs.
9-in. casing from an idle wellbore real-time logging data to increase ROP screen length
offered a chance for significant reduction when resolution of the logs would allow Inability to backflow the injector
in total well cost but added significant for identifying formationscorrectly. to minimize filter-cake effects
design and operational challenges. The decision to sidetrack and com- Requirement for minimized
The team called upon extensive les- plete the water injector from a pre- formation damage needed for
sons learned in torque-and-drag model- existing wellbore ultimately reduced sufficient injection rates to match
ing from other wellbores drilled from the costs by more than 50% while also current and future reservoir
platform. A friction factor of 0.25 was achieving all reservoir objectives. In voidage
assumed in the well model on the basis addition to the cost savings, a slot from Impact of low fracture gradient
of previous experience in drilling out of the platform was saved, allowing for an on the gravel-pack design
9-in. casing with a water-based drill-in additional futurewell.
fluid. Broad collaboration of the subsur- Startup Considerations
face and drilling-engineering teams was Well Completion and Operational Issues
required for optimal choice of casing-exit The CSS-producer completions were An adequate voidage replacement re-
point and wellbore trajectory. The fluid typically composed of 5-in. premium quired a high and sustained injectivity.
options were found to be limited because screens with a 12/20-mesh natural-sand No emulsion- or relative-permeability-
of the low-formation-damage require- gravel pack. Field surveillance suggested related injectivity decline is expected
ment to ensure successful injection minimal formation damage (skin) for the because the injection interval is well
C_2 reservoir
I_1
below the oil/water contact. However, A monitoring plan was developed for duction or pack plugging that could hin-
the team recognized the risk of injec- injection startup and continuous opera- der injectivity and potentially limit the life
tivity loss from improper seawater fil- tions to control water quality and monitor of the completion. However, after injec-
tration and chemical treatment. Bot- scaling tendency. Water quality is checked tion restart, injectivity remained high.
tle tests were performed to ensure that daily at the facilities laboratory. Biocide is Subsequent shutdowns likewise have not
mixing seawater samples with synthetic injected on a weekly basis. Scale tenden- affected the welladversely.
formation brine would not cause scale cy is analyzed on a monthly basis. After
to form. No scale was observed when a period of field shutdown because of Injection-Performance Results
mixtures of 25, 50, and 75% seawater an operational upset, the team was con- Injectivity and the responding-
were used. cerned about the potential for sand pro- production results for the waterflooded
Hav
con e you
EOR eld planning and development strategies Oil Plus can help with: sid
tert ered
+ Base waterood injection; rec iary
Oil Plus works closely with oil and gas companies all over the world, specialising in the + Low salinity waterooding; stra overy
tegi
understanding of a wide range of production chemistry and process engineering issues. + Polymer ooding;
es?
Some of the more complex projects involve alternative gas, chemical and microbial injection: + Surfactant ooding;
+ Alkaline-surfactant-polymer ooding;
i
Ed#i_j[WdZbWXehWjehoiWcfb_d] 9^[c_YWbjh[Wjc[djh[gk_h[c[dji"
+ CO2 and N2 injection;
and analysis of gas, oil (including chemical ranking and dose rate
+ Microbial EOR;
ngerprinting) and all oileld waters; optimisation;
+ Effects of EOR chemicals on existing water
Ed#i_j[WdZbWXehWjehoYeh[eeZ_d] FheY[iiefj_c_iWj_edfhe]hWcc[i1 injection systems;
to determine injectivity, water-rock + EOR chemical breakthrough effects
Fhe`[Yj[d]_d[[h_d]1\[Wi_X_b_joWdZ\hedj
compatibility and effect of chemical EOR; and produced water treatments;
end engineering design (FEED), detailed
+ CO2 EOR linked with CCS;
Heej#YWki[WdWboi_i"fh[Z_Yj_ed" engineering and commissioning (brown
mitigation and monitoring for deposition and green eld); + BAT & BEP studies: best available technology
and environmental practices.
issues (asphaltene, hydrate, scale, soap
JhW_d_d]1\hec'#ZWoYekhi[ij^hek]^
and wax), emulsions, internal corrosion
to year-long mentorship programmes.
and souring; The best EOR strategy?
Call Oil Plus!
Our latest citrus based CnF Nano-Fuids have Oh, and one more thing...
revolutionized the way the world thinks about These same Nano-Fluids are also very
fracturings environmental impact and will benecial in optimizing oil recovery in
improve your production. your EOR Projects.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
2DC Geometry
(a) (b)
Fig. 1Geometry and reservoir-simulator grid for (a) 2DR and (b) 2DC numerical problems under
consideration.
cally, a separate production well may be ing of a reservoir region that is wide ery. Remember that, for all the cases
set below the EM-field emitter because, enough and the subsequent oil recovery considered, the same initial viscosity of
in the case of extraheavy oil, gravity (e.g., by a known secondary or tertiary bitumen is used, which is high enough
drainage, as the most reliable produc- method). For natural reasons (such as a that cold production is impossible. This
tion mechanism, is expected to produce singular power field initially around the means that rapid preheating at least is
the oil. The principal difference between emitter), rapid heating usually follows required for each case except for conduc-
2DR and 2DC problems is that the for- Scenario 1 and then gradually may turn tive heating, where there is no distance
mer uses the single-well pattern, which partially or totally to Scenario 2. Note between the heat-injection and the oil-
results in fast production after a short that, in Scenario 1, the fast evaporation production ends. It seems difficult, and
preheating period. In the 2DC case, the is useless without adequate heating of perhaps is not recommended technical-
distance between two horizontal wells, theproducer. ly, to reach the evaporation temperature
one for heating and another for produc- before the oil is made mobile at the pro-
tion, makes the initial stage longer and Production and Thermal Efficiency. duction end. To avoid early evaporation,
technically more involved. The heat transfer by conduction is cru- gradually increasing power was applied
cially important for any EMH-based pro- during the first weeks of theprocess.
Results and Discussion cess. This mechanism diminishes the A power increase from 80 to 330kW
of EMH Simulations temperature difference inside the reser- leads to a disproportionately growing
Preheating. As usual in bitumen recov- voir and may also be behind a thermal- oil-production rate and, consequently,
ery, two periods can be distinguished recovery process where energy injection to better thermal efficiency. The quick
in the EMH history: preheating and is performed without heating fluid. improvement of the thermal efficiency
production. Physically speaking, there Nevertheless, EMH is expected to be observed for lower powers at a frequency
exists a smallest amount of energy deliv- more efficient than the conductive heat of 1 MHz can be explained by faster heat-
ered to a reservoir before the production transfer because of (1) instantaneous ing of the bitumen near the production
of the first (bitumen) barrel happens. energy injection and, consequently, fast- sector of the well, a result of a greater
Two ultimate regimes of preheating are er and more-efficient preheating; and energy absorption length.
(1) strong local heating accompanied (2) the effect of the heating power sweep Water-Injection and Production-
by fast evaporation of connate water in from a dry reservoir region, which pro- Pressure Variations. Recovery results
a relatively small volume, with further vides direct heating of the remaining oil have been obtained by gravity drain-
expansion of the steam chamber driven in place. age taking place inside a steam-circula-
by shallow EMH (i.e., the heating local- Power and Frequency Variations. tion chamber developed by EMH. The
ized very close to the steam-chamber The production always increases with recovery mechanism can be enhanced
surface) and with oil recovery by grav- injected-power augmentation. The ques- by stable gravity-assisted displacement
ity drainage as the principal mechanism, tion is which power level will finally pro- provided, for example, by gas injec-
and (2) slow quasihomogeneous heat- vide more (or less) efficient oil recov- tion from the upper section of the well.
Conclusions
The EMH power field and its
dynamics may be computed more
precisely and efficiently (than
with the Beer-Lamber-Bouguer
law or its modifications) by
use of the recently developed
dedicated simulator and coupling
in-housecode.
Numerical analysis shows that
EMH-assisted bitumen recovery
is a promising method, with
thermal efficiency comparable
with (and potentially better than)
that of steam-assisted gravity
drainage (SAGD).
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.jptonline.org.
Water Fuel
Wellhead
Casing
Umbilical
Downhole
Steam Generator
Thermal Packer
80%-quality steam +
flue gases
Lower Tail Pipe
Fig. 1Schematic of a downhole steam generator (right) and umbilical
configuration (left).
for only 20 years in a high-pressure res- duced water is recycled and reused), an
ervoir to achieve the same oil recovery. air-separation unit to supply the oxi-
Fig. 1 shows a typical DHSG umbil- dizer, and product-treatment units that
ical and a schematic of the generator. clean produced oil for sale and dry pro-
The baseline DHSG tool is designed to duced gas for reinjection or use as fuel.
operate with natural gas and a combi- Excess CO2 (beyond that required to sup-
nation of several oxidizer/diluent mixes port DHSG application) may be vented,
and stoichiometries. The tool is con- sequestered, or sold to nearby fields as a
nected to the surface by an umbilical, means to conduct miscible or immiscible
which contains fit-for-purpose conduits EOR projects.
carrying fuel, inert gases, oxidizers, and
water as well as sensors and control- DHSG Operating Modes
systems communications. The tool is Steam+Nitrogen and Enriched Air
designed to fit into standard casing and EOR (Fig. 2). A downhole steam gener-
be positioned just above the formation. ator is installed just above the reservoir
The steam generator requires a design sand. It is fed by an umbilical from the
that ensures reliable performance over a surface that carries natural gas, water,
minimum 3-year operating period, with- and a mixture of gases, which might
out intervention and across a range of include oxygen, nitrogen, or CO2 or some
operatingconditions. combination of these. Such a configura-
The generator is supported by three tion could be implemented with vertical
major surface infrastructure systems: injectors and producer wells or with pairs
the water-treatment plant (high-quality of steam-assisted gravity-drainage wells.
water is needed to make steam, and pro- The injected steam is at least 80% qual-
NO HEAT
LOSS
High-Quality
Downhole Steam
Steam Front Mobilized
Generator and Gas-
Inert Gas Reduced-
Injection System
(CO2 or N2) Viscosity
80%-Quality
Oil
Steam
ity at the sandface because no heat loss- breakthrough. This scenario could use solved into the oil, the dissolved gas can
es occur in the wellbore. The flue gases CO2 as the primary cooling gas, injected reduce oil viscosity as much as 90%,
(which could be nearly 10% CO2 to near- together with steam from the steam gen- significantly accelerating oilproduction.
ly 100% CO2) move ahead of the steam erator, and a supplemental 35% oxy-
front, dissolving into the oil and reducing gen stream. Effect of Gas With Steam on Heavy-
its viscosity and swelling it. The steam While most of the equipment is Oil-Production Rates. Within a reser-
front heats the oil, and the condensed analogous to that used in nitrogen cases, voir, gas moves much faster than steam
water drives the oil to the production there are some notable differences, because steam can advance only when
well. Because this process is operated at including the reservoir is heated to the steam tem-
a few hundred psig or more, the steam The air-separation unit is used perature. The first effect of the gas is to
chest and viscous forces are the primary to generate pure O2, which is used for reduce the viscosity in the oil ahead of the
means of recovery, as opposed to gravity. combustion in the downhole steam steam front.
In this scenario, an air-separation generator and for the in-situ oxidation
unit could be used to generate enriched process (following the steam front) Steam+Injected Gas for Reservoir
air (having 35% O2) for the downhole within the reservoir. Production Optimization. By injecting
steam generator. An on-site water- This process generates more CO2, both steam and CO2, a larger amount of
treatment system fulfills a dual role by which is leveraged in two ways. After energy is delivered at a relatively lower
providing clean water for the generator treatment in the gas plant, most of the temperature because of a phase equilib-
and treating produced water for reuse or CO2 is initially recycled for use at the rium shift by gases (a partial-pressure
disposal to nearby injection wells. Pro- location to enhance oil recovery. Surplus effect). In addition, CO2 moves ahead of
duced fluids and gases are separated at CO2 in excess of the amount reinjected the steam bank, mobilizing the oil ahead
the well pad, with separate streams piped could be exported to nearby oil fields for of the steam front, which further lever-
to central facilities for oil treatment and CO2-EOR programs. ages the drive mechanisms of an engi-
gas treatment. neered steam front.
Mechanisms of DHSG EOR
Steam+CO2+O2 for In-Situ Oxidation All directly fired downhole steam genera- High-Pressure Reservoir
(Fig. 3). DHSG enables a variety of dif- tors generate flue gas that is injected into Management and Its Effect
ferent reservoir-operation scenarios. the reservoir. This gas has three benefi- onThermal EOR
One option is to use DHSG and associ- cial effects. In conventional heavy-oil projects using
ated reservoir processes for improved, surface-generated steam, reservoir pres-
controlled, more-stable in-situ oxida- Effect of Gas on Heavy-Oil Viscosity. sures typically range from 15 to 50 psig.
tion for extra-heavy viscous oils. The Injected gas (CO2, N2, and flue gas) is Heavy-oil production can be improved
combination of high-quality steam and known to reduce heavy-oil viscosity. Dis- with gas by operating at higher pressures
surplus oxygen enables a larger, more- solved gas increases the gas/oil ratio and (500 to 1,200 psig). With DHSG, higher
stable steam front and prevents O2 decreases the steam temperature. If dis- pressures are maintained through the
4
Days
2
Complete the job.
1.2 days
To get the most value out of your unconventional pay 0
Plug and Perf FracPoint system
zone, you need a completion solution that matches completion
NO HEAT
LOSS
Residual-Oil
Oxidation
Front
High-Quality
Downhole Steam
Steam Front Mobilized
Generator and Gas-
Injection System Inert Gas Reduced-
(CO2 or N2) Viscosity
80%-Quality
Oil
Steam
Fig. 3Use of a downhole steam generator with excess oxygen for generation of CO2 and steam.
Subscriptions available.
Conclusions
DHSG combines the best of
several EOR technologies concurrently
and can be used to increase oil recovery
from deeper heavy-oil resources
where surface steam cannot be used
economically.
For DHSG, the steam/oil ratio
remains essentially unchanged with 2012 Petrolink. All rights reserved.
KEVIN BRADY, SPE, was named president tion of engineering principles to petroleum development and
of Multi Products Company. He will be recovery, the 2003 SPE Lester C. Uren Award for significant
responsible for all business matters, technical contributions in petroleum reservoir characteriza-
including sales, marketing, and opera- tion and streamline-based flow simulation, and two SPE Ced-
tions. Brady joins Multi Products from Ver- ric K. Ferguson Award certificates for the best peer-approved
dande Technology in Houston, where he paper of 2000 and 2006. He has been named an SPE Distin-
was vice president of sales and marketing. guished Member, Distinguished Lecturer, Distinguished
Before joining Verdande, he enjoyed a successful career with Author, and Outstanding Technical Editor. Datta-Gupta also
Halliburton, Knowledge Systems, and Precision Drilling, received the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and
working primarily in the sales, marketing, and field engineer- Petroleum Engineers Rossitter W. Raymond Award and the
ing areas. He earned a BS degree in geology from Louisiana Tenneco Meritorious Teaching Award from the Dwight Look
State University and an MBA in marketing from the University College of Engineering at Texas A&M and served as a member
of Houston. of the Polar Research Board of the National Academy of Sci-
ences (200104). He is also the recipient of the US Depart-
BPZ Energy appointed STEPHEN R. ment of Energy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Basic
BRAND, SPE, as an independent director. Research in Geosciences in 2008. He is a coauthor of the SPE
He has extensive experience in the oil and textbook Streamline Simulation: Theory and Practice. Datta-
gas industry, starting his career in 1976 as Gupta earned his masters degree and PhD from The Univer-
a geologist with Phillips Petroleum Compa- sity of Texas at Austin and his BS degree from the Indian
ny. After that, he served in various roles of School of Mines in Dhanbadall in petroleum engineering.
increasing responsibility within Phillips
and its successor, ConocoPhillips, including president of its ALI DOGRU, SPE, chief technologist of
Canada and Australasia businesses. Since 2011, Brand has EXPEC Advanced Research Centers com-
served as senior executive advisor and member of the advisory putational modeling technology and leader
board of Welltec A/S and as senior advisor to Clean Range Ven- of Saudi Aramcos GigaPOWERS gigacell
tures. He is also a member of the board of directors of SM reservoir simulation technology, was
Energy, Accenture Global Energy, and the Australian Ameri- appointed as a visiting scientist by Massa-
can Chamber of Commerce. He received his bachelors degree chusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His
from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and his MS and PhD role is to provide lectures and expertise related to large-scale
degrees from Purdue Universityall in geology. reservoir simulation to MIT graduate students, post-doctoral
scholars, and industry representatives, as well as to discuss
AKHIL DATTA-GUPTA, SPE, regents pro- the direction of future developments in high-performance
fessor and holder of the L.F. Peterson 36 computing for multiphase flow through porous media, frac-
Chair in the Harold Vance Department of tures, and surface networks. Dogru joined Saudi Aramco in
Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M Uni- 1988 as a loanee from Mobil Oil Company in Dallas, Texas. His
versity, was elected a member of the industrial experience also includes a stint at Core Laborato-
National Academy of Engineering (NAE) ries/Engineering Numerics Company. He earned a combined
for developing the theory and practice of BS/MS degree in petroleum engineering at Istanbul Technical
streamline simulation for fluid flow in heterogeneous reser- University and a PhD in petroleum engineering with a minor
voirs. Datta-Gupta manages one of the most active industrial in applied mathematics from The University of Texas
research consortiums related to streamline simulation and its atAustin.
applications. Among his honors are the 2009 SPE John Frank-
lin Carll Award for distinguished contribution in the applica- Zilift appointed STUART FERGUSON,
SPE, as chairman of its board of directors.
He is an independent consultant at Flux
Oilfield Technology, specializing in advis-
Member Deaths ing oil industry clients on the develop-
Thomas H. Cavanaugh, Santa Rosa, California ment, commercialization, acquisition, and
Knut Arne Dahl, Heggedal, Norway sale of technology. He is also a respected
Robert H. Friedman, Houston, Texas industry leader and sits on the board of several companies
Richard S. Prentice, Midland, Texas around the world. Ferguson previously spent 9 years at
William W. Weiss, Socorro, New Mexico Weatherford International, most recently as chief technology
Jack C. Zarrow, Tulsa, Oklahoma officer and senior vice president of reservoir and production.
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A N O R T H A M E R I C A N L E A D E R I N E N V I R O N M E N TA L A N D E N E R G Y S E R V I C E S
PEOPLE
Before that, he worked as group marketing director with Schlumberger in 1982, he worked on reservoir performance
Expro International Group, technical services director with and management for BP/Sohio Petroleum Company. Kuchuk is
Petroline Wellsystems, senior well technology engineer at a member of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathemat-
Expro, and petroleum engineer with BP, where he began his ics and the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. He has been
career. Ferguson earned an honors BS degree in chemical a very active member of SPE, chairing many committees. He
engineering from the University of Birmingham. has also acted as editor for several journals. The holder of sev-
eral patents, Kuchuk has published more than 150 papers in
FIKRI J. KUCHUK, SPE, fellow and chief science and engineering journals. He coauthored the SPE
reservoir engineer with Schlumberger monograph Transient Well Testing and a recent book titled
Testing Services, Clamart in France, was Pressure Transient Formation and Well Testing, Vol. 57: Con-
elected a member of the NAE for contribu- volution, Deconvolution, and Nonlinear Estimation. He
tions in pressure transient analyses for received the 1994 SPE Reservoir Engineering, 2000 SPE For-
petroleum reservoirs. Previously, he was mation Evaluation, and 2001 SPE Regional Service awards; the
chief reservoir engineer for Schlumberger Henri G. Doll Award in 1997 and 1999; and the Nobel Laureate
in the Middle East and Asia, before which he was senior scien- Physicist Kapitsa Gold Medal; and was conferred SPE honor-
tist and program manager at Schlumberger-Doll Research ary membership in 2010. He earned an MS degree at the Tech-
Center in Connecticut. He was a consulting professor at Stan- nical University of Istanbul, and MS and PhD degrees at Stan-
ford Universitys petroleum engineering department from ford University, Californiaall in petroleum engineering.
1988 to 1994 and taught advanced well testing. Before joining
CHRIS REINSVOLD, SPE, joined Preng &
Associates as an executive search consul-
tant in the oilfield services and equipment
practice. He has more than 25 years man-
agement experience in the energy industry,
primarily in upstream oil and gas and the
oilfield equipment and services sectors.
Reinsvold has held senior positions in corporate strategy,
I A D C / S P E A S I A PAC I F I C
operations, marketing, and product management, working in
DRILLING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE locations throughout the world for such companies as Shell,
Baker Hughes, Smith International, IHS/CERA, and A.T. Kear-
ney, most recently serving as chief executive officer of Deci-
sion Strategies. He earned a BS degree in mechanical engi-
neering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona,
and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.
AVASTHI
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AVASTHI
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Heavy Oil/Mining/In-Situ Oilsands
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4100, 400 - 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Canada T2P 4H2 Educational Courses
Since 1990
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Keystone Field Engineering Inc. (403) 294-5500 1-877-777-6135
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Register online at www.SPE.org 780.542.3096 www.keystonefieldeng.com
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International Reservoir
Technologies, Inc. RUSSIA UNITED STATES
INTEGRATED RESERVOIR STUDIES
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SERVING THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY FOR
OVER 60 YEARS AVASTHI
& ASSOCIATES, INC.
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Well Test Design & Analysis INTERNATIONAL OIL AND GAS CONSULTANTS 800 Rockmead Dr., Suite 212, Houston, TX 77339, USA
Phone: +1-281-359-2674 Fax: +1-281-754-4969
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300 Union Blvd., Suite 400 Specializing in All Phases of Reserves Evaluations,
Including Petroleum Economics,
Lakewood, CO 80228
CG A &
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PH: (303) 279-0877 Fax: (303) 279-0936
www.irt-inc.com IRT_Information@irt-inc.com
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An International Production Optimization Company
Hemanta Mukherjee, PhD; Principal Consultant
Production System Design, Optimization and Trouble Shooting ESP and Gas
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Need a consultant? Search the directory for free! and Interpretation Production Enhancement Studies Well Completion and Would you like to be more involved with SPE?
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Specializing in All Phases of Reserves Evaluations,
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Web pages: http://www.millerandlents.com James E. Smith, P.E., Registered Professional Engineer
Talib Syed, P.E. e-mail: talibs@ecentral.com
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