Abstract Greater Burgan Field accounts for most of the oil produced in Kuwait. Discovered in 1938, commercial production from this giant field commenced in 1946 accelerating rapidly to a peak of nearly 3 MMBOPD in 1972. The Burgan structure is an anticlinal dome with numerous faults. The main producing reservoirs are sandstones of Cretaceous age. Four major sandstone horizons within the gross productive section account for most of the current and cumulative production. The 3SM is the main contributory sand which is much thicker than the others. A strong natural water drive maintains reservoir pressure.
The compartmentalization of the main reservoir sands by faults, combined with high production rates, resulted in water incursion problems since the early seventies and made worse by uncontrolled flow from wells sabotaged during the Iraqi invasion. As the 3SM reservoir gets further depleted, water encroachment studies reveal that there is a differential rate of rise in OWC in the massive sand implying un-even sweep. This has created uncertainties in the remaining oil column in flank areas of the field for placement of infill well locations.
This paper presents a methodology applied to successfully identify infill well locations in flank areas of Burgan field. The behavior of faults and rise in water in different compartments were analyzed utilizing seismic surveys, pressure buildup tests and PNC log data combining with production history. Based on the analysis minor faults were characterized and mapped which led to identification of unswept areas where new well locations were proposed. Gross pay found in three new infill wells drilled have been very encouraging.
The process leading to identification of these successful well locations is discussed in length. More infill locations and well intervention opportunities are being identified by using this methodology with increased surveillance to further enhance production from this field.