Ingénierie des réservoirs

Reserves, Behind Pipe

Derrière le Tubage : Débloquer le Potentiel Caché des Puits de Pétrole et de Gaz

L'industrie pétrolière et gazière recherche constamment des moyens de maximiser la production et d'extraire chaque goutte de ressources précieuses. Un domaine de potentiel souvent négligé réside dans les réserves « derrière le tubage ». Ces réserves représentent un potentiel inexploité au sein des puits existants, nécessitant des travaux supplémentaires pour en libérer la valeur.

Que sont les réserves derrière le tubage ?

Les réserves derrière le tubage sont celles qui devraient être récupérées à partir de zones situées dans des puits existants, mais qui restent actuellement inaccessibles. Ces zones peuvent être :

  • Partiellement pénétrées : Le puits peut n'avoir traversé qu'une partie du réservoir, laissant un potentiel inexploité derrière le tubage.
  • Improductives en raison d'une mauvaise complétion : Le puits peut avoir été complété d'une manière qui n'accède pas efficacement au réservoir, conduisant à une faible production.
  • Obstruées ou endommagées : Le puits peut avoir subi des blocages ou des dommages au fil du temps, entravant l'écoulement des fluides.

Débloquer le potentiel : Re-complétion et technologies avancées

L'extraction des réserves derrière le tubage nécessite des travaux supplémentaires, souvent appelés « re-complétion ». Cela peut impliquer un éventail d'activités, notamment :

  • Pose d'un nouveau tubage : Installation d'un nouveau tubage pour isoler les zones précédemment inaccessibles.
  • Stimulation du réservoir : Utilisation de la fracturation hydraulique ou d'autres techniques pour augmenter la perméabilité et la production.
  • Installation de nouveaux équipements de complétion : Mise en œuvre de nouvelles méthodes de complétion pour optimiser l'écoulement des fluides et accéder à des zones précédemment intactes.

Outils et techniques pour identifier les réserves derrière le tubage :

Plusieurs outils et technologies sont essentiels pour identifier et évaluer les réserves derrière le tubage :

  • Logs de proximité : Ces outils servent à mesurer la résistivité et à identifier les zones potentielles pour la re-complétion. Ils sont particulièrement utiles pour évaluer la qualité des complétions existantes et détecter les zones avec un potentiel d'amélioration de la production.
  • Données sismiques 3D : L'analyse des données sismiques peut fournir une image détaillée du réservoir, aidant à identifier les zones inexploitées au sein des puits existants.
  • Techniques de diagraphie de puits avancées : L'analyse détaillée de la diagraphie de puits peut fournir des informations sur les caractéristiques du réservoir et la productivité potentielle, permettant une prise de décision éclairée sur les projets de re-complétion.

Avantages du ciblage des réserves derrière le tubage :

  • Augmentation de la production : Les projets de re-complétion peuvent augmenter considérablement la production des puits existants, stimulant la production globale et la rentabilité.
  • Réduction des coûts de développement : Le ciblage des réserves derrière le tubage évite la nécessité de forer de nouveaux puits, ce qui peut être beaucoup plus coûteux.
  • Impact environnemental réduit : L'utilisation des infrastructures existantes réduit le besoin de nouvelles opérations de forage, minimisant l'empreinte environnementale.
  • Durée de vie du puits prolongée : Les projets de re-complétion peuvent revitaliser les puits plus anciens, prolongeant leur durée de vie productive et réduisant le besoin d'une désaffectation prématurée.

Conclusion

Les réserves derrière le tubage représentent une opportunité précieuse pour les opérateurs pétroliers et gaziers de maximiser la production et d'améliorer la rentabilité. En utilisant des technologies de pointe et en mettant en œuvre des stratégies de re-complétion efficaces, les entreprises peuvent débloquer un potentiel caché au sein des puits existants, contribuant à une industrie énergétique plus durable et plus efficace.


Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: Behind-the-Pipe Reserves

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What are behind-the-pipe reserves?

a) Reserves that are easily accessible and already being produced.

Answer

Incorrect. Behind-the-pipe reserves are not easily accessible or currently being produced.

b) Reserves that are located in a new and unexplored area.

Answer

Incorrect. Behind-the-pipe reserves are located within existing wells.

c) Reserves that are untapped within existing wells, requiring additional work to access.

Answer

Correct! Behind-the-pipe reserves are untapped resources within existing wells.

d) Reserves that have been depleted and are no longer productive.

Answer

Incorrect. Behind-the-pipe reserves are untapped and have potential for production.

2. Which of these is NOT a common reason for behind-the-pipe reserves to remain untapped?

a) The well was only partially drilled through the reservoir.

Answer

Incorrect. This is a common reason for behind-the-pipe reserves.

b) The well completion was not optimized for accessing the reservoir.

Answer

Incorrect. This is a common reason for behind-the-pipe reserves.

c) The wellbore has become clogged or damaged.

Answer

Incorrect. This is a common reason for behind-the-pipe reserves.

d) The reservoir is completely depleted.

Answer

Correct! If the reservoir is completely depleted, there are no reserves left, behind-the-pipe or otherwise.

3. What is "re-completion" in the context of behind-the-pipe reserves?

a) The process of decommissioning an old well.

Answer

Incorrect. Re-completion involves accessing and producing from existing wells.

b) The process of drilling a new well in a different location.

Answer

Incorrect. Re-completion focuses on existing wells, not new drilling.

c) The process of improving access to and production from untapped zones within existing wells.

Answer

Correct! Re-completion is the process of unlocking behind-the-pipe reserves.

d) The process of removing old casing from a well.

Answer

Incorrect. While removing casing can be part of re-completion, it's not the entire process.

4. Which tool is NOT typically used for identifying and evaluating behind-the-pipe reserves?

a) Proximity logs

Answer

Incorrect. Proximity logs are crucial for evaluating potential behind-the-pipe zones.

b) 3D seismic data

Answer

Incorrect. 3D seismic data provides a detailed picture of the reservoir and helps identify behind-the-pipe potential.

c) Satellite imagery

Answer

Correct! Satellite imagery is not directly used for identifying and evaluating behind-the-pipe reserves.

d) Advanced well logging techniques

Answer

Incorrect. Advanced well logging is essential for understanding reservoir characteristics and potential production.

5. What is a key benefit of targeting behind-the-pipe reserves?

a) Reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

Answer

Incorrect. While maximizing production can lead to less reliance on new wells, this is not the primary benefit of targeting behind-the-pipe reserves.

b) Increased production from existing wells.

Answer

Correct! Re-completion projects can significantly increase production from existing wells.

c) Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from drilling new wells.

Answer

Incorrect. While this is a positive outcome, it's not the key benefit of targeting behind-the-pipe reserves.

d) Creation of new jobs in the oil and gas industry.

Answer

Incorrect. While re-completion projects may create some jobs, it's not the main benefit.

Exercise: Behind-the-Pipe Scenario

Scenario:

An oil and gas company has a well that was drilled in the 1980s. The well was only partially penetrated through the reservoir, and the completion design was not optimal for maximizing production. The company is considering re-completion to access behind-the-pipe reserves.

Task:

  1. Identify at least two potential challenges the company might face during re-completion.
  2. Suggest two technologies or techniques that could be used to overcome those challenges.
  3. Explain how the chosen technologies or techniques could help achieve re-completion success.

**

Exercice Correction

Here's a possible solution to the exercise:

1. Challenges:

  • Wellbore integrity: The wellbore may have deteriorated over time, making it difficult to run new casing or perform stimulation.
  • Reservoir characterization: The company may have limited knowledge of the reservoir due to the outdated data and incomplete penetration.

2. Technologies/Techniques:

  • Advanced well logging: Detailed well logging analysis can assess the current wellbore condition, reservoir characteristics, and identify zones suitable for re-completion.
  • Horizontal drilling/Multi-stage fracturing: If the original well was vertical, horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing could be used to access a larger portion of the reservoir, potentially unlocking significantly more behind-the-pipe reserves.

3. How they help:

  • Advanced well logging: Provides crucial information to assess the wellbore's condition, understand the reservoir's potential, and guide decisions on re-completion strategies.
  • Horizontal drilling/Multi-stage fracturing: Increases contact area with the reservoir, boosting production potential from the untapped zones.

This exercise encourages critical thinking about the challenges and solutions involved in unlocking behind-the-pipe reserves.


Books

  • Petroleum Engineering: Drilling and Well Completions by Adam T. Bourgoyne Jr., William C. Millheim, Frank S. Chenevert, and Henry J. Pirson: This comprehensive textbook covers various aspects of drilling and completion, including re-completion techniques and evaluation of reserves.
  • Reservoir Simulation by Aziz, K. and Settari, A.: This book offers in-depth information on numerical simulation of oil and gas reservoirs, including modeling techniques for analyzing potential behind-the-pipe reserves.
  • Well Logging and Formation Evaluation by B. H. M. Smith: This book focuses on the application of well logging techniques for evaluating reservoir properties and identifying potential behind-the-pipe reserves.

Articles

  • "Unlocking Hidden Potential: Re-Completions and Behind-the-Pipe Reserves" by SPE Magazine: This article discusses the benefits and challenges of targeting behind-the-pipe reserves and explores various re-completion techniques.
  • "Behind-the-Pipe Reservoir Characterization: A Case Study" by Journal of Petroleum Technology: This article presents a real-world case study on utilizing advanced technologies to identify and evaluate behind-the-pipe reserves.
  • "Re-Completions: A New Lease on Life for Mature Fields" by Oil & Gas Journal: This article highlights the economic and environmental benefits of re-completion projects in mature oil and gas fields.

Online Resources

  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) website: The SPE offers numerous resources, including technical papers, conferences, and training courses related to drilling, completion, and reservoir engineering, including information on behind-the-pipe reserves.
  • Schlumberger website: Schlumberger, a leading oilfield services company, provides technical information and case studies on various technologies used for identifying and accessing behind-the-pipe reserves.
  • Halliburton website: Similar to Schlumberger, Halliburton offers insights into its technologies and services related to drilling, completion, and re-completion projects, often featuring information on behind-the-pipe reserves.

Search Tips

  • Use specific keywords: Combine keywords like "behind-the-pipe," "re-completion," "reserves," "oil and gas," "reservoir characterization," "well logging," and "completion techniques."
  • Filter results by year: Use the "tools" option in Google search to limit results to recent publications for the most up-to-date information.
  • Include industry names: Search for information specific to companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and others involved in oil and gas services and technologies.
  • Explore relevant forums: Utilize online forums and communities like "SPE Connect" to find discussions and insights from experts in the field.

Techniques

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Ingénierie de la tuyauterie et des pipelinesIngénierie des réservoirsForage et complétion de puitsGestion de l'intégrité des actifsTraitement du pétrole et du gazTermes techniques généraux
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