Application of underbalanced tubing conveyed perforation in horizontal wells: A case study of perforation optimization in a giant oil field in Southwest Iran
Keywords:
Underbalanced perforation, tubing conveyed perforation, productivity ratio, horizontal wells, formation damageAbstract
Underbalanced perforation can substantially reduce formation damage and improve the efficiency of production operation. The field in question is a giant oil field in Southwest Iran, with over 350,000 bbl/day production rates. Reservoir X is the main reservoir of the field and includes 139 horizontal wells out of the total of 185 production wells drilled in the field. Despite its technical difficulties, under-balance perforation has been proven to result in high productivity ratios and has been shown to reduce workover costs if appropriately conducted. Therefore, this study investigated a customized underbalanced tubing conveyed perforation to enhance oil production. First, post-drilling formation damage was estimated using Perforating Completion Solution Kits. Next, high-density guns (types 73 and 127) with high melting explosives were selected based on the reservoir and well specifications. angles of 60◦ and 90◦ , shot densities of 16 and 20 shots per meter, perforation diameters of By conducting a sensitivity analysis using schlumberger perforating analyzer program, shot 8 and 10 mm, and helix hole distribution were selected as optimized perforation parameters and resulted in productivity ratios up to 1.18. The current study provides a case study of applying a combination of two previously proven technologies, tubing convoyed and underbalanced perforation, in Iran’s giant oilfield. The method used and the outcome could be used to analyze the efficiency of applying the technology in other green or mature fields.
Cited as: Mohammadian, E., Dastgerdi, M. E., Manshad, A. K., Mohammadi, A. H., Liu, B., Iglauer, S., Keshavarz, A. Application of underbalanced tubing conveyed perforation in horizontal wells: A case study of perforation optimization in a giant oil field in Southwest Iran. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2022, 6(4): 296-305. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2022.04.04
ReferencesAbobaker, E. E. R., Elsanoose, A., Khan, F., et al. Comparison of crushed-zone skin factor for cased and perforated wells calculated with and without including a tip-crushed zone effect. Geofluids, 2021, 2021: 3689964.
Abobaker, E. E. R., Elsanoose, A., Khan, F., et al. A new assessment of perforation skin factor for vertical perforated wells in near-wellbore region. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2022, 12(1): 117-133.
Ahmed, T. Reservoir Engineering Handbook (Fourth Edition). Gulf Professional Publishing, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2010.
Bale, D. S., Satti, R. P. A fast computational model for wellbore pressure transients while perforating with dynamic underbalance. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2020, 185: 106-126.
Behrmann, L. A. Underbalance criteria for minimum perforation damage. SPE Drilling & Completion, 1996, 11(3): 173-177.
Bell, W. Perforating techniques for maximizing well productivity. Paper SPE 10033 Presented at SPE International Petroleum Exhibition and Technical Symposium, Beijing, China, 18-26 March, 1982.
Bellarby, J. Well Completion Design. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2009.
Bennion, D. B., Thomas, F. B., Bietz, R. F. Formation damage and horizontal wells-A productivity killer? Paper SPE 37138 Presented at SPE International Conference on Horizontal Well Technology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1-4 November, 1996.
Cosad, C. Choosing a perforation strategy. Explosives Engineering, 1995.
Dastgerdi, M. E., Manshad, A. K., Mohammadi, A. H. Optimization of perforated liner parameters in horizontal oil wells. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2020, 10(8): 3505-3514.
Deng, Q., Zhang, H., Chen, A., et al. Effects of perforation fluid movement on downhole packer with shock loads. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2020, 195: 107566.
Ezenweichu, C. L., Laditan, O. D. The causes, effects and minimization of formation damage in horizontal wells. Petroleum & Coal, 2015, 57(2): 169-184.
Fattah, K. A., Lashin, A. Investigation of mud density and weighting materials effect on drilling fluid filter cake properties and formation damage. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2016, 117: 345-357.
Gilliat, J., Bale, D., Satti, R., et al. The importance of pre-job shock modeling as a risk mitigation tool in TCP operations. Paper SPE 170260 Presented at SPE Deepwater Drilling and Completions Conference, Austin, Texas, 10-11 September, 2014.
Hofsaess, T., Kleintz, W. Injectivity decline in wells with nonuniform perforation properties. Paper SPE 39586 Presented at SPE Formation Damage Control Conference, Lafayette, Louisiana, 18-19 February, 1998.
Jilani, S., Menouar, H., Al-Majed, A., et al. Effect of overbalance pressure on formation damage. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2002, 36(1-2): 97-109.
Kang, Y., Xu, C., You, L., et al. Comprehensive evaluation of formation damage induced by working fluid loss in fractured tight gas reservoir. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2014, 18: 353-359.
Klotz, J. A., Krueger, R. F., Pye, D. S. Effect of perforation damage on well productivity. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 1974, 26(11): 1303-1314.
Krueger, R. F. An overview of formation damage and well productivity in oilfield operations: An update. Paper SPE 17459 Presented at SPE California Regional Meeting, Long Beach, California, 23-25 March, 1988.
Liu, H., Guo, R., Dong, J., et al. Productivity evaluation and influential factor analysis for Sarvak reservoir in South Azadegan oil field, Iran. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2013, 40(5): 627-634.
Liu, H., Wang, F., Wang, Y., et al. Oil well perforation technology: Status and prospects. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(6): 798-804.
Marbun, B. T. H., Sinaga, S. Z., Purbantanu, B. A., et al. Improvement of loads calculation of the perforated liner in a geothermal production well. Renewable Energy, 2021, 174: 468-486.
Moradi, B., Ayoub, M., Bataee, M., et al. Calculation of temperature profile in injection wells. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2020, 10(2): 687-697.
Tang, K., Chen, H., Chen, F., et al. Cause analysis and precautions of horizontal well perforator sticking in Moxi gas field. Oil Drilling & Production Technology, 2009, 31(6): 110-114.
Wang, Z., Li, H., Lan, X., et al. Formation damage mechanism of a sandstone reservoir based on micro-computed tomography. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2021, 5(1): 25-38.
Xie, J., Cheng, W., Wang, R., et al. Experiments and analysis on the influence of perforation mode on hydraulic fracture geometry in shale formation. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2018, 168: 133-147.
Zhang, R., Hou, B., Shan, Q., et al. The study on hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation of coplanar perforation technology in the horizontal well. Paper SPE 189374 Presented at SPE Middle East Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 29-31 January, 2018.