How Smart Completion Can Maximize Oil Production and Recovery Factor in Stacked-Marginal Reservoir

Abstract

Abstract This paper will address how reservoir depletion using Smart Well completions in stacked-marginal reservoirs will gain large benefits. Different scenarios will be used to illustrate this point. Utilizing On-Off ICV’s combined with Permanent Down Hole Gauges, will achieve an optimized off take from each zone, thus creating efficient reservoir depletion as well as maintaining sustainable oil production. A cycling production approach from different zones will optimize well production; optimizing reservoir drainage and improve recovery factor. Marginal reserves are hydrocarbon accumulations too small or too difficult to recover economically by themselves under prevailing fiscal terms. Stacked reservoirs containing marginal reserves are often passed over in favor of more prolific zones containing economic volumes. The opportunity to develop the marginal reserves in conjunction with other marginal reserves or with larger reserves by commingling (and by doing so make them economic) is sometimes overlooked by operators due to government regulations prohibiting commingling. Shanayel field has stacked-marginal reservoirs that will benefit from the smart well approach. As part of Shanayel field development plan and reservoir characterization study, an observer well will be worked over and will be completed in 5 (five) zones. The smart completion configuration include 5 ea of 7 inch Feed through Hydraulic set - Retrievable packer, 3.5 inch Hydraulic ON-OFF ICV, 4 ea of 3.5 inch Single Gauge Carrier with P & T reading ported to annulus, 1 ea of 3.5 inch Dual Gauge Carrier with P& T reading ported to annulus - tubing, 3-1/2 inch - 9.2 ppf CRA tubing and 7 inch - 5 Penetrations Wellhead. An automated Digital Infrastructure system is planned to operate the Smart Well completion, which enables to manipulate ICV’s remotely and monitor PDHG by providing connectivity to the existing field control system. Deployment of the smart completion will provide proactive approach to manage oil production at every zone in the well, thus form efficient reservoir depletion as well as maintaining sustainable oil production. Pressure monitoring in every zone provides sufficient data to determine the depletion strategy, which in turn will maximize production and increase recovery factor. The well will also provide operational experience, as it will demonstrate if this is a viable completion technique for small and stacked hydrocarbon accumulations. Lastly, the initiative fits into ADCO’s 2020 vision.