Production optimisation and water control in oil/water producing wells using horizontal downhole water sink technology
Fadi Ali A , Hassan Bahrami A , Po Chu Byfield B and Jijin Mathew CA Curtin University of Technology
B Strategy Central Pty Ltd
C Curtin University of Technology
The APPEA Journal 51(1) 577-588 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ10041
Published: 2011
Abstract
Water breakthrough and the flow of water towards the perforations of a producing well increase production operation costs and influence overall recovery efficiency. To control water production, a downhole water sink can be used in which a well is completed in both oil and water zones. Water is produced from an interval in water zone, which can result in the same pressure drop below water oil contact (WOC) as the pressure drop created by oil or gas production.
This system can reduce water production through oil zone perforations. Water produced from water zone perforations can then be injected in deeper aquifers intervals. This technology can also be implemented in horizontal and multi-lateral wells to further increase hydrocarbon recovery with fewer water problems.
This study examines the use of horizontal downhole water sink technology to increase oil recovery. Numerical simulation is performed to optimise oil production and water control in a multi-layered oil reservoir, by optimising the direction of drilling and the downhole water sink method. Different scenarios of drilling direction and horizontal down-hole water sink method are examined to identify the option that provides maximum oil recovery. The simulation results showed that drilling horizontal wells in a north–south direction resulted in higher well productivity, and that wells with significantly more water production problems can be controlled using a horizontal downhole water sink.
Fadi Ali is employed by CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering (formerly CSIRO Petroleum Resources) in Perth, Australia. He is in charge of providing the required technical support and research in the fluid analysis division. Fadi holds a Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering and a Master of Petroleum Engineering with distinction from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia. Fadi.Ali@postgrad.curtin.edu.au |
Hassan is a PhD candidate in the department of petroleum engineering at Curtin University, Perth. He has focused on tight gas sand reservoirs damage and productivity. Prior to Curtin University, he worked for Schlumberger Data and Consulting Services (DCS) as borehole reservoir engineer (2003–9) and Tehran Energy Consultants as Reservoir Engineer (2001–3). Hassan holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Persian Gulf University, and a Master of Science in reservoir engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Hassan.Bahrami@postgrad.curtin.edu.au |
Po Chu Byfield is a Director at Strategy Central Pty Ltd, an engineering consultancy based in Perth, specialising in geological modelling and dynamic reservoir simulation of oil and gas and CBM reservoirs and CCS. Po Chu has a chemical engineering degree (hons) from the National University of Singapore and an MBA from Edinburgh University in Scotland. Pochu@strategycentral.com.au |
Jijin Mathew completed his Master of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia in 2010. Jijin holds an MSc in chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University in India, and a Graduate Certificate in chemical engineering from Curtin University of Technology Perth. Mathewjijin@yahoo.com.au |
