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Abstract Ultrasound or high frequency (20 kHz-100kHz) pressure wave has been used in diagnose and treatments in different areas, such as: medicine, dentistry, civil engineering, and many other industrial applications. In Oil industry there are applications such as pipeline inspections, fluid velocity measurements, etc, but to the present its application in formation stimulation has been incipient, and only few lab and field test experiences have been reported. Stimulation with ultrasound is not a common operation offered by oil service companies. In order to visualize the real potential of ultrasound in oil well stimulation, it is necessary to understand the wave phenomenon, its properties, the parameters that define its behavior, and its interaction with the propagation media. This basic knowledge together with the understanding of the different formation damage mechanisms are the keys to comprehend the real potential and application window of the ultrasound in oil well stimulation. The present paper presents the theoretical basis of ultrasound and wave phenomena that must be considered when thinking about stimulation with ultrasound. Finally some suggestions about the application window of this technology are given. Introduction Ultrasound has been applied in many areas such as: diagnosis, quality control, inspections, cleaning, etc. Industrial cleaning is achieved flaking out the particles by mechanical action of the pressure waves (Fig 1). Usually the piece is submerged in fluids inside a container whose walls are fixed ultrasonic sources. Clearly, there is a great difference with an application for oil well stimulation, where the source is running inside the hole and the cleaning area is around the source. Each application has a particular frequency and power associated according to the sample dimensions and the purpose: for example, the power and frequency used for control echography in pregnant mothers are different than the used in muscular therapeutic treatments. In the first case is enough to detect an echo with high resolution (higher frequencies). In the second case it is required to transfer energy to the tissue, but high resolution is not required (lower frequencies). It is clear that the purpose and the propagation media affect the ultrasound parameters, highlighting the importance to understand which are the damage mechanisms where ultrasound could be applied and viceversa. Figure 1. Piece before and after Industrial ultrasound cleaning. The advantage of applying ultrasound comparing with conventional stimulation is that no invasion or external fluids are required, avoiding fluid/rock interaction analysis, the placement and the associated equipment and risky operation of handling high pressures at the wellhead. Additionally, ultrasound would allow under balance treatments without shut-in the well. Ultrasound cleaning is not a common tool offered by service companies in the field. Just some field tests in China and Russia have been reported with more qualitative than quantitative information making these tests not conclusive. Recent references about lab experiences and tool prototypes suggest the potential of this technology. However, ultrasonic stimulation has low understanding of the phenomena that are taking place in the porous media, how the waves are interacting with the matrix and the trapped particles. The parameters for suitable cleaning with ultrasonic treatment are not well defined and how these parameters change while the wave is propagating in the porous media is not clear either.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Asia (0.69)
Abstract A practical field restoration and rejuvenation project requires an economically efficient and technically astute plan. Using existing infrastructure allows operators to build a sound value proposition by capitalizing on previous investments. Enabling technology, such as solid expandable tubulars, makes the proposition even more attractive by further minimizing project costs. Solid expandable tubulars provide a technology that offers variable solutions without sacrificing hole size or compromising budgets. Solid expandable tubulars have built a legacy as a viable and practical workover technology, based on over 660 installations. As acceptance and use of expandable systems increases, so do the application venues where they can be used to facilitate well remediation. Expandable systems repair and/or reinforce existing casing while minimizing loss of hole size, which enables use of the same completion. The systems have also provided the impetus for operations that result in compelling returns on production enhancement projects for old and new wells and fields. This paper will explain how solid expandable tubular systems are used to repair and remediate wells that developed casing integrity problems and wells that experienced flow-constrained problems. Case histories will be used to illustrate how the technology was used to mitigate production problems and retain or improve value. In addition, this paper will discuss the economic implications of using this revolutionary technology. Introduction Solid expandable tubulars provide a value-added technology that has been successfully applied in drilling operations in multiple regions. Recently, the benefits of this enabling technology were identified for applications in Latin America. Installations of solid expandable tubulars already performed in Mexico and Venezuela have proven their viability in these areas. The technology demonstrated its robustness by having sufficient contingencies in the system to facilitate a successful application. The Latin American environment has had the benefit of leveraging lessons learned that helped implement these systems into drilling objectives. One issue facing the current energy environment is an ever-increasing number of marginal wells that develop leaks. To mitigate this problem, operators have found that solid expandable systems provide a viable alternative when other remedial techniques, such as cement squeezes, fail. Another attractive aspect allows running solid expandable tubulars when the production does not justify running a steel liner over the entire length of the well. Developing confidence in a technology requires proven applications in a myriad of conditions, circumstances and environments to address problems in the open hole and cased hole. The broad range of solid expandable liner installations has also helped establish a reliable reputation. With confidence in the solid expandable systems to mitigate drilling operators are putting stock in place to quickly react to application opportunities. The enabling nature of the technology and the applicable use has led operators to incorporate the systems in up-front planning and in operational recovery situations. These applications have helped increase well productivity that yielded a return on investment in a short period of time.1, 2, 3, 4 Expandable Cased-Hole Liners Expandable cased-hole liners repair or reinforce existing casing. These systems are run inside existing casing or liner until the launcher is positioned just below the trouble zone that needs isolating. The system expands from bottom-to-top, which makes it easier to generate greater forces if needed by pumping through and pulling on the workstring. This bottom-to-top method also immediately expands the lower anchor hanger joint that locks in place and allows the rest of the pipe to be expanded. When the expansion cone reaches the overlap between the top hanger joint of the liner, the cone expands an elastomer-wrapped hanger joint to provide a permanent seal between the two strings. After drillout, the system, with anchor hangers at the top and bottom of the liner, isolates the base casing leaks and leaves a rejuvenated well for immediate use. These systems can be run open-ended or bull-plugged. Running the system open-ended allows for circulating the well prior to expansion. The bull-plugged configuration is run when there is no need to circulate.
Abstract With a world context of high oil prices and a rate of increase in reserves from new discoveries, that is not enough to compensate the rate of extraction, in addition to the high maturity of oilfields currently being developed in Argentina, companies have been working to improve the recovery factor of reserves, as a strategy to extend the useful life of the existing assets. Working in this direction, radial drilling technology seems to be an alternative, which, in spite of the fact that it currently raises uncertainty since it has never been tested in the past in or country, can be adapted to the existing wells thus becoming a low investment alternative. The technology involves drilling lateral horizontal bores of small diameter and up to one hundred meters long, with the possibility of placing several within the each productive layer. The laterals are made in two steps: First, the casing is perforated with a ¾" mill and then the lateral extension is carried out by high pressure water jetting. For this evaluation, pilot tests were performed in different oilfields, with the intention of covering a wide range of possible scenarios and being able to evaluate the best applications for this new alternative. The selected scenarios and the different basins are the following: Golfo San Jorge Basin:Mature Oilfields: already exploited formations with production below the economic limit. Viscous Oils: Formations with high viscosity oil and low mobility. Neuquén Basin:Mature Oilfields: low production formations Precuyano Formation (altered ignimbrites) of low permeability, with possible micro-fissures to improve net production. Water Injection: To increase secondary recovery improving the sweeping of the formation. This work shows the different experiences undergone by Repsol YPF in Argentina with this technology as well as shares the results obtained and the lessons learned. Introduction It is extremely important to have the possibility of increasing production and raising usable reserves from the known horizons; due to these facts, the search for new technologies to increase production was started, and it was then that the radial drilling technique appeared as a promising one.(Ref 1, 2 and 3) This process consists in making small diameter horizontal perforations by using water jets at high pressure (jetting). The diameter of these lateral horizontal perforations is of approximately 2 inches (5,08 cm) and up to 330 ft (100 m) of extension each, at the same productive level. Each one has a bending radius as small as 1 ft (30 cm) and is made in two steps: first, the casing is perforated with a 0.75-inch mill (19.05 mm), and then the horizontal extension is made with high-pressure fluid jetting (Figs. 1 and 2). This application combines the following important factors:Low cost, it is applied to existing wells (new wells are not required). Low geological uncertainty. Low environmental risk. Among various reasons for this technique to increase production, the following could be highlighted (Ref. 1):Improves the conductivity of an important area around the well (improving drain efficiency). Possibility to define direction of the perforations. Helps the mobilization of viscous oils. Connects to areas of better petrophysical conditions. Allows intervention of oil reservoirs limited by close-by aquifers.
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia (0.89)
- South America > Argentina > Neuquén Province > Neuquén (0.56)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin (0.99)
- Asia > China > Liaoning > Bohai Basin > Liaohe Basin > Liaohe Field (0.99)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Golfo San Jorge Basin (0.97)
Abstract Concepts on well multiple zone completion systems applied in marginal wells in Los Perales Oil Field, located in the Gulf of San Jorge Basin, Santa Cruz province Argentina. The field is fully operated by Repsol-YPF. The paper narrates the challenge and experience of completing three marginal production wells (LP-2384, LP-2354 and Hue.xp-10), using concepts on well zone isolation, flow control capability, production management and easy well access in future workovers. The field is characterized by a stratified reservoir which is created by changes in depositional condition therefore each layer has different rock properties and flow characteristics (fluvial type reservoir). Gas oil and water are being produced commingle from different layers. The traditional method used to avoid production of a specific layer was cementing the layer or leaving it below a drillable plug (type N-plug). Despite difficulties, three wells were completed based on these concepts: LP-2354: Selective zone completions, allowing reservoir and production management of three different gas sand beds. LP-2384: Selective isolation of gas and water sand layers. Oil zone was put into production, allowing for ultimate gas recovery using pulling rig and a wireline unit instead of a workover recompletion. Hue.xp-10: Gas ultimate recovery increased with a rig less workover completion. Killing the well, thus damaging the formation, was avoided. Each well completion and intervention was designed, based on a cost effective and fit for purpose, criteria. Different arrays of tools (straddle retrievable packers, side pockets mandrels, mandrel valves and tubing screens) were run into the wells. The main enhancements were the following:Cost-effective rig less workover. Higher artificial lift performance by avoiding commingled flow using multiple zone isolation (no gas pound on the pump, no unwanted producing fluids). Cross flow and formation damage prevention due to commingled production. Easy well access to increase gas ultimate recovery, using a pulling rig instead of a workover recompletion. Recompletion of gas wells by means of wireline conveyed casing guns and wireline setting packers without killing the well in order to pull down tubing string and therefore preventing formation damage. Introduction This paper presents the experience of completing three marginal well in Los Perales Oil Field. In 1936 the well was drilled. Los Perales is being operated at 100% by Repsol-YPF, and is located in the western section of the Gulf of San Jorge basin in Argentina (figure 1). Actual Los Perales oil production is 4100 m3/d and gas production is 1.9 Mm3/d. Los Perales is considered to be a marginal field, because average well oil production is 2.5 m3/d (14 STB/d), this fact makes cost effective solutions a paramount in Los Perales field. Geologically Los Perales is characterized as a multilayer fluvial type reservoir. Average sand beds thickness is 3 m, and they can produce water, oil, gas or all of them together. A typical well completion is perforating every layer that is considered, by logs interpretation and then swabbing each of them. Upon the results of the swabbing, engineers and geologists decide which layer will be put in production, cementing or isolating the ones that are out of interest. Finally a rod sucker pump is run in hole and the well starts producing with a commingle flow of oil gas and water.
- South America > Argentina > Santa Cruz Province (1.00)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia (0.94)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Sandstone (0.55)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline (0.54)
- Geology > Sedimentary Geology > Depositional Environment > Continental Environment > Fluvial Environment (0.45)
- South America > Argentina > Santa Cruz > Golfo San Jorge Basin > Los Perales Field (0.99)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Golfo San Jorge Basin (0.93)
- South America > Argentina > Tierra del Fuego > Magallanes Basin > South-central > Santa Cruz Formation (0.91)