Drilling & Well Completion

rework

Rework: Reviving Production in Drilling & Well Completion

In the world of oil and gas production, well performance can decline over time due to various factors such as:

  • Depletion: As the reservoir pressure decreases, the rate of oil and gas flow naturally declines.
  • Production Issues: Blockages, water influx, or formation damage can disrupt production.
  • Equipment Failure: Malfunctioning equipment in the wellbore or surface facilities can lead to production loss.

When a well's production falls below an acceptable level or stops entirely, it needs rework. Rework is a crucial process in drilling and well completion that aims to restore production from an existing formation.

Here's a summary of common rework techniques:

1. Stimulation:

  • Acidizing: This involves injecting acid into the formation to dissolve minerals that impede flow, improving permeability and increasing production.
  • Fracturing: This technique uses high-pressure fluids to create fractures in the formation, enhancing the flow of oil and gas.
  • Sand Fracturing: A combination of fracturing with proppants like sand to keep the fractures open and maintain high permeability.
  • Nitrogen Injection: Injecting nitrogen into the reservoir to maintain pressure and improve flow.

2. Wellbore Interventions:

  • Fishing: Retrieving lost or stuck equipment from the wellbore.
  • Cleaning: Removing debris, scale, or other obstructions from the wellbore.
  • Tubing Repair or Replacement: Replacing damaged tubing to ensure proper fluid flow.
  • Packer Installation: Installing packers to isolate different zones in the wellbore, optimizing production.

3. Completion Modifications:

  • Downhole Completion: Re-completing the well with different tools or methods to access a different zone or improve the flow path.
  • Surface Equipment Upgrade: Replacing or upgrading surface equipment like pumps, separators, or flow meters to enhance efficiency.

4. Reservoir Management:

  • Waterflooding: Injecting water into the reservoir to maintain pressure and displace oil.
  • Gas Injection: Injecting gas into the reservoir to improve production and increase recovery.

Benefits of Rework:

  • Increased Production: Rework can significantly boost oil and gas production, extending the life of a well and maximizing revenue.
  • Improved Efficiency: Optimizing well performance reduces operational costs and improves overall efficiency.
  • Reduced Environmental Impact: Enhanced production minimizes the need to drill new wells, reducing environmental impact.

Choosing the Right Rework Technique:

The selection of appropriate rework techniques depends on factors like:

  • Well Condition: The current state of the wellbore, formation, and equipment.
  • Reservoir Characteristics: The type of reservoir, permeability, and pressure.
  • Economic Viability: The potential return on investment and feasibility of the rework project.

Conclusion:

Rework plays a vital role in maximizing the production potential of existing wells. It offers a cost-effective way to revive declining production, improve efficiency, and ensure long-term profitability in the oil and gas industry. By carefully evaluating well conditions, reservoir characteristics, and economic considerations, operators can choose the most suitable rework techniques to restore and enhance production from existing formations.


Test Your Knowledge

Rework: Reviving Production Quiz

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. Which of the following is NOT a primary reason for well production decline?

a) Depletion of reservoir pressure b) Equipment failure c) Increased demand for oil and gas d) Production issues like blockages

Answer

c) Increased demand for oil and gas

2. What is the main goal of rework in oil and gas production?

a) To explore new oil and gas deposits b) To permanently seal off unproductive wells c) To restore production from an existing formation d) To transport oil and gas to processing facilities

Answer

c) To restore production from an existing formation

3. Which of the following is an example of a stimulation technique?

a) Fishing b) Packer installation c) Fracturing d) Downhole completion

Answer

c) Fracturing

4. What is the purpose of waterflooding in reservoir management?

a) To remove impurities from the oil b) To maintain pressure and displace oil c) To increase the viscosity of the oil d) To prevent gas leakage

Answer

b) To maintain pressure and displace oil

5. Which factor is LEAST important when choosing a rework technique?

a) Well condition b) Reservoir characteristics c) Economic viability d) Market price of oil and gas

Answer

d) Market price of oil and gas

Rework: Reviving Production Exercise

Scenario: A well has been experiencing declining production due to a combination of factors:

  • Formation damage: Minerals have accumulated in the formation, reducing permeability.
  • Tubing wear: The tubing has developed leaks, leading to pressure loss.

Task: Suggest a rework strategy that addresses both issues. Consider the following:

  • Stimulation techniques: Which technique(s) would be most effective to address the formation damage?
  • Wellbore interventions: What needs to be done to fix the tubing problem?
  • Economic considerations: Consider the cost-effectiveness of each proposed solution.

Exercise Correction

A possible rework strategy could include: **1. Stimulation:** * **Acidizing:** Injecting acid into the formation would dissolve the mineral deposits, improving permeability and enhancing production. * **Sand Fracturing:** If acidizing alone is not sufficient, sand fracturing could be used to create larger, more stable fractures, further improving flow. **2. Wellbore Interventions:** * **Tubing Repair or Replacement:** The damaged tubing would need to be repaired or replaced with a new section to ensure proper fluid flow and prevent further pressure loss. **Economic considerations:** * The feasibility of each technique needs to be evaluated based on the estimated cost and potential return on investment. * In some cases, a simpler approach like acidizing and tubing repair might be more economical than a more complex procedure like sand fracturing. * The operator should carefully analyze the well's potential, remaining reservoir life, and available budget to determine the most cost-effective rework strategy.


Books

  • "Petroleum Production Engineering" by J. J. McKetta and W. A. Cunningham (Covers comprehensive aspects of well production, including rework techniques)
  • "Well Stimulation" by Howard J. Ramey Jr. (Focuses specifically on well stimulation techniques like acidizing and fracturing)
  • "Completion and Workover Engineering" by J. P. Brill and H. J. Ramey Jr. (Detailed guide on various well completion and rework operations)
  • "Reservoir Engineering" by R. A. Wattenbarger (Covers reservoir management and optimization techniques relevant to rework)
  • "Practical Petroleum Engineering" by Michael J. Economides and Tarek Ahmed (Provides a practical approach to well engineering and includes rework considerations)

Articles

  • "Rework and Well Stimulation: A Comprehensive Overview" by SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) (Published in SPE Journal, provides a detailed overview of rework concepts and techniques)
  • "Optimizing Well Performance through Effective Rework Strategies" by Schlumberger (A technical article discussing various rework techniques and their application)
  • "The Importance of Well Stimulation in Maximizing Production" by Halliburton (Explains the role of well stimulation in enhancing production)
  • "Rework Techniques for Mature Wells: A Case Study" by Elsevier (A case study highlighting the application of rework techniques in improving well performance)

Online Resources

  • SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Website: (spe.org) - Offers a wealth of resources, publications, and technical papers related to drilling, completion, and rework.
  • Schlumberger Website: (slb.com) - Provides technical articles, case studies, and information on various well services, including rework.
  • Halliburton Website: (halliburton.com) - Similar to Schlumberger, offers resources and insights on well stimulation and completion techniques.
  • OnePetro: (onepetro.org) - A platform for accessing a vast collection of technical papers and research related to the oil and gas industry.

Search Tips

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  • Combine keywords with well type: "rework horizontal wells", "rework shale wells", "rework offshore wells"
  • Include relevant locations: "rework techniques in the Gulf of Mexico", "rework in the Bakken formation"
  • Use advanced operators: "site:.com" for specific websites, "filetype:pdf" for PDF documents

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