2015 09
2015 09
2015 09
org/jpt
RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE
AND MONITORING
COMPLETIONS
DRILLING MANAGEMENT
AND AUTOMATION
OILFIELD CHEMISTRY
SEPTEMBER 2015
Squeezing
Profits
from
Shale
FEATURES
An operator used Mangrove* engineered stimulation design in the Petrel* E&P software platform to optimize staging and perforation
cluster placement within a highly variable lateral. The engineered completion resulted in a 65% reduction in stress contrast across
perforation clusters while increasing average production by 200300% per stage. After completion, a geomodel revealed nonproductive
stages situated above the intended zone, enabling the operator to reassess well placement and evaluate strategies for effectively
stimulating all stages.
Learn more at
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JPT_Reverse_Gatefold_Sept15_ROW.indd 5-7
www.interwell.com
8/18/15 8:25 AM
dyna-drill.com/products/power_sections
DYNA-DRILL_ThePowerSection7in_4C_AD.indd 1
6/15/15 10:04 AM
Volume 67 Number 9
The overall composition of gas and the isotopic signatures of gas discharging
from domestic wells should be examined before concluding that oil and gas
operations are to blame.
The incoming president talks about his goals and the challenges ahead.
The use of multiple data sources in targeting the most productive rock could
evolve into the standard procedure of the future.
Performance Indices
10
Regional Update
12
Company News
14
Comments
22
Technology Applications
28
Technology Update
38
E&P Notes
161
SPE News
163
People
164
Professional Services
167
Advertisers Index
168
SPE Events
Executives say companies need to lean on each other and find the strength
to weather the oil price downturn.
A summit panel discusses how new solutions from other industries will help
drive efficiencies, boost productivity, and optimize performance.
Analytics
Unlock value in
your data reservoirs
to optimize ROI.
Learn more
sas.com/oilgas
1
2
SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. 2015 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.
S142453US.0715
TECHNOLOGY
Invizion Evaluation
WELL INTEGRITY SERVICE
124 Completions
Nicholas Clem, SPE, Engineering Manager, Baker Hughes
140 Drilling Modeling and Simulation: Current State and Future Goals
144 Limiter Redesign Process Expands To Cover Flat-Time Operations
146 Surface Torque/Tension Measurements Used To Detect
andCalculateStick/Slip
slb.com/Invizion
The complete SPE technical papers featured in this issue are available
free to SPE members for two months at www.spe.org/jpt.
ROTARY-STEERABLE SYSTEMS
ON YOUR
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Revolution rotary-steerable system (RSS) gets you to
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Steer to weatherford.com/revolution
to see our full suite of rotary-steerable solutions.
15WFT_RSS_RSGO_JPT_PROD.indd 1
Well Construction
Production
7/10/15 5:00 PM
WIRELINE SERVICES
SPE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
2015 President
Helge Hove Haldorsen, Statoil
SOUTH ASIA
John Hoppe, Shell
2014 President
Jeff Spath, Schlumberger
2016 President
Nathan Meehan, Baker Hughes
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
AFRICA
Anthony Ogunkoya,
TBFF Upstream Oil and Gas Consulting
TECHNICAL DIRECTORS
DRILLING AND COMPLETIONS
CANADA
MIDDLE EAST
Fareed Abdulla, Abu Dhabi Co. Onshore Oil Opn
NORTH SEA
Carlos Chalbaud, GDF Suez E&P UK
JPT STAFF
Glenda Smith, Publisher
John Donnelly, Editor
Alex Asfar, Senior Manager Publishing Services
Pam Boschee, Senior Manager Magazines
Jack Betz, Staff Writer
Chris Carpenter, Technology Editor
Abdelghani Henni, Middle East Editor
Trent Jacobs, Senior Technology Writer
Anjana Sankara Narayanan, Editorial Manager
Joel Parshall, Features Editor
Stephen Rassenfoss, Emerging Technology Senior Editor
Adam Wilson, Special Publications Editor
Craig Moritz, Assistant Director Americas Sales & Exhibits
Mary Jane Touchstone, Print Publishing Manager
Stacey Maloney, Print Publishing Specialist
Laurie Sailsbury, Composition Specialist Supervisor
Allan Jones, Graphic Designer
Ngeng Choo Segalla, Copy Editor
Dennis Scharnberg, Proofreader
THE
EXPERIENCE
OF WEATHERFORD
WIRELINE SERVICES
AT-LARGE DIRECTORS
Khaled Al-Buraik, Saudi Aramco
Liu Zhenwu, China National Petroleum Corporation
We measure success
beyond our 45 years
of service.
Instead, we benchmark achievement by
PVSBCJMJUZUPQSPWJEFZPVXJUIEFOJUJWF
wireline logging data. Often working in
conditions that cause others to fail, we
remove the uncertainty from your
reservoir-characterization operations.
Our experience delivers reliable,
actionable data.
weatherford.com/wireline
FRACMAX
PERFORMANCE INDICES
WORLD CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION+
THOUSAND BOPD
OP EC
2014 NOV
DEC
2015 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
Algeria
1420
1420
1370
1370
1370
1370
Angola
1813
1733
1860
1810
1760
1810
563
561
558
553
553
548
Iran
3300
3300
3300
3300
3300
3350
Iraq
3425
3775
3525
3425
3825
3861
Kuwait*
2500
2500
2550
2650
2650
2650
615
510
370
360
475
505
Nigeria
2440
2440
2470
2470
2420
2520
Qatar
1503
1503
1514
1520
1525
1531
Saudi Arabia*
9640
9640
9640
9740
9940
9940
UAE
2820
2820
2820
2820
2820
2820
Venezuela
2500
2500
2500
2500
2500
2500
32539
32702
32477
32518
33138
33405
Ecuador
Libya
TOTAL
THOUSAND BOPD
NON-OPEC
2014 NOV
DEC
2015 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
Argentina
534
534
533
529
531
533
Australia
356
360
337
314
249
299
Azerbaijan
792
842
847
847
847
852
Brazil
2358
2497
2469
2431
2413
2394
Canada
3714
3780
3879
3901
3770
3910
China
4290
4315
4232
4218
4254
4258
Colombia
1004
1009
1035
1029
1023
1028
Denmark
190
182
158
161
153
163
Egypt
537
527
508
516
525
519
Eq. Guinea
270
270
249
249
249
249
Gabon
220
220
215
215
215
205
India
782
773
767
766
776
751
Indonesia
786
778
792
792
797
823
1716
1778
1692
1670
1660
1650
670
671
680
693
697
675
Mexico
2401
2392
2290
2370
2356
2235
Norway
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
1610
1624
1588
1599
1596
1622
Oman
921
932
960
958
977
960
Russia
10173
10197
10220
10150
10050
10020
Sudan
257
257
257
257
257
257
21
21
26
26
26
26
Syria
UK
USA
www.ftkfracmax.com
713.849.9911
798
846
872
813
868
926
9207
9422
9305
9432
9692
9701
325
Vietnam
352
340
348
341
338
Yemen
125
113
113
113
93
78
Other
2509
2513
2465
2457
2499
2479
Total
46593
47193
46837
46847
46911
46938
Total World
79132
79895
79314
79365
80049
80343
MULTI-STAGE COMPLETIONS
FINALLY
SPE
Bookstore
PERFORMANCE INDICES
HENRY HUB GULF COAST NATURAL GAS SPOT PRICE*
6
5
4
3
USD/Mil. BTUs
JUN
MAY
APR
MAR
FEB
2015
JAN
DEC
NOV
OCT
SEP
AUG
2014
JUL
103.59
101.61
96.54
2014 JUL
NEW!
79.44
55.89
Contents
Defining Enhanced Oil Recovery
Basic Equations for Fluid Flow in Permeable Media
Petrophysics and Petrochemistry
Phase Behavior and Fluid Properties
Displacement Efficiency
Volumetric Sweep Efficiency
Solvent Methods
Polymer Methods
Surfactant Methods
Foam-Enhanced Oil Recovery
Thermal Methods
Preview sample pages from this new book
and order your own copy by visiting our online
bookstore at www.spe.org/go/books. This
title is also available at Amazon. eBook formats
include Kindle and iBooks.
AUG
75.79
62.34
NOV
Fundamentals of
Enhanced Oil Recovery
97.09
59.29
59.52
47.76
64.08
APR
84.40
OCT
47.22
58.10
2015 JAN
54.45
MAR
87.43
SEP
DEC
47.82
93.21
50.58
FEB
59.26
61.48
MAY
59.82
JUN
Brent
WTI
2015
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
US
1683
1348
1110
976
889
861
866
Canada
368
363
196
90
80
129
183
Latin America
351
355
351
325
327
314
313
Europe
128
133
135
119
116
113
108
Middle East
415
415
407
410
398
401
391
Africa
132
132
125
120
100
103
94
Asia Pacific
232
240
233
228
217
215
212
3309
2986
2557
2268
2127
2136
2167
TOTAL
2014
2015
2nd
3rd
4th
1st
SUPPLY
92.55
93.70
95.06
94.65
DEMAND
91.73
93.15
93.18
92.75
INDICES KEY
+
*
TMK QUANTUM
COMPLETIONS
Infinity
Patent pending
REGIONAL UPDATE
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA
ASIA
China National Offshore Oil Co.
(CNOOC) has started oil production at
its Luda 10-1 comprehensive adjustment
project in the Liaodong Bay of Bohai.
The project called for the construction
of one wellhead platform. The field
has an average water depth of 30 m
and has 13wells on stream producing
3,300BOPD.Luda 10-1 is expected
to reach a peak production rate of
6,000BOPD next year. CNOOC is
the operator ofthe field and holds
100%interest.
10
EUROPE
Statoil made a minor oil and gas
discovery near the Gina Krog field in the
North Sea, 250 km west of Stavanger. The
find is estimated to contain between 1 and
2 MMscfe of recoverable oil equivalents in
the Hugin formation. Statoil (58.7%) is the
operator of the license with Total (30%),
PGNiG (8%) andDetNorske(3.3%).
MIDDLE EAST
Iran has accelerated its development
of the Azadegan oil field, which it shares
with Iraq, in order to catch up with its
western neighbor in production, said an
Iranian energy official. The National Iranian
Drilling Company has completed the
drilling of six wells in the field since taking
over from China National Petroleum Corp.,
which had its contract canceled last year
because of repeateddelays.
NORTH AMERICA
Yuma Energy has completed and tested
its Talbot 23-1 well in Jefferson Davis
Parish, Louisiana. The well had an initial
gross production rate of approximately
7 MMcf/D of gas and 180 B/D of 55 API
condensate through a 13/64-in. choke. It was
perforated in a lower portion of the main
Hackberry sand and has additional uphole
Hackberry sand perforations in the main
Hackberry section, and in the Marg-Tex
sands. Yuma holds 45% interest in the block
with an unnamed operator.
SOUTH AMERICA
Eni started production from the Perla
giant gas field located in the Gulf of
Venezuela, 50 km offshore. Consisting
of Mio-Oligocene carbonates with
excellent characteristics, the reservoir is
approximately 3000 m below sea level
and lies at a water depth of 60 m. The best
wells are estimated to produce more than
150 MMscf/D of gas each. The development
plan includes 21 producing wells and four
light offshore platforms linked by a 30-in.
pipeline to a central processing facility in
Punto Fijo on the Paraguan Peninsula.
Two treatment trains have been installed
at the facility, each capable of handling
150Mscf/D and 300 Mscf/D of natural
gas. The field is operated by Cardn IV, a
company jointly owned by Eni (50%) and
Repsol (50%).
11/08/2015 09:27
COMPANY NEWS
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
COMPANY MOVES
Petroleum Development Oman
and GlassPoint Solar have announced
planstobuild one of the worlds largest solar
power plants. Miraah will be a 1,021-MW
solar facility in south Oman, harnessing
the suns energy to produce steam. The
steam will be used in thermal enhanced oil
recovery (EOR) to extract heavy and viscous
oil at the Amal oil fieldPower for EOR is
currently being provided by burning natural
gas. The firstmodule is expected to be
finished by2017.
CONTRACTS
Vallianz Holdings was awarded a
contract worth up to USD 300 million
byan unnamed national oil company
in theMiddle East to provide two selfelevating platform vessels. The platforms
will be used to service wells in the
ArabianGulf and are equipped with
cranescapable of supporting various
offshore activities, such as wireline
operations and wellhead maintenance.
Vallianz will deploy the vessels starting
thethird quarter of the year for 5 years.
COMPLETION SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE
WITH
THE
LEADER.
Solving challenges.
H030-15 JPT.indd 1
6/10/15 11:32 AM
COMMENTS
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Bernt Aadny, University of Stavanger
Syed AliChairperson, Schlumberger
A Vallourec brand
Thank you
for making VAM the worldwide benchmark
in premium connections since 1965
1965
1970s
1980s
1990s
At Vallourec, we believe our success has been built upon meaningful connections with our customers
allowing the development of VAM premium connection solutions suited to their needs. Without compromising
quality or safety, we have provided value, reliability, and technically effective solutions for over 50 years.
Thank you for 50 years of confdence in VAM - we look forward to the next 50!
Learn more about VAM solutions on www.vallourec.com and www.vam50years.com
GUEST EDITORIAL
David S. Gee is a
partner at The Boston
Consulting Group
(BCG). He leads the
firms North American
Energy practice area
and is a consultant.
He has more than
36 years of experience in the energy
industry and previously held senior
operating roles at AES Corp., PG&E Corp.,
and Baker Hughes. He holds a BS in
chemical engineering from the University
of Virginia and an MS in management
from the Massachusetts Institute
ofTechnology.
Gregory J. Pope is
a principal in BCGs
Energy and Strategy
and Sustainability
practice areas and
a consultant in
power, oil and gas,
renewables, and
economic development. He holds a BA in
economics from Georgetown University,
an MSc in environmental and resource
economics from University College
London, and an MSc in environmental
change and management from the
University of Oxford, where he studied
asa Marshall Scholar.
Alan G. Thomson
is a senior partner
at BCG. He leads
the firms North
American Oil and Gas
practice and is the
managing partner of
its Houston office. He
is globally recognized as a topic expert in
the energy value chain with experience
in portfolio strategy, operations, and
organization transformation. He holds
a BEng in chemical engineering from
McMasterUniversity.
16
Divisive Debate
Opposition to unconventional production has already worked its way into public policy in many parts of the country. In late 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York banned
hydraulic fracturing in the state after health officials in his administration decided on
the basis of limited evidence that regardless of how drilling procedures are regulated,
fracturing poses a threat to air quality, clean water, and public health. At about the
same time, the citizens of Denton, Texas, which is located just a few miles from where
hydraulic fracturing was perfected, passed a ballot initiative that would ban hydraulic fracturing within the citys limits. (The ban has since been overturned by the Texas
Legislature, which gave the state government exclusive jurisdiction over the oil and
gas industry.)
Sad to say, much of the discussion that has dominated the hydraulic fracturing
debate has been divisive and done little to alter entrenched positions or increase public understanding. Both sides are essentially talking past each other. Many hydraulic
fracturing opponents focus on fears that are either irrational or lack a basis in scientific fact. Some industry representatives, meanwhile, have adopted a dismissive attitude toward community concerns, minimizing even real threats to the environment
and public health. The industry has not helped itself by denying studies that link
*Throughout this article, the terms fracking and hydraulic fracturing refer to the entire
process of drilling andproducing unconventional resources, including water access and
disposal and sitepreparation.
ATCE
Annual Technical
Conference & Exhibition
Visit us at
Visit us at
Stand
Stand
1535
2C130
GUEST EDITORIAL
Economic Benefits
18
Environmental, Climate
Concerns
producers. On average, small producers violation rates were four times those
of larger companies. Better regulator
funding and more targeted enforcement
would help improve environmental performance significantly.
In addition, new natural gas power
plants have contributed significantly to
a 15% reduction in power-sector carbon
emissions from 2005 to 2013. Although
natural gas combustion emits 50% less
carbon dioxide than coal, many climate
advocates have become skeptical of all
fossil fuels and actively oppose future
development of production and pipelines. Our research, however, shows
that, in line with the Obama administrations proposed Clean Power Plan,
natural gas can provide the most costeffective path to major carbon reductions through 2030 and can also complement the growth of renewables.
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Reference
Porter, M., Gee, D., and Pope, G. 2015.
Americas Unconventional Energy
Opportunity. https://www.bcgperspectives.
com/content/articles/energy-environmentsustainability-americas-unconventionalenergy-opportunity/.
VISURAY
ION
X-RAY VIS
20
120
Mixed Gas
160
200
Microbial Gas
(CO2 reduction)
Thermogenic Gas
240
Landfill
Gas
Microbial Gas
(acetate fermentation)
320
360
-90.00
90
Haynesville
Wilcox
-80.00
-70.00
70
-60.00
-50.00
50
Eff
ec
t
280
Ox
ida
tio
n
D (CH4) ()
-40.00
-30.00
30
13C (CH4) ()
Notes:
1. 13C (CH4) indicates carbon-13 (methane), D (CH4) indicates deuterium (methane), indicates per mil.
2. The data are taken from Findings Related to the Source of Methane in a Domestic Water Well Owned
by Mr. John Parker, Community of Dixie, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, prepared for Anadarko Petroleum
Corp. (Geosyntec Consultants 2014).
3. The background image is adapted from Environmental Isotope Characteristics of Landfill Leachates
and Gases (K.C. Hackley et al. 1996).
xid
at
Ke
rog
en
Migration
io
Ty
pe
II
M
Ox icro
ida bia
tio l
n
102
Mixing
101
100
100
Wilcox
104
103
Haynesville
Migration
Thermogenic
90
80
70
60
13C-methane
50
40
Predominantly
Methyl-Type
Fermentation
Bacterial
Predominantly
CO2 reduction
K
(a ero
nd ge
N nT
G yp
er e
m II
an I
Co
al
s)
105
C1/(C2+C3)
30
20
()
Notes:
1. 13C-methane indicates carbon-13 in methane and indicates per mil.
2. C1/(C2+C3) indicates the ratio of methane (C1) to the sum of ethane (C2) and propane (C3).
3. The data are taken from Findings Related to the Source of Methane in a Domestic Water Well
Owned by Mr. John Parker, Community of Dixie, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, prepared for
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (Geosyntec Consultants 2014).
4. The background image is adapted from Carbon and Hydrogen Isotope Systematics of Bacterial
Formation and Oxidation of Methane (M.J. Whiticar 1999).
21
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
Chris Carpenter, JPT Technology Editor
Dart-Activated Hydraulic
Pipe-Recovery System
Hydraulic Long-Stroke
Pumping Unit
High-Performance Elastomer
Rubberatkins high-performance perfluoro (FFKM) elastomers enable customers to realize sealing solutions not previously possible with other traditional
FFKM elastomers. This advance is made
possible by unique compounding techniques used to stretch the boundaries of
these elastomers in often hostile chemical environments and extreme temperatures. Because of the nature of perfluoro
elastomers, their mechanical properties
are low at elevated temperatures. However, the Rubberatkins Vermanite perfluoro elastomers have been engineered
for improved performance and longevity at challenging downhole conditions.
Vermanite is one of Rubberatkins many
materials specifically compounded for
extreme downhole applications (Fig. 2).
Sealing solutions for high-expansion,
ultrahigh-temperature (650F) geothermal application and extreme sour-gas
environments are just a few applications
where Vermanite has been used successfully. Products molded from Vermanite
include O-rings, T-seals, V-seals, packing elements, and expandable seals. In
Fig. 1A HyPR HoleSaver Dart from Churchill Drilling Tools. Capable of producing cutting power in excess of 1,000
hydraulic hp with jet velocities of over 300 ft/sec, the darts are able to cut through a full-strength sub in just a couple
of hours.
22
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
No boundaries,
no borders.
eMentoring
makes a world
of difference.
SPE eMentoring connects
experienced professional members
with young professionals and
students around the world. SPE
members can contribute to the E&P
industry by sharing industry insights
and practical career advice with
young professionals, or by helping
university students with academic
and career direction. Young
professionals also have the unique
opportunity to serve as mentors to
students. Its an easy commitment
and participants can communicate
online, at their convenience.
Reamer Tool
Annular Barrier
SETTING
A NEW STANDARD
welltec.com
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
application of segregating production
between different reservoirs in cementless lower completions. The WAB functions by applying pressure from within
the completion string to the engineered
sleeve through the valve system and
hydraulically conforming the sleeve to
Cement-Evaluation Service
26
ment (Fig. 4). While cement compressive strength has typically been used as
a key indicator of cement quality, todays
challenging environments require a
more-detailed assessment. The Integrity
eXplorer service provides operators with
accurate and comprehensive data about
the properties of the respective cement,
thereby enabling them to make critical
decisions to help protect their assets,
reduce nonproductive time, and minimize unnecessaryremediation.
Downhole-Fluid-Recovery
Service
27
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
28
Sequenced Refracturing
THERE ARE
A LOT OF
WAYS TO
MAKE HOLES.
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Fig. 1The addition of fibers, inset, to the fracturing fluid, left, or the diversion
pill hinders fluid/particle separation, thus delivering proppant or degradable
diversion particles more effectively along an entire open lateral. Photo
courtesy of Schlumberger.
www.perf.com
larly in the less expensive, lower viscosity fracturing fluids that are preferred by
many operators. Rather than remaining
evenly blended during pumping, particles of different sizes tend to disperse
within the fluid stream because variations in drag forces cause them to travel at different velocities. As a result,
excess volumes of diversion fluid enter
the fractures beyond the near-wellbore
region, consuming more time and more
material to plug the perforations.
Researchers also knew from experience with cementing that adding fibers
can dramatically reduce the rate of fluid/
particle separation. Fibers physically
interfere with the settling of particles in
suspension without changing the rheology of the carrier fluid.
After extensive experimentation,
selected synthetic degradable fibers
were blended with multimodal particles
to create a unique composite diversion
technology. Fibers ensured that diversion pills would remain highly concentrated, even under variable pump rates,
thus enhancing both the speed and efficiency of temporary plug formation at
each stage of sequenced refracturing.
In the field, these very low permeability plugs withstand wellbore temperatures from 100F to 400F, and pressure
differentials of up to 3,700 psi. After
refracturing, all particles and fibers
completely degrade in a few days without further intervention, opening newly
refractured completions toproduction.
Fiber-laden fracturing fluid. In
recent years, an increasing number of
shale operators have used fiber-laden
fracturing fluid to minimize settling and
enhance proppant transport within the
reservoir during initial hydraulic fracture treatment (Fig. 1). Because fluids
are pumped at a high rate and each stage
has only two to eight perforation clusters, little proppant appears to accumulate within the casing.
However, in a refracturing operation, the entire length of the wellbore
is open. More than 150 clusters could
potentially be open to fracturing at one
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
80
76
400
300
72
70
60
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56
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to receive information about.
Wells
Fig. 2By using the new composite diversion technology, an Eagle Ford Shale
refracturing consortium achieved production gains from 100 BOPD to more
than 450 BOPD while regaining as much as 76% of the initial production.
Graphic courtesy of Schlumberger.
Key functions
www.wellbarrier.com
E-mail: [email protected], Phone: +47 51 63 08 00
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
A Common Understanding
The benefit of using the envelope principle is that we can create two independent envelopes, one outside of the other.
We will have primary containment of
Production Well
(b)
(a)
SCSSV
ASCSSV
Tubing
Production casing
Production casing
cement
Formation
As Built
Top of Cement
1786 m MD
Element
As Built
Leakoff Test
267 bar
Top of Cement
2366 m MD
34
Leakoff Test
317 bar
Monitoring
2013/1887 m
MD/TVD
Wellhead annulus
access valves
Wellhead
Intermediate casing
hanger
Intermediate casing
2812/2599 m
MD/TVD
Intermediate casing
cement
Formation (in-situ)
Pressure tested to
345 bar
Pressure tested to
345 bar
Pressure tested to
345 bar
Pressure tested to 345
bar with 1.28 SG fluid
LOT tested to 267 bar
Monitoring
Periodic pressure
testing
Periodic pressure
testing
External observation
C-annulus pressure
C-annulus pressure
C-annulus pressure
CM
MY
CY
CMY
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Pressure (bar)
0
200
400
Pore pressure expected
Fracture pressure expected
Depth (m)
1000
2000
ing with the pore and fracture pressure curves of the formation (Fig. 2).
This is of considerable help in increasing the stakeholders understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the well. Aligning critical barrier
points in the well with pore and fracture pressure curves will verify soundness or show weaknesses in the well
barrierdefinition.
Furthermore, a pressure or density gradient line can be imposed on the
illustration to show how the formation
and surface pressures will affect the
hydrostatic load in the well along its vertical depth scale. This can be used to
show the reservoir, overbalanced fluid,
gas lift, dual-gradient, and managed
pressureeffects.
36
There are many parties involved in a well over its life cycle, from
the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance to its
plugging and abandonment. The well barrier schematics play
a unique role, being among the few documents that are always
present in any well work or evaluation.
A prepared well barrier schematic will provide a document
that spells out key elements in the well. It will illustrate the primary and secondary barriers for any well activity, indicate how
each barrier element has been or will need to be qualified, and
tell how it should be monitored.
Using a dedicated IT tool to prepare and store this work
will ensure that all the relevant well information of a company is
saved in a logically organized library that is available to all personnel working on a given well at any time.
Personnel should be able to retrieve well barrier schematics and information entered by people in other disciplines, and
modify and update it to reflect remedial work or new well activities. A well library is also a useful vehicle for learning how similar issues have been handled in other projects.
As the well responsibility is handed from one party to
another, the well barrier schematic offers a clear illustration of its status and how it is safeguarded and will serve as
a common core of well information throughout the wells life
cycle. This core document becomes a junction for stakeholders whenever needed and can facilitate proactive work and
additionalplanning.
An understanding of well barrier principles should be fundamental to engineering work in well operations. A good way
of summarizing the need to reflect these principles and act
accordingly is to be prepared: visualize it, qualify it, monitor it,
document it, and communicate it. JPT
E&P NOTES
38
Mechanical earth modeling integrates many geological features and forces into
a single model. Image courtesy of Chevron.
WELL BRING
THE HEAT
E&P NOTES
The surface facilities pilot project at Suncors Dover site in Alberta, Canada,
uses radio waves to heat and inject solvents into the upper well of a 2-well
pair. Thegoal is to eliminate the need for steam in producing oil sands crude.
Photo courtesy of Suncor.
40
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PERFORMANCE
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$;m7;h-vu-m];o=om-bvo-om
|;1_moo]b;vo@;uu;b-0;r;u=oul-m1;
bm--ub;|o=-rrb1-omv=uolv|-];
bvo-om=ou_7u-b1=u-1|ubm]
or;u-omv|oom]|;ulbvo-omo=
ruo71ombmf;1omom;v
urouobobm17;vor;m_o;
vo[v;|l;1_-mb1-r-1h;uv=oubmv|-m|
bvo-omb|_o=oul-omv|u;vvrv
-m;|;mvb;u-m];o=v;-0;r-1h;uv
and sleeves.
)b|_o;uom-bvo-om
r-1h;uvbmv|-;7]o0-ouC;7
ruo;m;-v|ol;u|;1_moo]7;b;uv
u;b-0;-m7l;-vu-0;r;u=oul-m1;bm
-b7;u-m];o=Yb7;mbuoml;m|v-m7
|;lr;u-|u;v
|$;m7;h-;ouhb|_o|o
7;|;ulbm;|_;0;v|voom=ouou
well.
E&P NOTES
alumina clay, the primary ingredient in ceramic proppant. High alumina clay is not readily available in North
Dakota, so high volumes of proppant
must be shipped for fracturing in the
BakkenShale.
Hurley is working to make low alumina clay a feasible proppant material with a process called devitrification,
which converts the troublesome glass
that forms during sintering back into a
stable crystal structure.
The method is still in its early stages, but Hurley thinks that with more
research, he can unlock the potential of
the cheaper, more common clay.
42
Anchor Hangers
Gap between refrac liner and
base casing about 1/10 in.
Cement
HIGHER STANDARDS
IN CORE ANALYSIS,
EXPERIENCE
IS EVERYTHING
152
SENIOR INDUSTRY
EXPERTS
Visit us at
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E&P NOTES
100,000
FracSET Refrac Liner Post-refrac Data
Mcf/month
10,000
Well 1
Well 2
5/27/09
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1,000
Well 3
5/17/11
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6/1/08
2/2/08
10/5/07
6/7/07
2/7/07
10/10/06
100
Data from a 2010 refracturing operation in the Barnett Shale shows the
production gains in the well (1) that used an expandable steel liner was higher
than in the two offset wells (2 and 3) that used diverter technology. Image
courtesy of Enventure Global Technology.
cept that involves running an expandable liner through the heel section of
a horizontal well only. The company
has learned that most of the diverting agent and fracture treatment is lost
in the heel section of a well, probably because pressures are highest in
this section.
The hybrid refracturing solution
would be an intermediate level option
costwise because it would still use about
1,000ft of the more expensive expandable steel, but potentially would require
less diverting agent and deliver more
fracturing pressure to the toe section of
the well.
And in July, the company announced
that it was collaborating with Quantico Energy Solutions to generate sonic
and density logs in producing wells,
which may identify new target zones for
arefracture.JPT
If you are a Life Member or you have already renewed your membership
for 2016, thank you for your continued membership in SPE.
44
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2016 SPE
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NATHAN
MEEHAN
John Donnelly, JPT Editor
46
only helps fuel collaboration and innovation, but also fulfills its mission of staying relevant.
For example, it is more important
now than ever that we address the needs
of entire asset teams, not just engineers.
One of the greatest things that has happened to asset teams in the past 10 years
has been the fact that now geomechanics is a part of most major asset teams,
probably in the same sense that petrophysics is. Every asset team has a reservoir engineer, a geologist, a geophysicist,
and access to drillers and maybe production engineers. They may not have a fulltime petrophysicist but they engage one
at the right point. The same is the case
with geomechanics. Ten years ago, it was
a highly specialized discipline; now it is Meehan recently
really a part of how we do business.
Todays asset teams may also include software professionals, other information technology experts, and facilities managers, just to name a few. All of these specialists should belong to
SPE in addition to their own professional societies. And, SPEs
programming, education, and outreach should expand to meet
their needs as well as those of its traditional members.
The knowledge on which current and future innovation
in our industry depends resides everywhere, thanks in part to
computers and the Internet. It lives in agencies, universities,
laboratories, and different geographies, and in industries ranging from health care to aerospace. My company has been an
active participant in an endeavor called Pumps & Pipes, which
was founded in 2007 specifically to explore potential crossover
ideas and technologies among academia and Houstons medical, oil and gas, and aerospace communities. SPE has included
this endeavor in recent conferences. I look forward to more of
these collaborations, and I think our members will, too.
With regard to public benefit, I would like to see us emphasize this a little more than has been done in the past. I think
sometimes we overlook this aspect of our mission. Our industry
has an obligation to society to provide safe, affordable energy to
the world, and we do that. But we do not tell our story very well.
A couple of things come to mind: sustainability and health,
safety, and the environment (HSE). Historically, we have not
emphasized HSE across conference programming as much as
we could have. Increasingly, asset teams find HSE issues a part
of their intrinsic operations. I have taught an ethics class for
many years, and I think it is important that the industry reflects
on what our role in society should be and how we should do
ourbusiness.
I do not think the public believes oil companies. What the
public does believe is their neighbor who works in the oil and
gas business and who is informed and knowledgeable. When I
talk to concerned neighbors, or when I meet people as I trav-
el, I try to communicate what the real issues are without trying to sugarcoat them. When you are able to discuss the issues,
the challenges, how the industry is responding, as well as the
importance of supplying energy, people will listen. Sure, there
are people who are not going to listen and who have no interest
in facts, just as there are people who have no interest in hearing
the problems. That is why I want to make sure Energy4Me and
all the other SPE resources enable our members to speak intelligently about the industry.
I think the industry can do a much better job of communicating that message. The fact is oil and gas are pretty clean in
an absolute sense and when you think of all that oil and gas has
enabledfeeding, fueling, heating and cooling populations;
illumination; communications; industry; medicine; education;
longevitywe should be proud. All the good stuff in our lives
requires energy, and oil and gas is its main source.
In a sense, we have failed to make the moral case, take the
moral high ground, on this. SPE is the perfect forum. When I
give a speech to industry professionals, I almost always end it
this way: I say that what we do is important, what we do changes
peoples lives, and improves peoples lives. We have made mistakes and we continue to make mistakes, as does every industry.
Yes, we need to do a better job of delivering our products, ensuring their safety, and minimizing environmental impact. We
must minimize fugitive methane emissions, capture and store,
or eliminate some of the CO2 impacts. We must eliminate spills.
And, we must communicate our efforts and outcomes honestly
and effectively.
How has the drop in oil prices affected SPE programs
and services?
It has affected SPE revenues, and we have had to cut back on
some of our training and a few of our workshops. But the main
concern is how the drop has impacted SPE members. Our prior-
47
ity was to grow and expand. Now we are focusing more on identifying and responding to members needs.
We have taken steps to lower costs and eliminate dues for
members who have been without jobs for a year or two. We are
making sure our members stay up to date technically. We have
launched a global jobs page with Oilpro to help our members
find jobs. We are seeing sections and student chapters conduct
activities to help members learn how to be consultants, find
jobs in downturns, and communicate better. Many members
have never had to interview for jobs. For a long time, it has been
easy to get a job, but now it is difficult.
How did you get started in the oil and gas industry?
I was a physics major at Georgia Tech, in one of the few states
in the United States that has zero oil and gas production, and I
worked one summer digging a fracture pit. I did not even know
what that was at the time, but I was looking for temporary work
and they needed somebody who could operate a bulldozer. I
knew how to operate a backhoe and claimed that I could operate a bulldozer. It turns out that they are very different. But I
put that on my resume as one of my summer jobs, and a recruiter for Schlumberger noticed it. He took me on a job interview
and I spent 3 or 4 days in New Orleans onshore and offshore
working with several senior wireline engineers. When I went
back to Georgia Tech, Amoco was recruiting for geophysicists.
I told the recruiter I wanted to be a petroleum engineer and he
told me it was a good time to be one. I got a summer job with
48
YOURE LOOKING AT
TWO OIL RIGS.
CAN YOU SPOT THE
DIFFERENCE?
No? Lets look below the surface. The one on the right listens
to its equipment underwater, predicts problems, prevents
failures and protects its surroundings. So what you cant
see at sea level is predictive analytics that lead to reduced
production costs and increased reliability and availability.
gesoftware.com
Get connected. Get insights. Get optimized.
7/28/15 11:42 AM
50
51
CONFERENCE REVIEW
The pursuit of sweet spots in unconventional oil and gas plays is driving the creation of an emerging set of data-driven
systems to measure, map, and predict
how wells will perform in unconventional reservoirs.
Over 3 days at the recent Unconventional Resources Technology Conference in San Antonio, Texas, speakers outlined techniques used to create detailed, large-scale digital maps
and models to navigate enormous formations where abrupt, unpredictable
change is the norm. The conference was
organized by SPE, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the
Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
This map created by Pioneer Natural Resources shows the relationship between pore pressure and standalone well
performance in the Midland Basin of west Texas. It was created using data from approximately 2,000 vertical well
completions. Well locations are colored and sized based on the estimated ultimate recovery of oil. Image courtesy of
Donny Loughry, senior geologist, Pioneer Natural Resources. Used with permission.
52
firm and add detail to 3D seismic testing to create data-rich, digital rock
property maps.
That presentation hit on a common theme at the conference: finding ways to navigate reservoirs that are
highly heterogeneous, which means
conditions can change as abruptly and
unexpectedly as the production of the
wells drilled.
Pioneer has been combining data
and 3D seismic to provide its exploration and production (E&P) team with better views of the spaces between its wells
in unconventional formations. Seismic
surveys cover a wide area at a relatively low price, but operators want greater detail and physical evidence of rock
properties. The ultimate goal is saving
time and money using seismic integrated with other sources, said Beau Tinnin,
a geologic coordinator in the South Texas
Asset Team at Pioneer.
JPT Advertisement_Revised.pdf
5:21 PM
53
CONFERENCE REVIEW
Callon Petroleum created a rock property map using seismic data (P-Impedance) ranking rock from the most easily
fracturedbrittleto the leastductile. The microseismic data from fracturing a lateral in the Wolfcamp formation shows
the most events in the five stages with above-average brittleness, where much of the activity was contained in the more
ductile area. Graphic courtesy of Callon Petroleum.
54
Unconventional Thinking
The large number of wells and fracture stages producing little or nothing of value is a strong argument for
change. While publicly traded companies do not report results on a well-bywell basis, there is anecdotal evidence
that underperforming wells are a financial drag.
A rule of thumb offered by George
King, distinguished engineering advisor
for Apache Corp., is that one-third of
the wells are not economic, one-third
are marginally economic, and one-third
carry the economics for the whole project. The observation made during a
panel session about sweet spot identification is not a new one for King, who often
speaks and teaches about shale.
When asked if this static breakdown
means there has been no progress, King
said it does show that the technology
is advancing because profitably drilling
and completing a well has gotten so much
harder at these low prices.
The phase, key to production,
was a favorite with many speakers. Some
offered enough keys to crowd a ring. With
limited time and money, operators are
working to winnow down the number of
key markers for sweet spot identification
to an essential few.
Baker Hughes created a list of key
properties associated with the most
productive unconventional wells, starting with 18 and reducing it to 6, said
Usman Ahmed, vice president and chief
reservoir engineer at Baker Hughes
ReservoirTechnology.
A Pioneer study (SPE 178592) seeking proxies for critical rock properties
found that it could use just two elements,
molybdenum and aluminum, to identify
hydrocarbon-rich rock that is easily fractured. Molybdenum levels were a proxy
for the total organic content, which is a
proxy used to locate oil-rich rock. Aluminum oxide levels were used as a proxy
55
CONFERENCE REVIEW
Class 1
HIF>>NFEF >NFOZ
Class 2
HIF>NFEF >NFOZ
Class 3
HIF>NFoz >NFEF
Austin Chalk
Eagle Ford
Buda
Georgetown
Edwards
56
weight used allows some influxes, indicated the presence of potentially productive fractures.
The locations of influxes were seen
as an initial indicator of potential natural fracture systems in low permeability reservoirs, according to the paper.
Talisman also recorded the level of liquid content in the gas. A shift in that
measure may suggest a change in the
fracturenetwork.
The salinity level of the flowback
water may also be an indicator of the
extent of natural fractures. The highest
salinity levels were thought to indicate
that fracturing fluids had entered deep
into natural fracture systems. When used
with other observations, flowback water
testing can be used as an early indicator of long-term well productivity, the
paper said.
Ultimately, the study of a well pad
within the Eagle Ford divided the area
covered by those wells into three groups.
The best performing were found
in Class 2, which had significant fractures confined to the production zone.
The worst results were in Class 3,
which Grossi described as bad news.
Hydraulic fracturing was unproductive in Class 3 sections, likely because
the natural fractures extended out of
the Eagle Ford to adjoining layersup
into the Austin Chalk and down to the
Budawhich could have dissipated the
force of hydraulic fracturing with the
production zone.
Free Data
7/31/2015 1:11:40 PM
CONFERENCE REVIEW
and test the makeup of those rocks
using a handheld X-ray fluorescence
(XRF)device.
Adding the XRF geochemical data
to 3D seismic data that was processed
to show rock propertiesPoissons
ratio and Youngs moduluscreated
a more detailed and reliable decisionmakingtool.
There are also important rock measures that are not practically attainable.
For example, it is known that fracturing in unconventional reservoirs is significantly affected by the fact that the
rock is inherently anisotropic, with physical properties such as strength that vary
depending on the direction measured.
This difference has a significant effect
on the mechanical properties of the rock
and also on measurements of horizontal
stress, particularly when one is trying to
calculate the stresses from log data, said
CONFERENCE REVIEW
Barry Biggs, vice president of onshore operations at Hess, said the company
is using an army of problem solvers to help navigate through the current
downturn. Photo courtesy of the Unconventional Resources Technology
Conference.
60
Cflex
archerwell.com/qa
CONFERENCE REVIEW
then make sure we steer it in the right
place,he asked.
On the technology front, Richter listed several things in the works that may
bring greater returns for each well
drilled. Multilateral wells, new proppant
transport fluids, and automated drilling rigs are just a few of the ideas he
touched on.
He also said that Schlumberger is
collaborating with five operators in a
refracturing consortium in the Eagle
Ford Shale that is aimed at finding the
best way to increase production from
older wells.
In his presentation, Richter showed
a sample of six refractured oil wells that
saw improvements of the initial production rate between 48% and 115%.
If you get the right candidate in the
62
Hess is in the midst of a down spacing pilot program that involves drilling
horizontal wells only 500 ft apart and in a stacked formation to increase the
estimated ultimate recovery per section. Image courtesy of Hess.
speech includes logging data, production histories, rock and fluid analyses,
and aggregated public databases such
as FracFocus, the chemical registry that
tracks stimulation treatments across
North America.
She said all this information can
be used to narrow down test criteria
for moving forward with future development plans. I think that would definitely cut costs because it would help us
hone in much more quickly on our optimized designs, she said.
Another tactic that some companies are adopting means setting aside
competition for the sake of the greater
good. We trade a lot of data with offsetting operators. You can save a lot
of money on data if you do not have to
do it all yourself, said Gervasio Barzola, vice president of subsurface and
development of the Southern Wolfcamp Asset Team at Pioneer Natural Resources.JPT
63
CONFERENCE REVIEW
Beyond 10%
Matt Honarpour, third from left, speaks during a panel session at the
Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. The other panelists are, left
to right, Erdal Ozkan, Mohammad Piri, and Erick Michael.
64
At E
s
e U TC I
Se E/A #PPU
P
t
V
)P
O
TUP
IMAGINATION
www.tiwoiltools.com
CONFERENCE REVIEW
The short presentation on unconventional rock wettability during the session was to show we can at least scratch
the surface of these complex systems,
Piri said.
Driving Force
66
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parts of your operation and that you save money during the process. For more information on putting TriAx
Geogrid to work on your next job site call 888.268.4994 or visit tensarcorp.com/triaxinfo_JPT.
CONFERENCE REVIEW
Microfractures:
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Optical Microscopy
Macrofractures:
Production Data Analysis
Seismic Data Analysis
Matrix Properties:
Porosity/Permeability Studies
Scanning Electron Microscopy
X-Ray Diffraction
X-Ray Fluorescence
Well Logs
A bevy of laboratory tests have been used to determine how CO2 will interact
with the Bakken reservoir system that spans North Dakota and Montana. The
data gathered from these techniques are being used to develop predictive
models. Graphic courtesy of the Energy & Environmental Research Center.
68
ning electron microscopes and computed tomography to identify rock characteristics that would allow trapped oil to
be produced.
In experiments, the researchers
have discovered that when small shale
samples are placed into a high-pressure/
high-temperature chamber and bathed
with CO2, the oil will swell and its viscosity lowers enough so that it moves
through the rock. It demonstrates that
oil can be extracted and that CO2 can also
permeate the rocks, Sorenson said.
This is different from CO2 flooding in conventional reservoirs in which
the goal is to displace the oil and sweep
it into the production zone. Some of the
experiments were able to extract 80% to
100% of the oil from the shale samples
in a 24-hour period. However, Sorenson
said more experiments will be needed to
get a better handle on the mechanisms
involved in the process.
The information obtained from
the laboratory testing has been run
through computer models to see how
the CO2 will affect production on a larger scale. Though the models showed
that production could be improved, in
some cases doubled, they also showed
there is a clear delay in comparison with
what happens during a CO2 flood in a
conventionalformation.
Whereas in the conventional reservoir, you might see a response in a matter
of days or weeks. Generally, in these Bakken models, we are seeing responses on
the order of many weeks to months, to
many months, Sorenson said. It underscores the notion that patience is going
to be a virtue when it comes to doing any
kind of serious EOR operation in these
tight oil formations.
www.tamintl.com
WELL INTERVENTION
TAM-181_SlikPak_FullPgAd_JPT_0710.indd 1
UNCONVENTIONAL RESOURCES
RESERVOIR OPTIMIZATION
7/10/15 11:02 AM
CONFERENCE REVIEW
18 m
One problem the project is working on involves customizing the models to better reflect the reality of the
unconventional formations. Schlumberger, Computer Modelling Group, Baker
Hughes, and Kinder Morgan are assisting
the EERC with this aspect of the research.
Based on EOR tests carried out by
other institutions, Sorenson said the
improvements in oil production that
were predicted by the models were not
observed. I would probably say not
even close to having been observed, he
said. There are clearly some significant
gaps within the modeling and the reality
inthefield.
Later this year, researchers will
begin identifying field test locations,
developing a test concept, and establishing baseline characterization and monitoring systems. The field tests are also
likely to use unique injections schemes
that Sorenson said would set the project
apart from previous tests.JPT
8.4 m
Mineralization
Within Fracture
21 m
300 m
Using scanning electron microscopy technology, a microfracture in a Middle
Bakken rock sample is examined. The presence of mineralization indicates that
the microfracture is naturally occurring, which is an important factor for the
development of a reservoir model for enhanced oil recovery. Image courtesy of
the Energy & Environmental Research Center.
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COUNTRY PROFILE
Amid a global oil glut, Mexicos first auction in 77 years was able to award only two offshore blocks. The government is
hoping that future auctions will be more enticing. Image courtesy of National Commission of Hydrocarbons.
72
UNCONVENTIONAL RESOURCES
UNCONVENTIONALS
INCREASING PRODUCTION
WAS THE CHALLENGE.
Solving challenges.
H138-14 JPT.indd 1
8/13/15 1:54 PM
COUNTRY PROFILE
the Mexican government was set at 40%
for most blocks and 25% for heavy oil
and wet gas blocks.
Sierra shares a 45% working interest
in the awarded blocks. Because of technical requirements, the company partnered with Talos, which will be the operator with a 45% working interest, and
with Premier, which own a 10%share.
Read Taylor, executive director of
upstream exploration and production at
Sierra, said the company spent a yearand-a-half working to secure the assets
and was happy with the results. These
are our first set of assets, so now we have
the foundation and the question is how
can we effectively leverage that unique
position, he said.
Taylor added that the company was
willing to be more aggressive in the auction by bidding on two additional blocks.
In the end, that push proved to be more
than the consortiums other partners
were willing to accept.
With regards to the outcome in
general, he said the auction reflected
a weird time in the industry where
many companies are making more conservative decisions than they would have
before oil prices fell.
What we heard many times from
many different players as we talked with
them about potentially partnering was
that the current environment was affecting them and what their boards were willing to do in a new country, Taylorsaid.
The company will participate in the
next two auctions, which will include five
discovered fields in shallow water and
26 discovered onshore fields. If awarded onshore assets, Sierra intends to be
the operator since the qualification standards are lower. Taylor said the company
is working toward becoming a shallowwater operator, which will involve sending its personnel offshore to work with
Talos. We have a lot to do to get there
and that is going to happen over a couple
of years, he said.
Based on the weighted average of the
Mexican governments share and work
program increase, Statoil lost out on winning Block 7 by half a percentage point.
It was the companys only bid of the auc-
74
the government for its share of the production profits proved to be the key differentiator. At the end of the day, it was
very close to being a success, he said. I
think there is a lesson to be learned in
terms of where they want to be putting
their minimums.
In August, CNH did revise some of
the rules for the second auction to entice
more bidders. The changes mainly centered on lowering the financial requirements for companies and to make it easier to form a qualifying consortium. And
companies will also be allowed to make
a second bid if the first one is below the
minimum profit sharing threshold.
Several companies pulled out of the
auction at the last minute and only seven
companies and consortia submitted bids
out of an expected 25. Up until the morning of the auction, as many as 18 companies and seven consortia were slated
toparticipate.
Chevron, ExxonMobil, BG Group,
and BHP Billiton were among the noshows at the event. Several other prequalified companies announced their with-
Block
Number
Government
Take (Pretax)
(%)
Increase in
Minimum Local
Work Program
(%)
Area
(sq miles)
Resource
Block 2
120
Light Oil
55.99
10
Block 7
289
Light Oil
68.99
10
5 areas
30 September
26 areas
15 December
TBD
Postponed
N/A
Suspended
Onshore (Discoveries)
75
Q&A
Hatem Nuseibeh
President and Group Representative of Total UAE
Abdelghani Henni, JPT Middle East Editor
76
Hatem Nuseibeh is
the president and
group representative
of Total UAE. Before
taking up his Abu
Dhabi-based role in
the UAE, he was the
managing director of
both Total E&P Yemen and Total Yemen
LNG. Nuseibeh served as managing
director of Total Upstream Nigeria from
1997 to 2000, managing director of
Total E&P Libya from 2000 to 2003, and
managing director of Total E&P Syria
from 2004 to 2009. Beginning in 1993, he
spent 2 years in the reservoir division as
the head of Europe and Commonwealth
of Independent States region at Totals
headquarters in Paris before moving to
the groups new projects division, where
he was head of the Africa region until
1997. In 1984, Nuseibeh held a senior
training position in Indonesia, before
returning to the UAE in 1987 as head of
the reservoir department at Total Abu
Al Bukhoosh, where he later became
the petroleum development manager.
He joined Total as a reservoir engineer
in 1980 after starting his career as a
petroleum engineer at ADCO in Abu Dhabi
in 1976. Nuseibeh studied at Eton College
and holds a chemical engineering degree
from the University of Salford in the UK.
SPE/CSUR
Unconventional
Resources
Conference
Make Plans
to Attend!
The program committee for the
SPE/CSUR Unconventional Resources
Conference, held 2022 October 2015 at
the BMO Centre in Calgary, cordially
invites you to attend this renowned event.
Visit www.spe.org/go/urcja for
more information.
77
Q&A
Registration Opens
November 2015.
IADC/SPE
DRILLING
CONFERENCE
AND EXHIBITION
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
13 March 2016
Fort Worth Convention Center
www.spe.org/events/dc/2016
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to learn more and sign up to receive
conference updates and news.
ou n rg
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UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY, MAY CAUSE COMPETITOR
INDIGESTION, CAN CAUSE LESS STRESS AND MORE
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SIMULATION SOFTWARE, HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CREATE
EXCITABILITY IN USERS, CAN LOWER CYCLE TIME, MAY
CAUSE PROMOTIONS WWW.TNAVIGATOR.COM
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SPE AWARDS
Each year, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) confers its highest honors and awards on members
whose outstanding contributions to SPE and the petroleum industry merit special recognition. Recipients
of this year's international awards will be recognized at the Annual Reception and Banquet on Tuesday,
29 September, and Distinguished Members will be honored at the Presidents Luncheon, Wednesday,
30September during the 2015 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition inHouston.
Honorary Membership
Honorary Membership is conferred on individuals for outstanding service to SPE and/or in recognition of distinguished
scientific or engineering achievement in fields encompassed
in SPEs technical scope. Honorary Membership is the highest
honor that SPE confers on an individual and is limited to 0.1%
of SPEs total membership.
Bernt S. Aadny is a professor of petroleum engineering at the University of
Stavanger in Norway. He started working
for Phillips Petroleum in Odessa, Texas,
in 1978. In 1980, he joined Rogaland
Research (now the International Research
Institute of Stavanger) and was central in
building the Ullrigg, a drilling research rig. Later, he worked
for Saga Petroleum, where he developed the Norwegian well
design manual. He also helped develop an undergraduate
petroleum engineering program at the University of the Faroe
Islands. Aadny has published many conference and journal
articles and several books such as Modern Well Design and
Petroleum Rock Mechanics: Drilling Operations and Well
Design, and was one of the editors of Advanced Drilling and
Well Technology. He holds 10 patents. He has served as a
board member in the SPE Stavanger Section, on the JPT Editorial Committee, and on the planning committees of many SPE
conferences. Aadny has been a reviewer for SPE Journal, SPE
Drilling & Completion, and the Journal of Petroleum Science
and Engineering. He has given many SPE short courses
around the world, mainly on the topic of modern well design.
He was a recipient of the 1999 SPE Drilling Engineering
Award. Aadny holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the
University of Wyoming, an MS in control engineering from the
University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD in rock mechanics
from the Norwegian Institute of Technology.
84
85
SPE AWARDS
86
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SPE AWARDS
Amin H. Nasser is the acting president
and chief executive officer of Saudi
Aramco and a member of the Saudi Aramco board of directors. He concurrently
serves as senior vice president of
upstream, a position he has held since
2008. Nasser joined the company in 1982
and held various technical and operational assignments with
the Production Engineering, Drilling, and Reservoir Management departments. In 1997, he became the manager of the Ras
Tanura Producing Department, and later, the manager of the
Northern Area Producing Engineering Department, the Safaniya Offshore Producing Department, and the Safaniya
Onshore Producing Department. He was appointed chief petroleum engineer in 2004, and named executive director of Petroleum Engineering and Development (PE&D) in 2005. Nassers
leadership led to his appointment as vice president of PE&D in
2006, and then as acting business-line head of Exploration and
Producing (E&P) in 2007. In 2008, he became E&Ps senior vice
president. He is actively involved in professional and societal
activities focused on the advancement of education, and people
and technology development. He is a member of the Dhahran
Techno-Valley Company board of directors. A longtime SPE
member, he has served on SPEs Industry Advisory Council
since 2008. Nasser holds a BS in petroleum engineering from
King Fahd University of Petroleum andMinerals.
88
SPE AWARDS
Richard D. Folger is a managing general
partner of Colbridge Partners. He began
his career in the oil and gas industry
working on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
System and in gas plant construction at
Collier Carbon and Chemical. From 1984
to 1992, he was employed at First City
National Bank Midland, where he became senior vice president and manager of the Energy Lending Division. Folger
joined Compressor Systems as vice president of business
development in 1992 and was appointed president in 1996. In
1999, he was elected president and chief executive officer of
the parent company, Warren Equipment Co. Folger was a
recipient of the Cockrell School of Engineerings Distinguished
Engineering Graduate Award at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) in 2011. He was presented with the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society Hope Award in 2013. His professional and
community affiliations include roles as director of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Dallas El Paso Branch, past chairman of the
Board of Midland Memorial Hospital, director of the Permian
Basin Petroleum Association, and member of the UT Engineering Advisory Board. Folger holds a BBA in petroleum land
management and a BS in petroleum engineering from UT.
90
Ambient_Seismic-JPT-FINAL-Print.pdf
8/12/15
11:07 AM
SPE AWARDS
92
d
WDh
Unpredictable: plug-and-perf
dDh
>
Visit us at ATCE
Booth 1025
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SPE AWARDS
from the Universidad de Los Andes in Venezuela, and an MS and
a PhD in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa.
Cem Sarica (certificate) is the fourth recipient of the award.
For his full biography, see the John Franklin Carll Award.
94
SPE AWARDS
ity (HSSE-SR). He cochaired the 2010 SPE International Conference on HSSE-SR and four regional HSSE-SR conferences
in North America and Europe. Knode holds a BS in geology
from Texas Christian University and an MS in geology from
the University of Texas at Arlington.
96
WELL INTERVENTION
MATURE FIELDS
UNCONVENTIONALS
Solving challenges.
H039-15 JPT.indd 1
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SPE AWARDS
98
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SPE AWARDS
Helena Wu is a senior reservoir engineer
at Santos in Adelaide, Australia. Since
starting the Santos Graduate Program in
2008, she has completed field and officebased rotations in production engineering, reservoir engineering, and business/
production planning. In 2007, she was
awarded a University Medal from the Queensland University of
Technology. Wu is chair of the SPE South Australian Section,
secretary and treasurer of the SPE Australia/New Zealand/
Papua New Guinea Council, a member of the SPE Asia Pacific
Regional Technical Advisory Committee, a member of the SPE
Gender Diversity Task Force, and a leader of the Innovation
Subcommittee of the SPE International Young Member Engagement Committee. In 2014, Wu was a recipient of the Regional
Young Member Outstanding Service Award. She was also named
the Australian Institute of Energys Young Energy Professional,
South Australia. Wu holds a BS in mechanical engineering and
an MS in engineering management from the Queensland University of Technology, an MS in petroleum engineering from
the University of Adelaide, and a graduate diploma in energy
and resources management from University College London.
ARCHER
BRITT
DUNN-NORMAN
GAZI
HASAN
HAUT
HOWER
HUH
KING
LIM
LIU
MARTIN
MUSA
ONYEKONWU
TORRES-VERDIN
WONG
WU
ZAINALABEDIN
Distinguished Membership
SPE Distinguished Membership recognizes SPE members
whose achievements and/or service to the society are deemed
worthy of special recognition. SPE members become Distinguished Members when they are elected by the SPE Board
of Directors, or once they become a past president of SPE or
the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers; an SPE Honorary Member; a recipient of the
Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal, John Franklin Carll Award, Lester C. Uren Award, DeGolyer Distinguished Service Medal,
Public Service Award, or Distinguished Service Award.
Rosalind A. Archer, University of Auckland
Larry K. Britt, NSI Fracturing and Britt Rock Mechanics
Laboratory
Shari Dunn-Norman, Missouri University of Science
& Technology
Naz H. Gazi, Kuwait Oil Co.
A. Rashid Hasan, Texas A&M University
Richard C. Haut, Houston Advanced Research
Tim L. Hower, MHA Petroleum Consultants
Chun Huh, The University of Texas at Austin
George E. King, Apache
Min-Teong Lim, Enhanced Oil Recovery Consulting
Yuzhang Liu, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration
and Development
Tony Martin, Baker Hughes
Dauda Aleokhai Musa, Flowgrids
Michael Obi Onyekonwu, University of Port Harcourt
100
Knowing where to acquire fluid samples can be as important as knowing the samples
quality and propertiesespecially in complex reservoirs.
Optimize your decision-making with a better understanding of where the best permeability
potential exists by combining the MagTrak logging-while-drilling (LWD) magnetic
resonance service and the FASTrak LWD fluid analysis sampling and testing service.
Call us or visit BakerHughes.com/LWD to learn more about our industry-leading porosity
intelligence and LWD formation evaluation services.
+44 2070 483646 or +1 713-268-6218
2015 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. 43338 07/2015
102
SPE Mission
To collect, disseminate, and exchange
technical knowledge concerning
the exploration, development and
production of oil and gas resources,
and related technologies for the
public benefit; and to provide
opportunities for professionals
to enhance their technical and
professional competence.
SPE Vision
Enable the global oil and gas
E&P industry to share technical
knowledge needed to meet the
worlds energy needs in a safe and
environmentally responsiblemanner.
103
Initial Efforts
104
Recent Work
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106
Topic
20112014
20152017
Vision
Soft Skills
Committee (SSC)
Publish articles in
Italian Section featured quarterly
section newsletters column.
Publish articles
in industry
publications
Presentations
Workshops
Diversity
Section/student
chapter liaisons
Publish articles in
SPE journals
Budget/publicity
External to SPE/
connect to other
resources
108
Conclusion
References
Fattahi, B., Howes, S., Milanovich, N., etal.
2012. Soft Skills Council: A New SPE
Initiative. J Pet Technol 64 (8): 5255.
Fattahi, B., Milanovich, N., Howes, S., et al.
2013. The Elements of a Soft Competency
Matrix. J Pet Technol 65 (10): 92102.
Fattahi, B., Milanovich, N., Howes, S., et al.
2014. Soft Competency Development as
a Global Challenge. J Pet Technol 66 (10):
136141.
Goleman, D. 1995. Emotional Intelligence:
Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, first
edition. New York City: Bantam.
Isaacs, W. 1999. Dialogue and the Art of
Thinking Together, first edition. New York
City: Random House.
Joni, S.A. 2004. The Third Opinion: How
Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight to
Create Superior Results, first edition. New
York City: Penguin Group.
Kofman, F. 2006. Conscious Business: Howto
Build Value Through Values, firstedition.
Louisville, Colorado: SoundsTrue.
LeDoux, J. 1996. The Emotional Brain:
TheMysterious Underpinnings of
Emotional Life, first edition. New York
City: Touchstone Books.
Lynn, A.B. 2008. The EQ Interview:
Finding Employees with High Emotional
Intelligence, first edition. New York City:
AMACOM.
McVay, D. 2015. Management: Industry
Needs Re-Education in Uncertainty
Assessment. J Pet Technol 67 (2): 7276.
Oshry, B. 1999. Leading Systems: Lessons
From the Power Lab, first edition. San
Francisco, California: Berrett-Koehler
Publishers.
Patterson K., Grenny, J., McMillan, R.,
etal. 2002. Crucial Conversations: Tools
for Talking When Stakes are High, first
edition. New York City: McGraw-Hill.
Senge, P. 1990. The Fifth Discipline: The Art&
Practice of The Learning Organization,
first edition. New York City: Doubleday.
Senge, P., Smith, B.J., Ross, R.B. et al. 1994,
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies
and Tools for Building a Learning
Organization, first edition. New York City:
Doubleday.
Motivate
Inspire
Educate
Nominate
TECHNOLOGY
RESERVOIR
PERFORMANCE
AND MONITORING
Recent months have been very challenging for the oil and gas industry. When the previous Reservoir Performance and Monitoring feature appeared in JPT in September
2014, Brent was trading at approximately USD 105/bbl. At the end of June 2015,
when this statement was written, its price was 41% lower, at just above USD 62/bbl.
In addition, the world rig counts reported by Baker Hughes in September 2014 and
June 2015 were 3,659 and 2,152, respectively, a decrease of approximately 41% (rig
count is a trailing indicator of oil price). The international and North America rigcount decreases between September 2014 and June 2015 were approximately 12 and
57%, respectively. These steep decreases, mostly the direct consequence of a global
imbalance between demand and supply, are warnings that our conventional innovation schemes need to be recalibrated.
Even if the rig count has been dropping, the rig efficiency continues to improve.
From multiwell pads to advanced drilling technologies, innovation is helping keep current production high. If current low prices persist, further innovation may improve
the alignment between short-term production and long-term recovery, while lowering overall production costs. Maximizing short-term production and optimizing longterm recovery may provide key opportunities for cost savings during the next downturn of major proportions. This could be achieved through the industrys ability to
innovatively acquire and interpret data for optimizing the reservoir performance. The
industry is continuously looking at new monitoring devices and techniques, and there
are huge opportunities for monitoring fieldwide data with the ultimate goal of understanding the reservoir better and predicting its short- and long-term production more
accurately. The current downturn may be a great opportunity for the big-data revolution from other industries to be extended to the oil and gas industry in general and to
reservoir performance in particular.
As a result of the industrys current efforts to improve reservoir performance
and reduce production costs, many great papers have been presented at recent SPE
conferences and meetings. From the more than 100 papers reviewed for this feature,
approximately half of them present case histories, field-data interpretation, and work
flows, and the other half present theoretical and laboratory results. The papers summarized in this feature and recommended as additional reading are excellent samples
of this distribution. JPT
110
A Methodology of PDG
Interpretation Focusing
on Both Flowing and
Shut-In Periods
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights
of paper SPE 170740, Pressure-Transient Analysis as an Element of Permanent
Reservoir Monitoring, by A.A. Shchipanov, R.A. Berenblyum, and L. Kollbotn,
IRIS, prepared for the 2014 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
Amsterdam, 2729 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
JPT SEPTEMBER 2015
111
Period 2 (log-log)
Flowing and/or
shut-in Period 1
(log-log)
Choosing a model and
matching measurements
Period N (log-log)
Correction of the
model/parameters
if necessary
...
Forecasting
well
performance
112
Field Cases
Conclusions
Experimental Setup
Confining
pressure
pump
Pressure transducer
Manual valve
Electric valve
Check valve
Heater
Core holder
H2O reservoir
aboratory measurements of
fracture-aperture distributions
have been made by use of computedtomography (CT) scanning under
various conditions of effective stress.
The stress-dependent aperturedistribution data demonstrate that
increasing stress results in two effects:
The mean aperture will decrease and
the variance of aperture distribution
will increase. By analyzing the stressdependent mean and variance of
aperture distributions, this paper
provides a more straightforward
method for estimating stress-dependent
permeability and capillary pressure in
rock fractures.
Recirculation
pressure
vessel
Backpressure
pump
H2O
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights
of paper SPE 170819, Investigating Aperture-Based Stress-Dependent Permeability
and Capillary Pressure in Rock Fractures, by Da Huo, SPE, Boxiao Li, SPE, and Sally
M. Benson, SPE, Stanford University, prepared for the 2014 SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 2729 October. The paper has not been
peerreviewed.
vox
CTMA= i=1
(CTmatCTi ), . . . . . (1)
, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)
C
where e is the fracture aperture and C is
the calibration coefficient. In this experiment, calibration coefficients are determined using spacers of 0.20, 0.31, 0.42,
and 0.53 mm between the two rock surfaces. After the sample has been placed
into the core holder, a slight confining
stress of 0.34 MPa is added to flatten the
spacer. For the calibration, 20 scans are
taken to further increase the accuracy of
CT scanning.
e=
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
114
Change the
way you drill.
eVolve.
eVolve_WT_081015.indd 1
8/11/15 3:22 PM
Mean of
aperture
distribution
Effectivestress
increase
Mechanical
aperture
Entry pressure
Permeability
Friction factor
Variance
of aperture
distribution
Pore-size
distribution
Capillary pressure
Entry pressure
Fig. 2Relationship of effective stress with permeability and capillary pressure
for rock fractures.
Experimental Data
116
Conclusions
Introduction
Hydraulic-Fracturing and
Cleanup Experiences
CT nitrogen lifting was chosen for unloading the wells. The operational details
of the fracturing treatments, including
minifracture injection, and the well performance during cleanup are described
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights
of paper SPE 172956, Understanding Unusual Diagnostic-Fracture-Injection-Test
Results in Tight Gas Fields: A Holistic Approach To Resolving the Data, by R.N.Naidu,
E.A. Guevara, A.J. Twynam, J. Rueda, W. Dawson, E. Moses, and M. Rylance,
BP, prepared for the 2015 SPE Middle East Unconventional Gas Conference and
Exhibition, Muscat, Oman, 2628 January. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
118
DENHAM CAPITAL
Energy and resources-focused private equity firm with over $7.9 billion in invested and committed capital | www.denhamcapital.com
Denham Capital does not offer or sell securities to the public. No solicitation or offer to sell securities is made hereby.
12,000
10,800
Breakdown
10,550 psi
9.0
8.0
8,400
7.0
7,200
6.0
6,000
5.0
4,800
4.0
3,600
3.0
2,400
2.0
1,200
1.0
0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
Pressure (psi)
9,600
10.0
0
25.0
the fracture treatment was not fully recovered because the duration of CT lifting with nitrogen to clean up the well was
longer than planned.
Well 1, Stage 3. The third target interval was perforated in six runs with the
same approach as that used in previous
stages. The WHP observed after perforating was 186 psi, as a result of gas influx. The DFIT of Stage 3 was not carried
out because of the presence of the gas in
the wellbore and formation disturbance/
transient flow after perforating. Instead,
a step-rate test (SRT) was performed
with 35-lbm/1,000 gal linear gel fluid to
determine surface pressures as a function of injection rates.
Following the SRT, a specialized
treatment was placed to arrest potential downward height growth during the
placement of the main fracture treatment. Given learnings from Stage 1, a
15% HCl stage was pumped ahead of
the planned specialized treatment and,
once again, a significant reduction in
pressure (2,500 psi at surface) was observed as the acid hit the perforations.
A stepdown sequence was additionally
performed at the end of the injection to
assess the perforation and near-wellbore
frictionpressures.
A minifracture treatment immediately followed the specialized-treatment
stage, with 200 bbl of 35-lbm/1,000 gal
crosslinked fluid being pumped, and the
pressure decline was then monitored.
Analysis of the minifracture injection
120
Conclusions
Introduction
D
Parameters
A
Baseline Value: 4.86535108
3108
3.5108
4108
4.5108
Low
5108
5.5108
6108
High
amount of uncertainty in the prior distribution and the average amount of uncertainty in the posterior distribution. To
the best of the authors knowledge, this
is the first attempt for a priori surveillance analysis by multiple history matching under data uncertainty by use of rejection sampling and proxies.
The proposed method has several
benefits. First, the linear Gaussian assumption between surveillance data and
objective function can have a major impact on the accuracy of the quantification of the uncertainty reduction. The
method proposed in this work does not
make the linear Gaussian assumption.
Therefore, it can better capture the distributions of, and the relation between,
the surveillance data and the objective
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights
of paper SPE 173229, Model-Based A Priori Evaluation of Surveillance-Program
Effectiveness With Proxies, by Jincong He, Jiang Xie, Pallav Sarma, Xian-Huan
Wen, Wen H. Chen, and Jairam Kamath, Chevron, prepared for the 2015 SPE
Reservoir Simulation Symposium, Houston, 2325 February. The paper has not been
peer reviewed.
function. Second, it is a black-box method that does not require gradient information, and therefore the work flow can
be used with most simulators as long as
it can predict the value of the surveillance data from the surveillance program and the value of the objective function. In addition, the number of training
simulations needed is independent of
the number of plausible data realizations
and is thus independent of the number
of history-matching runs. The computational cost is also insensitive to the number of data points to be collected in the
surveillance program. Furthermore, besides the quantification of expected uncertainty reduction, the work flow also
enables qualitative screening of surveillance concepts by analyzing the ranking
and the magnitude of the sensitivities of
the objective function and the surveillance data to different parameters. The
complete paper provides a discussion of
the formulation of the problem of quantifying the uncertainty reduction for surveillance programs and details the new
work flow.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
JPT SEPTEMBER 2015
121
Enhance
Your Career.
Get Certified.
Petroleum
Engineering
Certification
SPEs Petroleum Engineering
Certification program provides
you with an opportunity to
obtain an international credential
recognizing your petroleum
engineering knowledge.
Register now for an upcoming
certification exam to validate
your technical knowledge and
skills in engineering fundamentals
and problem solving. Or, sign up
to take a review course. Find out
about upcoming courses and
exams in your area at
www.spe.org/training/exams.
Methodology
Numerical Results
Heavy-Hitter-Alignment Analysis. A
useful feature of this work flow is that it
enables qualitative heavy-hitter analysis
of the different surveillance plans. After
the proxies for the objective function and
surveillance data are generated in Step
3, a sensitivity study can be performed
with these proxies. Fig. 1 shows a tornado chart for net present value (NPV) constructed by setting all variables at their
mean values and then perturbing them
one variable at a time (OVAT) to their
minima and maxima.
For a surveillance plan to resolve the
uncertainty in the objective function, the
surveillance data must be sensitive to the
heavy hitters of the objective function.
In other words, it is desirable to have the
ranking of heavy hitters in the surveillance data aligned with that for the objective function.
The authors note that the OVAT procedure used here for sensitivity study is
best for response surfaces that are relatively linear. For highly nonlinear response surfaces, more-sophisticated
methods such as global sensitivity analysis can be applied. The authors also note
that the heavy-hitter analysis discussed
in the complete paper is supposed to be
only a qualitative measure for screening surveillance concepts. For morequantitative analysis, which is essential
for design optimization and other applications, the actual amount of uncertainty reduction for each of the surveillance
plans must be calculated. This process is
detailed in the complete paper, as is the
methodology for ensuring the quality of
the results.
Discussion
TECHNOLOGY
Nicholas
Clem, SPE, is
an engineering
manager for
new-product
development
of sand-control
completions equipment at Baker
Hughes. He holds a BS degree in
mechanical engineering from The
University of Texas at Austin. Clem
serves on the SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition Well
Completions Subcommittee and
ontheJPT Editorial Committee.
COMPLETIONS
Like a fingerprint, every completion is unique and gives each well its own identity. The
hardware selection, its deployment method, and the associated stimulation technique
combine to create a one-of-kind completion, custom tailored for each application. It
is this infinite variation that constantly fuels a collective desire to bring stability to the
completion process. More so than ever before, the themes of efficiency and optimization serve as a backbone for completion design and execution. These themes remain
valid under any market condition but become all the more significant in challenging
or volatile climates.
Well completions play a critical role in the overall productivity of a reservoir,
which inherently drives the decision-making processes toward well efficiency and
production optimization. While there are many gains to be had around more-efficient
hardware and stimulation deployment, improving the overall well efficiency and optimizing the production profile through carefully designed and implemented completion strategies represent the true endgame.
The challenge lies in accessing the key ingredient that enables harmonization of
all the various components: data. Today, full-field studies comparing varying completion techniques with associated production performance are commonplace to evaluate and home in on optimum completion methods. Sensing technology, common
to drilling and evaluation, continues to be integrated into completions, providing a
front-row seat for the main event, production. The adage knowledge is power could
not be more relevant in this context. Data collection and analysis, and subsequent controls, are what ultimately will enable the most-efficient and -optimized wells.
The papers highlighted in this feature speak to these themes that have become
ever-present within the completions community. This selection of case histories and
new technology reinforces the inherent desire to achieve stability through efficiency
and optimization, even under the most challenging of market conditions.JPT
124
Introduction
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights
of paper SPE 171629, Does a Multientry, Multistage Fracturing-Sleeve System
Improve Production in Bakken Shale Wells Over Other Completion Methods?, by
Ben Wellhoefer, Andy Eis, and Geoffrey Gullickson, Halliburton, prepared for
the 2014 SPE/CSUR Unconventional Resources ConferenceCanada, Calgary,
30September2October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Background
Completion Methods
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
JPT SEPTEMBER 2015
125
30
25
20
15
MEFSS Well 1
MEFSS Well 2
10
SEFSS Well
P&P Well
0
3 Month
6 Month
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
MEFSS Well 1
MEFSS Well 2
40,000
SEFSS Well
P&P Well
20,000
0
0
10
15
Time (months)
Fig. 2Beyond-6-month production graph from the sample wells.
126
2015-07-27 10:50 AM
Introduction
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of
paper SPE 170721, Completion Optimization and Validation in the Williston Basin
Through Integrated Data Sets, by J. Barhaug, SPE, V. King, SPE, A. Schmidt, SPE,
A.Southcott, SPE, L. Steinke, SPE, and H. Harper, WPX Energy, prepared for the
2014 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 2729 October.
The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Completion-Optimization
Analysis
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
128
ing the proppant volume. Before data acquisition and analysis, the design for the
company was 3.3 million lbm of proppant for a long lateral, or approximately 350 lbm/ft. The recommended design
derived from the multivariate analysis
was 425 lbm/ft, or 4 million lbm of proppant for a total well. This change is expected to yield statistically improved results but may not be fully optimized
foreconomics.
Perforation Scheme. The next step in
completion optimization was to examine the number of entry points per stage
and the number of perforation shots per
entry point. The planar-3D-geometry
fracture-simulator model and the microseismic data provided insight into
this component. On the basis of the
two types of available entry points per
stage for cemented laterals in Phase
1, the microseismic showed that three
entry points limited out-of-zone height
growth better than two entry points.
Treatment Rate. From the FPHM, a
correlation could be seen between treatment rate and height growth out of
the pay zone; a distinct trend could
be seen between less height growth
and lower-rate stages and more height
growth associated with higher-rate
stages. Treatment rate was included in
the multivariate analysis, but this variable had a low sensitivity compared with
the stage-length and proppant-volume
variables. The transformed treatmentrate trend is negatively monotonic and
shows that increased rate will have a negative effect on the response variable. The
transformed trend also shows no benefit
to decreasing the treatment rate below
35 bbl/min. The multivariate analysis
supports the fracture rate determined
from the forward fracture modeling.
Growing out of zone has the potential to
be detrimental to well performance in
three ways: by potentially increasing a
wells water/oil ratio, by decreasing the
effective half-length, and by decreasing
the in-zoneconductivity.JPT
Sustainable
Development (SD)
Technical Section
The SPE Health, Safety, Security,
Environment, and Social
Responsibility technical discipline
announces the formation of a
new technical section to give its
members, regardless of discipline,
an increased awareness and
opportunity to network in the area
of sustainable development.
This section seeks to:
Exchange sustainable
development technical
information
Support members in acquiring
sustainable development
competencies
Raise awareness of the role
sustainable development plays
in the oil and gas industry
Improve performance
through better application
of sustainable development
principles and practices
Liaise with and learn from
other industry organizations
Deepen your learning and share
your insights on this subject
during discussions at virtual
meetings, forums, and workshops.
Enjoy the convenience of online
collaboration and the benefits of
at least one face-to-face meeting
each year. Learn more and join
today at connect.spe.org/sdts.
Completion Optimization
The Valdemar field is located in the Danish sector of the North Sea. The reservoir is characterized by a heterogeneous
sequence of argillaceous chalk with thin
beds of marl and claystone. The Lower
Cretaceous reservoir is subdivided into
14 reservoir units on the basis of nanopaleontology and sequence stratigraphy. Because of the Valdemar fields suboptimal production rates, an intensive
study was carried out in 2008. Numerous experts were invited to view data,
perform simulations, and offer recommendations. Eleven key items were
identified as areas of potential improvement and are detailed further in the
complete paper:
1. Improve the accuracy of
treatment displacements.
Liner
Tubing
Sliding Sleeve
(closed)
Sump Packer
2. Implement aggressive
fracturing-fluid-breaker
designs.
3. Improve fracture conductivity
by use of resieved sand.
4. Introduce real-time data
acquisition and modeling.
5. Enhance interpretation of
minifracture analysis.
6. Gather pressure data for afterclosure analysis.
7. Minimize total fluids injected.
8. Assess the use of ceramic
screened sliding sleeves
forproppant-flowback
control.
9. Supervise well cleanup.
10. Institute quality-control
procedure for completion
brine.
11. Introduce ceramic proppants
for fracture-conductivity
enhancement.
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of
paper SPE 170981, Fracture Optimization Reduces Completion Cost While Improving
Well Productivity in the Valdemar Field Offshore Denmark, by Dario Stemberger,
SPE, Maersk Oil, and Pedro Saldungaray, SPE, and Terry Palisch, SPE, Carbo
Ceramics, prepared for the 2014 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
Amsterdam, 2729 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Field Implementation
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
130
67,08/$7,21&2,/('78%,1* (&2,/+<'5$8/,&:25.29(5
&(0(17,1*1,752*(1,1'8675,$/1,752*(1
6/,&./,1( %5$,'('/,1((/(&75,&/,1(:$7(50$1$*(0(17
63(&,$/6(59,&(6:(//&21752/
132
the tool string is run to the next perforation interval, the zone is perforated,
and the string is POOH to prepare the
next isolation assembly and perforating
guns. This assembly is then run into the
well to 100 ft above the preceding perforations, and the process is repeated
until all fractures arecompleted.
Well VBA-6E Propped-Fracture Design. Well VBA-6E was completed in
June 2011 with the placement of 13
propped hydraulic fractures and one
extended-reach predrilled limited-entry
liner, which was subsequently acidized
with hydrochloric acid. The fracture designs considered the use of resieved natural 20/40-mesh sand in the first five
zones and then 16/20-mesh low-density
ceramic proppant in the remaining eight
fractures in order to compare the two
proppants performance. Of note, while
the proposed sand fractures were designed with 1,000,000 lbm of proppant
each, the ceramic-proppant treatments
were planned with only 500,000 lbm
sand-propped zones. The higher fracture conductivity obtained with the ceramic proppant at even one-half the
sand mass, resulted in productivity improved by some 50%. Qualitative analysis of PBUs depicts a much-improved
Well-Flow- and
Buildup-Test Results
Successful Refrac
Requirements:
Chemical
Diversion
ESeal
RF Liner
Precision Isolation
Low to ???
High
Pressure Integrity
Low to ???
High
Conclusions
1.281.552.2200
www.EnventureGT.com/technical-library
133
Introduction
Diversion
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of
paper SPE 173348, Challenging Assumptions About Fracture-Stimulation-Placement
Effectiveness With Fiber-Optic Distributed-Sensing Diagnostics: Diversion, Stage
Isolation, and Overflushing, by Gustavo A. Ugueto C., Paul T. Huckabee, and
Mathieu M. Molenaar, Shell, prepared for the 2015 SPE Hydraulic Fracturing
Technology Conference, The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 35 February. The paper has
not been peer reviewed.
evaluation of the effectiveness of diversion technologies. Furthermore, diagnostics provide information required to
fine-tune deployment procedures. The
complete paper provides examples of
FO-diagnostics results for one type of
diversion technique (biodegradable particulate diversion).
Overflushing
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
134
Discussion
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
WEST AFRICA
THAILAND
SINGAPORE
GERMANY
BRASIL
@ConnectwithJDR
/jdr-cable-systems
/ConnectwithJDR
WWW.JDRGLOBAL.COM
TECHNOLOGY
John Macpherson,
SPE, is senior
technical adviser
for drilling services
for Baker Hughes.
He has been in the
oil and gas industry
for 41 years, much of that time with
Baker Hughes in the upstream sector.
Macpherson has held various researchand-development management posts,
has published extensively, holds several
patents, and has been a committee
member of SPE conferences. He is
the current chairperson of the SPE
Drilling Systems Automation Technical
Section and a member of the Drilling
Systems Automation Roadmap
initiative. Macpherson holds a BS
degree in geology from the University
of Glasgow and is a member of the
JPTEditorialCommittee.
136
DRILLING
MANAGEMENT
AND AUTOMATION
Drilling automation is the use of computer-assisted or -controlled devices in drilling a wellbore. It involves a considerable amount of technology, including mechanized and robotized surface equipment and semiautonomous downhole drilling tools;
entire drilling systems composed of linked downhole tools, surface control systems,
and remote monitoring; and data analytics. It includes both conventional overbalanced drilling and managed-pressure drilling. The economic drivers for automation
are increasing complexity, data overload, efficient drilling, and safety, to name a few.
Automated systems and equipment for drilling are under development by many,
including equipment providers, service companies, and operators. Interested members of these companies have formed a consortium, the SPE Drilling Systems Automation Technical Section, which is promoting open data standards and protocols to
exchange quality data in a safe and predictable manner. The group also looks outside
the oil industry to learn from the route to automation taken by other industries.
It has become clear that, while the technology and infrastructure for drilling
automation exist, there are obstacles to commercial implementation. The primary
hurdle is transitioning all the technology to the business environment. The many silos
of our drilling industry make this technology-transfer problem quite challenging.
The tension between technology and business is not new to the oil field or to any
industry. You can have the most breathtaking technology, but, if there is no attempt
to communicate the need for it, it will simply stagnate and never see the light of day.
However, if the business side of the equation can envision the commercial benefits of a
technology, the economic pull-through can revolutionize an industry. A means of communicating that vision is to develop a technology roadmap showing the developmental
pathway the technology is following. A means of ensuring that all can take advantage
of new technology and profit from innovation is to develop open systems using agreedupon standards. A means of rewarding both developers and users is to implement
systems-automation products by use of performance-based business models.
One of the interesting developments in the last few years is an emerging understanding of the need to develop the communication infrastructure for a drilling operation. This infrastructure links all facets and players in a drilling operation: downhole,
surface, remote, and enterprise. It forms the framework supporting open standards
and enables the implementation of modern data analytics, real-time modeling, and
control systems.
The papers presented here represent a good overview of technology roadmapping of drilling automation, of modeling and simulation critical to automation,
of drilling-management processes that make use of easily automated repetitive work
flows, and of the value of quality data. The topics are innovative and thought provoking. Enjoy! JPT
Drilling-Systems-Automation Roadmap:
The Means To Accelerate Adoption
he drilling-systems-automation
roadmap (DSA-R) initiative is a
cross-industry effort launched in June
2013 to help accelerate the adoption
of advancements in drilling-systems
automation (DSA) for both onshore and
offshore wells. When completed, this
technology roadmap will provide the
drilling industry with a well-defined
guide on the expected development and
adoption of DSA technology in both the
short and the long term. The roadmap
uses a well-known template developed
by Sandia National Laboratories to
provide a mechanism to forecast how
DSA developments can progress.
Introduction
DSA-R Challenges
The DSA-R process identified eight interdependent challenges that can be used
to describe anticipated advancements in
DSA. These advancements are anticipated to be both innovative and disruptive
to achieve the vision of the roadmap. The
eight challenges are
Systems architecture: defining
integration and physical
interoperability of the drilling
system, including prime
subsystems, and includes
the hierarchy of work flows,
interfaces, definitions of states,
and other aspects that enable
system functionality.
Communications: addressing links
among the downhole, surface,
remote operating centers, and
distributed experts, in addition to
standards for common protocols
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper SPE 173010, Drilling-Systems-Automation Roadmap: The Means To
Accelerate Adoption, by John P. de Wardt, SPE, De Wardt and Company; John D.
Macpherson, SPE, Baker Hughes; Mario Zamora, M-I Swaco; Blaine Dow, SPE,
and Slim Hbaieb, SPE, Schlumberger; Robin A. Macmillan, SPE, National Oilwell
Varco; Moray L. Laing, SPE, SAS Institute; Amanda M. DiFiore, QinetiQ North
America; Calvin E. Inabinett Jr., SPE, Aerojet Rocketdyne; and Mark W. Anderson,
SPE, Shell International E&P, prepared for the 2015 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and
Exhibition, London, 1719 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Systems Architecture
Systems architecture is a top-down description of how connected elements deliver value. This hierarchy, when logically
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
JPT SEPTEMBER 2015
137
Communications
Instrumentation and
Measurement Systems
Instrumentation and measurement systems are critical components in any automated system. They provide the raw and
derived data required to feed virtually all of
the real-time processes continuously. Surface drilling machinery, mud-flow-related
components, drilling-fluid-related systems, mud logging, measurement-whiledrilling and logging-while-drilling downhole tools, and cement and mud mixing
all contain and require instrumentation
and measurement systems and associated
sensors. While the number of sensors used
during any drilling operation is already
high and is probably increasing, there is
serious doubt that most current sensors
are suited to provide the necessary input
data for DSA in the future.
The challenge of instrumentation
and measurement systems is to define
the future technology development and
application of sensors and instrumentation that support the DSA roadmap.
Drilling Machines
and Equipment
138
Control Systems
Simulation Systems
and Modeling
Human/Systems Integration
The application of human/systems integration to drilling automation is a relatively new concept that promises to improve the application and acquisition of
automated technology. Human/systems
integration is a completely user-centered
process that calls out the necessity of addressing multiple domains, or areas, early
in technology development and acquisition to avoid the pitfall of waiting until the
end of the design process to incorporate
good human-centered practices.
Human-factors engineering focuses on ensuring that the human/machine
interface adheres to user-centered design practices. Good human-factorsengineering practices greatly reduce the
potential for human error. These practices also promote operational efficiency by
reducing the amount of time an operator
needs to interact with the system.
Industry Standards
and Certification
f.NDF-10476.jpt.Harsh.Environments.Deepwater.Ad.indd 1
4/6/15 8:56 AM
he process of drilling a
boreholeisvery complex,
involving surfaceand downhole
drillingsystems that interact
withthe drilling fluid and the
surrounding rocks. Modeling and
simulating every aspect of the
drillingprocess and drilling system
is still considered too complex
to be realized. However, many
areas of modeling and simulation
are undergoing aggressive
development, and the advancement
of this technology may dramatically
improvefuture attempts to model
and simulate the entire drilling
processaccurately.
Introduction
Drillstring-Dynamics Models
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)
Drilling Simulator
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
140
Drilling Modeling
and Simulation for
Automation and Control
Great strides have been made to mechanize and automate the drilling equipment
at the surface. The challenge for the control systems is how to extend this automation to control and automate the process of well construction from surface
todownhole.
Downhole-Dynamics Mitigation and
Control. Drilling optimization by controlling surface systems, such as surface
weight on bit and rotary speed in revolutions per minute, has been an area
of extensive research. Various software
models have been developed to mitigate downhole dynamics and to improve
drilling performance. Some of the software models have been used to advise a
driller, while others have been connected to the rig control systems to automatically optimize the drilling process.
Responsive Design
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142
Visualization-Informed Drilling
Operators Perspective
Browse the Conference Preview at www.spe.org/go/atce15j for complete details on ATCE 2015.
Vibrant vision
New perspectives
Evolution of the
Fast Drill Process
Days
Mobilize Rig,
Rig Up,
Run in Hole,
Perform PressureIntegrity Test,
Other
13 in.
9 in.
Depth
Flat-TimeReduction Cycle
Reach TD
Pull out of Hole,
Run Casing,
Off Bottom Time (e.g., Trip for Failed
Cement,
Measurement While Drilling)
Run in Hole,
Pull out of Hole, Run Casing,
Perform PressureCement, Run Completion,
Integrity Test,
Rig Down, Move Off Location, Other
Other
Reach
Total Depth
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper SPE 170751, Maximizing Capital Efficiency by Expanding the Limiter
Redesign Process to Flat-Time Operations, by M.A. Valenta, SPE, M.W. Walker,
SPE, P.E. Pastusek, SPE, J.R. Bailey, SPE, W.C. Elks, SPE, S.B. Lewis, SPE, and
N.D.Mitchell, ExxonMobil Development Company, prepared for the 2014 SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 2729 October. The paper has not
been peer reviewed.
Flat-Time Reduction
Flat time can be described best on a daysvs.-depth curve as all drilling stewarded
time outside of the Fast Drill metric. In
Fig. 1, the flat time is represented by the
red lines where there is a plateau in progress (depth). The Fast Drill metric starts
after a successful integrity test and ends
upon reaching section total depth as depicted by the blue lines.
When analyzing the data, the objective is to reduce the overall number of
days per well. It is important to note that
flat time should not be confused with
nonproductive time (NPT); there are essential flat-time operations that must be
performed during well construction. The
goal of flat-time reduction is to minimize
the time spent during flat-time portions
of well construction.
Drill teams are empowered to simplify rig operations and implement new
tools or processes that will remove or
reduce human intervention. History has
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
144
Conclusions
2005
2006
Training
2007
Soft Rock
and
Work Flow
Maturing
Work Flow
2008
2009
Added New
Borehole
Management
Practices
(FDBM)
Borehole
Management
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
No Stuck Pipe
Engage Vendors
Minimal Vibrations
Plan for Minimal Vibrations
Reduce Rig Limiters
Increased Field Trials
Focus on Flat Time
Expand FDBM Scope
Drive the Economic Limit
Plan Do Not React
Engage Others
Flat-Time
Reduction
145
Stick/Slip Detection
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper SPE 170624, Stick/Slip Detection and Friction-Factor Testing Using SurfaceBased Torque and Tension Measurements, by Stephen W. Lai, SPE, Mitch Wood,
Aaron Eddy, SPE, and Trevor Holt, Pason Systems, and Matthew Bloom, SPE,
Nexen, prepared for the 2014 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
Amsterdam, 2729 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
146
Improve performance
Less string torque losses and
more power at the bit
Extend application
High angle holes and
extended reach drilling
Reduce
Casing wear, string wear
and vibration
Core
Removable
Battery Pack
(Two Places)
Radio-Frequency
Antenna (Two Places)
Primary Transmit
Direction
Strain
Gauges
Main
Housing
Fig. 1The TTS. The left-hand picture shows a standalone unit. The middle diagram is an assembly drawing of the main
body. The picture on the right shows the TTS installed on a topdrive system.
elements. Each element is analyzed in sequence starting at the bottom and ending
at the top.
The purpose of an FF test is to obtain
a measured value for friction coefficient.
In a standard T&D calculation, downhole weight on bit and friction coefficient
are known and each element is analyzed
been lifted and a significant distance exists between the bit and the bottom of the
hole, an SO test can be performed. During
the SO test, the blocks are lowered and
the hookload is captured again. The hookloads captured during PU and SO tests are
used in the T&D calculation to obtain estimates for the frictioncoefficient.
148
Hookload is a critical measurement for FF tests, but the conventional method of performing this measurement suffers from inaccuracy because of
sheavefriction.
Measurement Methodology. The operator implemented a standard practice of
performing regular FF tests during the
drilling of wells. In many cases, the driller was able to execute an FF test after
every stand of drilling.
The FF-test procedure was incorporated into the work flow for drilling
of a single stand. After the initial connection, an initialization process is performed in which the pumps are started
to begin mud circulation. The topdrive
is then set to full rotary speed, and the
traveling block is lowered during the
drilling phase. After the blocks have
reached the rig floor, a reaming operation is performed to improve the quality of the wellbore. After reaming, an FF
test is performed with the rotary speed
set tozero.
Measurement Results. PU and SO
weights are extracted from 10-second
log files. When the weights are shown as
a function of depth, it can be seen that
the deadline hookload is always smaller
than the TTS hookload during PU tests
and larger than the TTS hookload during
SO tests. This behavior is consistent with
the presence of sheave friction.
The discrepancy between the TTS
and deadline sensor is quantified by calculating the mean hookload error on a
per-well basis. A well-known T&D software program is used to calculate theoretical hookloads to compare with the PU
and SO measurements. Two sets of theoretical curves are generated: one with
sheave-friction correction (SFC) and one
without. Analysis reveals good agreement between model and measurements.
To estimate the FF error when
sheave friction is present but ignored,
the FF values are adjusted such that the
model with SFC disabled produces the
same hookloads as the model with SFC
enabled. The results imply that the level
of friction in the cased section of the wellbore may be underestimated significantly if a deadline sensor is used and sheave
friction is present at the rig but not accounted for in the T&D analysis. JPT
149
TECHNOLOGY
Jonathan Wylde,
SPE, is the head of
global innovation at
Clariant Oil Services
based in Houston.
He holds a BS
degree in geology
and a PhD degree in physical chemistry
from the University of Bristol. Wylde
is author of more than 100 papers and
holds several patents. He serves on
the JPT Editorial Committee and on
committees for the SPE International
Conference and Exhibition on
Oilfield Scale, the SPE International
Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, and
the SPE Annual Technical Conference
and Exhibition. Wylde is also a
technical editor for SPE Production
&Operations and SPE Journal.
150
OILFIELD CHEMISTRY
The removal of mineral scale in the oil field is typically perceived as a somewhat nonscientific discipline. Simply pumping down a few drums of acid, letting it soak or circulate, and bringing the well back online is considered the norm. This could not be
further from the truth. There is as much science in dissolution of mineral scale as in
any other production chemistry discipline. Consider two examples of complexity that
exist in this subdiscipline of flow assurance: first, the complex placement challenges
that exist in downhole-tubing-scale removal and understanding the mechanical complexity involved in spotting dissolver in a vertical system so that it remains in place
to perform the job. The second example is concerned with iron-sulfide dissolution,
where many different polymorphs exist and all behave in ways very different than
hydrochloric acid at different pressures and temperatures.
The research that exists in the literature shows the science of removal chemistries and techniques very well. The use of acid, in particular hydrochloric acid, is a
very-well-established field methodology. The challenges, however, that can exist with
using acid, and their mitigation, are the subject of a renewed research focus. Two areas
in particular involve the corrosivity of mineral acid and the secondary deposition of
unwanted scales that can occur on flowback. These two examples alone show how use
of acid can create a problem, possibly larger than the one it solves.
Some of the most interesting research is in the area of nonacid dissolvers; the
intent of this chemistry is to remove the mentioned issues of corrosivity and secondary deposition. The target is to develop a dissolver system without the drawbacks of
mineral or organic acid but with the same dissolution performance. Previous research
has focused on chelating agents but has shown that only a certain performance can be
achieved. However, in recent literature, some significant steps have been made with
the discovery of synergistic chelating agents and formulations that are now approximating the performance of classic acid systems.
Researchers and readers are encouraged to read the recommended-additionalreading papers and take the time to delve into the intellectual-property landscape,
which contains a plethora of information on the development and evolution of chemistry for scale removal.JPT
Introduction
Recent work with crude-oil viscosity reducers has shown that both inorganic
and organic deposits can be removed by
spotting/jetting with coiled tubing without the need of a WO rig. When a treating fluid containing the viscosity reducer is mixed with highly viscous crudes,
it creates a water-external pseudoemulsion, which decreases the apparent viscosity of the crude by several orders of magnitude, removing more than
60% of the heavy crude from the surface
of the scale and accelerating the dissolution of organic deposits. This enables the
chemical treatment to dissolve the inorganic deposits, allowing the pump to be
restarted without the need to pull out the
completion. The new fluid systems have
made it possible to remove organic and
inorganic deposits systematically from
ESPs, extending the average run life from
40 to 140 days, and to eliminate the requirement for WO rigs, with an average
rig-cost saving of 6 days per well and
HCVR
+
Heavy-Oil Emulsion/High Viscosity
Problem Definition
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper SPE 173928, Removal of Organic and Inorganic Scale From Electrical
Submersible Pumps, by M. Ramones, R. Rachid, SPE, D. Flor, L. Gutierrez, and
A. Milne, SPE, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2015 SPE Artificial Lift Conference
Latin America and Caribbean, Salvador, Brazil, 2729 May. The paper has not been
peer reviewed.
HCVR
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
JPT SEPTEMBER 2015
151
Health,
Safety, and
Environment
Information
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Field Application
08-10-2015_SCALEGUARD_JPT_with_tag-REVISED.pdf
8/11/15
9:49 AM
Proppant-delivered
scale-inhibiting technology
Visit SPE ATCE Booth #1525
Fractures
Introduction
Covering a vast extension of 1.4 million km2, the WCSB is between the
southwestern border of the Canadian
shield in Manitoba and the eastern flank
of the Canadian Rocky Mountain system in British Columbia. Approximately half of the WCSB is composed of
carbonatereservoirs.
Commonly, these carbonate formations are stimulated with acid. Depending on the formation itself and the presence of formation damage, two main
acid-stimulation techniques are used:
matrix acidizing and acid fracturing. In
a matrix-acidizing treatment, the objective is to squeeze the acid into the formation below fracturing pressures to create
wormholes to increase production and to
bypass formation damage, such as that
caused by drilling. In an acid-fracturing
200 m
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper IPTC 17827, Prevention of Dissolution and Reprecipitation of Calcium Sulfate
While Acidizing, by Harvey Quintero, SPE, Darren Maley, SPE, and Farah Zafar,
SPE, Trican Well Service, prepared for the 2014 International Petroleum Technology
Conference, Kuala Lumpur, 1012 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Copyright 2014 International Petroleum Technology Conference. Reproduced by
permission.
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
154
Experimental
Double your
exchange rate.
Results
Dissolution of CaSO4. The initial baseline tests with live 15% HCl acid and
no scale inhibitor showed an average of
1.5g of calcium sulfate was solubilized in
100 mL of 15% HCl. The testing that was
completed with 1 L/m3 of scale inhibitor added to the blends tended to confirm in most cases the historical experience that the scale inhibitors do not help
prevent the dissolution of CaSO4. In the
case of Scale Inhibitor H, which was one
of the proprietary polymers, the dissolution of the anhydrite was found to be reduced significantly compared with baseline runs. On average, the dissolution
was reduced 53%. Very similar results
were found with loadings of 1 L/m3 and
3 L/m3. Of interest is that increasing the
loading greater than 3 L/m3 had negative
effects on the prevention of dissolution
ofanhydrite.
When 50 kg/m3 of calcium sulfate
was added to the acid blend, the dissolution of anhydrite was reduced by
89%. Again, the addition of most scale
inhibitors did not show any improvement on prevention of dissolution, although Scale Inhibitor H boosted performance to the point of negligible
observabledissolution.
Prevention of CaSO4 Precipitation.
XRD results of the spent filtrate showed
that Scale Inhibitors A through G did not
significantly prevent the reprecipitation
of CaSO4 as the acid reacts with the carbonate. The intensity of the sulfate peaks
was not as great when CaCl2 was present in the acid blend. This is because of
the reduced amount of sulfates present
in the acid. Scale Inhibitor H exhibited
inhibition of CaSO4 precipitation; XRD
analysis showed zero and trace CaSO4
precipitation at 1 L/m3 and 3 L/m3, respectively. In blends with CaCl2 and Scale
Inhibitor H present, no reprecipitation
of CaSO4 wasobserved. JPT
www.spe.org/go/connect
FeS Scales
Sour Corrosion
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper SPE 173713, Corrosion and Scale Formation in High-Temperature SourGas Wells: Chemistry and Field Practice, by Sunder Ramachandran, SPE, Aramco
Service Company, and Ghaithan Al-Muntasheri, SPE, Jairo Leal, SPE, and Qiwei
Wang, SPE, Saudi Aramco, prepared for the 2015 SPE International Symposium on
Oilfield Chemistry, The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 1315 April. The paper has not been
peer reviewed.
FeS-Scale Prevention
and Removal
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
156
Sour-Gas-Production
Experience Worldwide
Conclusions
157
Introduction
This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights
of paper SPE 172640, Sodium Gluconate as a New Environmentally Friendly IronControlling Agent for HP/HT Acidizing Treatments, by Ahmed I. Rabie, SPE, and
Hisham A. Nasr El-Din, SPE, Texas A&M University, prepared for the 2015 SPE
Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference, Manama, Bahrain, 811 March. The
paper has not been peer reviewed.
Experimental Studies
Materials. Low-permeability Indiana limestone cores were used for the coreflood
experiments. Concentrated HCl solutions
were titrated using 1N sodium hydroxide
solution and phenolphthalein as an indicator. A concentration of 35.64wt%0.35
was reported, with a density of 1.18 g/cm3.
Acid solutions of HCl were prepared from
this concentrated solution, and a corrosion inhibitor was added with a concentration of 1 vol%. Ferric chloride was used
as a source of iron (III).
Procedure. Precipitation of iron (III) in
HCl solutions of 5 and 10 wt% was investigated at iron (III) loading of 5,000 and
10,000 ppm in the presence and the absence of sodium gluconate. The following
procedure was followed: A 100-mL sample of the acid solution was prepared with
a predetermined amount of ferric chloride and sodium gluconate in a 200-mL
three-neck reactor. A pH meter was inserted into the solution from one neck,
while the other two openings were used to
hold a thermometer and to take samples.
A solution of 2M Na2CO3 was prepared
to neutralize the acid. At room temperature, experiments started with the addi-
For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.
158
8/13/15 7:40 AM
OH
OH
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
HO
HO
OH
(a)
OH
OH
(b)
OH
(c)
Ca2+
ONa2+
OH
OH
Fig. 1The chemical structure for (a) gluconic acid, (b) sodium gluconate, and (c) calcium gluconate.
10 000
9 000
Fe Concentration (mg/L)
8 000
10,000 ppm Fe(III) and No Chelant
7 000
6 000
5 000
4 000
3 000
2 000
Conclusions
1 000
0
10
11
12
13
pH
Fig. 2Iron concentration in the samples collected while neutralizing 5 and
10 wt% HCl loaded with 5,000 and 10,000 ppm iron (III), respectively, in the
presence and the absence of 1:1 molar ratio of sodium gluconate.
160
Results
In this work, the use of sodium gluconate as an environmentally friendly chelating agent for sequestrating the iron in
the acidizing fluids was investigated. The
results of the coreflood analysis at different iron loads and iron/sodium gluconate molar ratios can be summarized
as follows:
Iron precipitation during
an acidizing treatment can
cause severe damage to the
formation and impair the
permeability, especially at low
acid concentrations or acidinjectionrates.
An injection of 0.75 pore volumes
of 5 wt% HCl solution with 5wt%
sodium gluconate was able to
increase the permeability by 74%
vs. 50% with no chelant added at
a load of 5,000 ppm of iron (III).
At a load of 10,000 ppm of iron
(III) and 5 wt% HCl solution,
the presence of 5 wt% sodium
gluconate increased the efficiency
of the acidizing experiment to
165% vs. 70% when no chelant
was added.
The iron/chelant molar ratio is an
important factor for the success
of the acidizing treatment. The
results in this study showed that
an iron/chelant molar ration of
1:1 was the optimum ratio for
maximizing iron recovery and
preventing iron precipitation.JPT
SPE NEWS
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168
Su
bs
ea
En
vi
ro
Pr
Co
nd
iti
on
-B
oc
es
si
ng
as
ed
on
Sp
ac
ct
ic
Ul
tra
-H
PH
T
&
Re
ov
al
HP
HT
W
at
er
ed
uc
od
Pr
L N G T E C H N O L O GI
D
De ehy
sa dra
lti tio
ng n
&
NAB
CO
pa
m
Co
H
Fo ydra
rm te
at
io
n
ct
Te
c
hn
ol
og
tE
ffi
ci
en
cy
C
Av ontr
ai ol
la S
bi ys
lit te
y m
Ul
tra
De
Pu
ep
pi
ng
wa
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Er
Lo
a
&
os
io
n
ds
Ca
-D
pa
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ty
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The story of bringing hydrocarbons to market incorporates many highly technical disciplines drilling,
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slb.com/Mangrove
*Mark of Schlumberger. 2015 Schlumberger. 15-ST-0058
15-ST-0058 - Ad Mangrove revised 2015 for JPT July, August, September 2015.indd 1
6/12/15 1:06 PM
ACTive PTC
BENEFITS
Improve decisionmaking with real-time
downhole pressure
50%
Respond quickly to
changes in temperature
Achieve accurate
depth correlation
with casing collar
locator measurements
APPLICATIONS
Water-injection profiles
Well kickoff
Sand cleanouts
Average
savings
We can
make decisions
right there
on the spot.
The service gives
us the ability
to have the
opportunity
to diagnose and
solve the problem
during the middle
of the operation.
Jorge E. Duarte
Production
Engineer
Gas Production
Engineering
Division
Saudi Aramco
FEATURES
Onboard diagnostics
Fast-rate telemetry
Increase in
oil production
bbl
200%
CASE STUDY
CT stimulation service helps
Saudi Aramco double production
in water-wet wells
An operator needed to use CT to effectively
stimulate wells with high water cut and
eliminate the risk of increasing water cut due
to acidizing. Using the ACTive PTC tool, the
operator was able to monitor injection rates
and downhole pressure and temperature. This
monitoring enabled maximum fluid penetration
and successful isolation and stimulation of the
oil-producing zone, with a 30% decrease in
water cut and 3,000 bbl/d of incremental oil
production. The combination of the ACTive PTC
tool with DTS allowed for precise monitoring
of treatment evolution and on-the-spot job
volumes and parameters modifications.
30%
Water cut
after treatment
Location
Saudi
Arabia
Specifications
Pressure, psi [kPa]
Temperature, degF [degC]
Outside diameter, in [cm]
Makeup length, ft [m]
12,500 [86,184]
300 [149]
2.125 [5.40]
7.2 [2.19]
Pressure (Microelectromechanical
system [MEMS] gauge)
Accuracy
Typical, psi
3
Maximum, psi
5
Resolution, psi
0.075
Temperature (MEMS gauge)
Accuracy, degF [degC]
1 [0.55]
Resolution, degF [degC]
0.03 [0.55]
Casing collar locator
Resolution at 30 fps 1 ft/s
Learn more at
slb.com/ACTivePTC
ACTive GR
BENEFITS
Location
Real-time correlation
Provides industry-standard
measurements
Pumpthrough
capabilities
Enables CT intervention
and gamma ray log in
one run
No need for
wireline unit
Reduces footprint at
the wellsite
APPLICATIONS
Middle
East
FEATURES
CASE STUDY
Overcoming severe drilling damage
While drilling a K-carbonate gas well in the
Middle East, an operator encountered high
fluid losses due to lost circulation material,
which caused severe damage to the nearwellbore formation and had low solubility
in acid.
To accurately perform abrasive jetting to place
notches that extended through the damaged
area, the ACTive GR tool was used to obtain
gamma ray measurements in real time and
identify precise areas to perforate in every
thin interval with high gas saturation. This
information enabled the operator to save
time compared with existing conventional
methods of depth correlations, which require
two separate runs.
This successful placement identified by
the ACTive GR tool brought production
online quickly to achieve the fields highest
postperforating gas flow.
DID YOU
KNOW?
The ACTive GR tool
is similar to the
wireline gamma ray
tool but does not
require additional
components.
2 1
Runs needed to
perform the job
Conventional
ACTive GR tool
Operational time
Specifications
Model
OD, in [cm]
Makeup
length, in [m]
Total weight,
lbm [kg]
Max. ball drop
size, in [mm]
Flow path
diameter, in [mm]
Max. flow rate,
bbl/min
Rated for
perforation jobs
GRSM
2.500 [6.35]
39.88 [1.01]
GRNM
2.375 [6.03]
37.52 [0.95]
20 [9.07]
20 [9.07]
0.688 [17.48]
1.5
Yes
No
Learn more at
slb.com/ACTiveGR
ACTive TC
BENEFITS
Improved
accuracy
with real-time
downhole
measurements
Greater
efficiency
and control
Reduced risk
of unsuccessful
operations
APPLICATIONS
FEATURES
CASE STUDY
ACTive TC tool enables shifting
of 10 ICDs in horizontal wells
within 6 hours
An operator needed to access inflow control
devices (ICDs) in horizontal wells to confirm
opening of sleeves and determine the status
of the sliding sleeves during the operation,
and wireline was unable to reach the depth
of the ICDs. Using the ACTive TC tool, the depth
of the CT was correlated to the position of ICDs
using the casing collar locator feature. Once
the dog collars were confirmed to be open, the
ACTive TC tool was moved up and latched onto
the ICD sleeve. A total of 10 ICDs were shifted
within 6 hours versus more than 12 hours
by using conventional toolstrings, and a DTS
survey evaluated the opened sleeves.
DID YOU
KNOW?
Using the ACTive TC
tool, you can detect
as little as a less
than 5-lbf change in
downhole forces.
Location
Saudi
Arabia
COMPATIBLE TOOLS
Setting tool
Retrieval
Shifting tool
The ACTive TC
tool provided the
ability to apply the
exact amount of
force needed to
shift 10 ICDs open
within 6 hours
compared with
12 hours using
conventional
methods.
Specifications
OD, in [cm]
2.125 [5.40]
Total weight, lbm [kg]
38 [17.2]
Max. torque, ft.lbf [N.m]
800 [1,085]
Measurement specifications
Pressure compensated
Yes
measurements
Axial load
10,000 to 45,000
range, lbf [N]
[44,482 to 200,169]
Axial load
Absolute: 500 [2,224]
accuracy, lbf [N]
+1% applied
Localized: 2% applied
Axial load resolution, lbf [N] <5 [22.2]
Torque range, ft.lbf [N.m]
0800 [01,085]
Torque accuracy, ft.lbf [N.m] <50 [67.8]
Torque resolution, ft.lbf [N.m] <5 [6.8]
Packer
Straddle packer
Learn more at
slb.com/ACTiveTC
ACTive Straddle
BENEFITS
2
3
APPLICATIONS
Multistage completions
Location
Kuwait
FEATURES
CASE STUDY
ACTive Straddle inflatable packer
cleanout doubles production in
two wells
DID YOU
KNOW?
The packer provides
robust, highpressure isolation
seals and can
be configured in
lengths ranging
from 6 ft to 50 ft [1.8
m to 15.2 m] and up
to 6.3-in [16-cm] OD.
Well A
increased
150%
Well B
increased
171%
Specifications
Max. packer element differential
2:1 expansion
3:1 expansion
Max. hole deviation
Max. system temperature
Max. dogleg severity
Operational
Survivable
Max. H2S levels
Set time
< 30 d at 300 degF [149 degC]
Set time
> 30 d at 250 degF [121 degC]
Min. tubing requirements
for packer setting
Max. OD of element
before expansion
Max. OD of element
after expansion
Learn more at
slb.com/ACTiveStraddle
ACTive OptiFIRE
BENEFITS
Location
Greater Safety
and Certainty
Real-time detonation
confirmation
Detonation without
fluids or balls
Accuracy
Casing collar locator and
gamma ray correlation
Flexibility
Selective perforating
of multiple guns
Efficiency
Lighter than conventional CT
electric line reels, with better
extended reach and ability to
pump acid
APPLICATIONS
Tubing punching
Plug setting
Mexico
75
Reduction
FEATURES
DID YOU
KNOW?
The ACTive OptiFIRE
system provides all
the advantages of
perforating with
CT and electric line
without the need for
a wireline unit.
Reduced footprint
Real-time pressure and temperature for optimized
fluid placement and hydrostatic pressure control
Fast-acquisition accelerometer for
detonation confirmation
CASE STUDY
Underbalanced perforating technology
reduces deferred production and
intervention time
To prevent deferred production and remove
formation damage, Pemex needed to
perforate two new intervals and reperforate
a critical zone on a live well in underbalanced
conditions. Schlumberger deployed the
ACTive OptiFIRE system, a first-of-its-kind
coiled tubing technology that eliminates the
need for a ball-drop or pressure-pulse system
to activate shaped charges. Using advanced
fiber-optic technology, Schlumberger
accurately placed the perforating guns,
activated the charges without a ball-drop
or pressure-pulse system, and confirmed
downhole detonation in real time.
Save
detonation time
compared with
conventional fluid or
ball methods.
18%
Increased
production
for Pemex
Specifications
Operating temperature
range, degF [degC]
Pressure rating, psi [MPa]
Flow rate, bbl/min [m3/min]
Max. gun size, in
Gun compatibility
Max. number of
selective zones
Max. OD of element before
expansion, in [cm]
Learn more at
slb.com/ACTiveOptiFIRE
10
ACTive PS
BENEFITS
3
4
APPLICATIONS
11
Nitrogen kickoff
Well stimulation
Onsite evaluation
FEATURES
Wireless data conveyance
Self-contained technology
Simplified logistics
CASE STUDY
ACTive PS service reduces rig
operational time by 10 days during
plug setting and well cleanout
An operator needed to perform production
logs and matrix stimulation operations, as well
as shut off H2S and water-producing zones
in extended-reach wells with major logistical
constraints. The operations required a single
piece of equipment to fit on the small platform
and preventing swapping our units during
the operation.
Using the ACTive PS service, the operator was
able to perform production logging operations
using PS Platform platform and Flow Scanner
system. Alternating the use of ACTive PS
service and ACTive PTC tool saved the operator
multiple runs and equipment changes,
including a total of 10 days in rig operations
with a total of 16 runs performed in 7 wells
within 2 months.
DID YOU
KNOW?
Operators can run
ACTive PS service
with a wireline
reservoir saturation
tool such as the
RSTPro tool.
Location
West
Africa
1,200
1,000
800
600
Time, h
400
200
ACTive Services
Conventional wireline
and CT intervention
Specifications
Surface
(optical acquisition module mounted inside the CT reel)
Temperature rating,
13 to 131 [25 to 55]
degF [degC]
Power requirement, V DC
12
Data communication
Wireless
Downhole
Total tool length, ft [m]
12.5 [3.81]
Outside diameter, in [cm]
11116 [4.3]
Pressure rating, psi [MPa]
15,000 [103.4]
Temperature rating,
13 to 300 [25 to 150]
degF [degC]
Flow rate at CT head ports, 1 [120]
bbl/min [m3/min]
Material
NACE compliant
Learn more at
slb.com/ACTivePS
12
slb.com/ACTive
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Copyright 2015 Schlumberger. All rights reserved. 15-CT-9030