Deepwater Application of Proppant Controlled Release Inhibitor Leads to Successful Well Production in Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Designing and achieving a deep-water frac pack in a new field that delivers low drawdown/low skin and high PI's is always a challenge. Successful design work, planning and execution are all key parameters. With additional challenges of a suspected high asphaltene content crude oil with relatively low onset pressures (AOP), another challenge was posed, "Can you place a solid inhibitor during the completion phase that can prolong expensive remediation treatments, while maximizing value by adjusting the chemical release pressure?" A new solid, controlled release proppant like inhibitor was introduced with a custom designed release pressure close to that of the AOP to solve the operator problem. Frac packs were designed aggressively to achieve high net pressures, which historically achieve low drawdowns, low skin, and high PI's, and consequentially reduce the asphaltene deposition tendencies of the crude due to pressure drops. The controlled release asphaltene inhibitor proppant was tested for performance via asphaltene dispersion testing to ensure inhibitor performance and to obtain a minimum recommended loading. To further determine the best treatment for a new field development of two subsea tieback wells, reservoir conditions, AOP and desired protection points were evaluated. The optimized fracturing design and custom controlled release asphaltene inhibitor proppant for the five treatment zones resulted in higher than expected PI's, lower than expected skins and overall exceptional wells. To date, no asphaltene deposition has been suspected and completion skin has remained low. This paper introduces the next generation of flow assurance proppants that release asphaltene inhibitor when the well needs it the most and close to the AOP leading to less formation damage and a sustained production.