INTELLIGENT WELLS

World’s first maximum-reservoir-contact well with intelligent well systems and multiphase flow monitoring. As described by authors from Saudi Aramco, Baker Oil Tools and Weatherford, remote monitoring and interactive control systems were implemented on a Saudi well, which was drilled as a tri-lateral well with 2.6 mi of total reservoir contact. The intelligent well system used feed-through production packers to isolate each of three laterals. Three remotely operating downhole chokes were installed to independently control flow from each lateral, resulting in very high production rates with low drawdown for extended time.

Basis for design of low-cost downhole sensing. Although low-cost downhole sensing has become a reality in the last year-and-a-half, it is still not the default approach when working over or planning a well. The Shell iWell team conducted a field test that considered the well site equipment, generally required hardware, and a framework for data transmission, storage and retrieval, as well as ownership of different processes. As described by a Shell author, this test in Brunei required development of a DTS database. The benefits of using a local deployment team were also demonstrated. Shell called the test a success.

Using real-time data from permanent downhole monitoring systems, such as fiber optic pressure, temperature and flow sensors, in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations solves geometrically complex flow dependencies. In addition, the CFD approach accounts for the highly coupled chemical physics inherent in multi-phase systems, particularly gas compressibility effects that impact wellbore hydraulics and heat transfer which, in turn, govern the flow, pressure and thermal profiles in the wellbore. In the near-wellbore region, true reservoir permeability and porosities are honored and used to populate the CFD model. The model generates time-dependent flow, pressure and thermal profiles.

 DEEPWATER TECHNOLOGY

Getting clean reservoir samples in deepwater, subsalt wells. Once a deepwater well is drilled, taking fluid samples for analysis can greatly help decision-makers with their task. However, gaining a clean sample is always problematic and time-consuming. Authors from ENI, Baker Atlas and Newpark describe how they obtained clean samples from four wells in a deepwater, subsalt GOM field using the smallest possible overbalance, a special mud system, and a tool that monitored sample cleanup in real time. The technique reduced rig costs and saved over half of the normal rig time for the operation.

Unique construction, perforation and completion procedures. A well in the North West Area Development of Schiehallion field was drilled with two laterals to reach different reservoirs, one for oil and the other for gas. A TAML L-4 completion was devised to produce both reservoirs from the one well. Authors from BP, Weatherford and Schlumberger describe the challenges, engineering and testing needed to create the unique construction, perforation and completion procedures.

 GO EXPO PREVIEW

Held in conjunction with the Petroleum Society's 58th annual Canadian International Petroleum Conference, the GO EXPO petroleum exposition features the latest innovations and most advanced technologies. This article tells what to look for at this year’s show in Calgary. The conference technical program will include more than 150 presentations.

 RMOTC

The Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) provides a real-world environment for testing and demonstration of new oilfield technology. Although Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3 (NPR-3) is located many miles inland, RMOTC has the capability to simulate a sea-floor environment of up to 3,000 ft of water depth and conduct various tests of technology. It also is using a specially developed downhole video camera so that certain downhole functions (drilling, sidetrack milling, etc.) can be observed and verified.

 Geology/Geophysics

Seismic stratigraphy and geomorphology on the shelf and in deepwater� Implications for exploration. 3D seismic can directly image depositional elements, which can then be analyzed by applying seismic stratigraphic and seismic geomorphologic principles to yield predictions of lithologic distribution, insights to compartmentalization and stratigraphic trapping possibilities. Benefits can be direct, whereby depositional elements at exploration depths can be identified and interpreted, or they can be indirect. Examples of imaged depositional elements from both shallow- and deeply-buried sections are presented.

Controlled Source Electromagnetic examples. Petrobras and AGO team up to give some examples of the results of (inversion) processing of this promising, yet difficult to process and display EM data.

Seismic market report. What is it that oil companies want? What do they see themselves needing next? Whatever happened to the �spec� survey market? How alive and well is it? And how has it changed? These are the sorts of questions that we asked oil companies and contractors alike in this report; we have some interesting answers.

 Artificial Lift

Part 2 of our popular, annual wrap up on artificial lift systems by our long-standing contributors, Herald Winkler of Texas Tech University, Jim Lea of Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Oklahoma University and Robert Snyder, Consultant. This part focuses on the latest developments in electrical submersible pumps (ESPs).

 Produced Water Report

Optical-based techniques for real-time analysis and classification of produced water. Fluid Imaging Technologies describes the advantages and disadvantages of using optical instrumentation analysis of particles in produced water. As well as measuring suspended oil in water concentrations, optical techniques, coupled with advanced data analysis and pattern matching, can be used to effectively distinguish and then classify two particles of identical size and shape from one another. This article illustrates the efficacy of various imaging techniques for use in the real-time characterization and quality assurance of produced water.

Lessons learned in workover of severely corroded water injectors for reinjection. In the Central North Sea, an important asset for Shell UK is reducing its oil-to-sea discharge to meet compliance with OSPAR regulations. The heavily corroded state of the water injectors in this field posed a major challenge toward successfully recovering the slot and executing a workover, which would allow produced water to be re-injected into the reservoir instead of being discharged to the sea. Authors from Shell detail the plans, work and challenges of this workover.