Technology Driven Rejuvenation of a Mature Field by Doubling the Gross Production Rate

Abstract

Abstract The 16. Tortonian Horizon is one of the largest producing oil reservoirs in continental Europe. The field has been on production since 1949 and has already gone through a long decline period. The average water cut currently exceeds 96%. The western region of this reservoir, called Bockfliess area, was the focus of the latest field re-development effort, aiming to increase oil production by doubling the liquid rate. Although the project comprised various activities – including facility upgrades and the construction of additional surface infrastructure –, this paper focuses mainly on subsurface measures. The majority of modifications were conducted on existing production wells. Quick wins included additional perforations and sucker rod pump (SRP) unit changes. The artificial lift systems of more than one third of the producers were converted to electrical submersible pumps (ESPs). Three new high-rate horizontal producers were also drilled. To maintain reservoir pressure, nearly all the produced water had to be re-injected. Several of the existing producers were converted to injectors and two new horizontal injector wells were drilled. The overall goal of doubling the gross production rate was accomplished by an integrated multidisciplinary team in a short time period. 13 additional perforations, four SRP unit exchanges and 32 conversions of producers to ESPs proved to be successful in increasing oil production. In order to target the remaining attic oil, three high rate horizontal infill producers were effectively placed within specific zones of the reservoir by applying state of the art geosteering technology. The planned voidage replacement ratio was achieved by converting nine producers to injectors and two successfully placed horizontal high rate injector wells. These measures increased oil production by 62% (43% was gained from existing wells and 19% from new wells). The concept of doubling the gross rate on a reservoir scale was unprecedented in Austria, especially for a reservoir that was already producing at maximum surface capacity. For single wells, gross rates were increased up to seven-fold as compared to the rates produced before the project. To control such high volumes with an optimized operation, real-time monitoring of the sensor-equipped ESPs was implemented. Horizontal infill drilling had not been implemented before in the targeted reservoir area due to the close well spacing. Real time geosteering methods using advanced logging while drilling (LWD) technology proved to be beneficial in this onshore mature brown field. Different sand control and bottom hole flowing pressure control methods were applied in each of the new horizontal producers, including autonomous inflow control devices (AICD) which are currently mainly utilized in offshore environments.