Fieldwide Integrated Waterflood Development of a Complex Paralic Clastic Reservoir, Upper Burgan Formation, North Kuwait

Abstract

Abstract The Upper Burgan reservoir is a major productive interval in both the Raudhafain and Sabiriyah fields, located in Northern Kuwait. A fivefold increase in production is planned from this reservoir through the implementation of a fleIdwide watefflood development plan. Dynamic reservoir performance data has been combined with sedimentological studies and 3D geological modelling to evaluate the dynamic complexity of the reservoir during the depletion phase. Due to limited aquifer support, a frill field waterflood development plan is to be implemented, with seawater injection scheduled to commence in 1999. The evaluation and understanding of key dynamic reservoir parameters such as productivity, injectivity and connectivity have been shown to be of critical importance in the planning of the waterflood project. Although waterflood development will initially commence with a peripheral waterflood scheme on Raudhatain, it is expected that the ultimate development will constitute a patterntlood of both reservoirs, in common with analogue complex paralic clastic systems. The Raudhatain and Sabiriyah waterflood development plan therefore places much emphasis on flexibility and cost optimisation. Integration of this development with that of the larger, shallower Mauddud carbonate reservoir has been identified by alignment of the associated waterflood grids such that each well location may be an injection or offlake point for both reservoirs. Grid alignment provides maximum flexibility to each reservoir, accelerates drilling in the Upper Burgan, and reduces ultimate drilling expenditure by as much as 80 wells. In essence, the Upper Burgan reservoir is developed for the incremental cost of a dual wellhead, packer and additional tubing string. P. 727