The First Coiled-Tubing-Conveyed Long Propellant Sleeved Perforation Gun in Highly Deviated Wells – Well Performance

Abstract

Abstract In the quest to exploit behind-pipe opportunities, production from shallow low-permeability reservoirs were evaluated using propellant perforating technology. Initial development of this field was primarily focused on maximizing gas recovery by only targeting economical pay zones, while marginal intervals were not considered as opportunities. Hydraulic fracturing of low-permeability sand requires formation of sufficient thickness and with underlying or overlying water zones at a distance and stress-barriered sufficiently to not be fractured into. A workflow developed to compare predicted performance of standard to propellant perforation indicated that production enhancement from these lower quality intervals is feasible. Additionally, if properly designed, the utilization of coil tubing to convey long propellant-guns in highly deviated wells in one descent, if possible, would minimize intervention costs. Following these parameters, low-permeability zones in two, high-deviation, wells were safely and successfully perforated using coil deployed propellant guns. The perforated and propellant stimulated zones produce at a higher rate than a previously attempted cased hole perforated unstimulated completion. Evaluation of actual well production is comparable to the pre-job modeled performance and confirmed that there is a benefit in using propellant stimulation for the tested formation. A long horizontal well to be perforated using propellant guns is being planned as a scale up to the first successful pilot test.