First Fully Successful Application of a Multistage Acid Fracturing Operation to Stimulate a Carbonate Formation, Resulting in the Implementation in Other Wells in the Mature Bahrah Field, North Kuwait

Abstract

Abstract Throughout the last few years, oil company strategies have moved toward recovery of the maximum oil in place from mature fields and reservoirs that were previously considered technically challenging. The Mauddud formation in the Bahrah field is a low permeability carbonate formation with moderate to high oil viscosity. Viscosity is between 2 and 7 cp at 170°F, but a 90-cp viscosity at surface conditions is commonly observed once a well is placed on production, creating challenges for a vertically drilled well that could not provide necessary levels of sustainable production. In an attempt to achieve economic continuous production, a 3,000-ft lateral horizontal well was drilled. The lateral length was designed as an optimal solution for such a challenging reservoir to help sustain the production flow. Additionally, a multistage acid fracturing (MSAF) treatment was performed. This paper discusses the design, execution, and production of the first MSAF treatment performed in the Mauddud reservoir using a cased openhole completion with swell packers and sliding sleeves that were placed in seven stages across the 3,000-ft lateral interval. Post-operation analysis exhibited highly sustained production, creating a shift in oil company plans toward drilling new horizontal wells and applying MSAF treatments to move the Bahrah field into the development phase. Results obtained from this operation were effectively used to help improve production in similar mature formations. Based on this pilot treatment, a wide-scale field development strategy was planned, and many wells were drilled, completed, and fractured similarly in Bahrah field.