Completions
This edition highlights three offshore technology papers that address a common industry theme: how targeted engineering solutions can reduce uncertainty, shorten operations, and make technically constrained offshore well activities more executable.
Three papers are highlighted as the primary contributions because of their broad industry relevance. They focus on improving formation particle-size characterization, expanding the application of openhole gravel packs in depleted and compartmentalized reservoirs, and advancing the understanding of capillary pressure in sand production.
This paper aims to establish a set of best practices for generating particle-size-distribution data from core samples.
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Hydraulically fracturing and stimulating multiple horizontal wells in sequence has been rapidly adopted by operators because of the potential for production without introducing unwanted risks. -
Upstream separation processes remain a hot topic for facilities engineers. Striving to design separators with the optimal sizing for a variety of reservoir conditions, increasing water cuts, and dynamic gas/oil/water production characteristics is critical, but challenging.
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While storage and logistics are critical elements of the viability of water reuse, if the water chemistry is not fit for gel fracturing formulations, it will not matter how much is stored in centrally located impoundments.
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The gas-producing carbonate zones of the Ghawar field in eastern Saudi Arabia have been affected by extensive iron sulfide (FeS) scale deposition, reducing overall gas production and increasing risks during well interventions.
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This paper attempts to describe some of the common problems and to help prevent some common errors often observed in diagnostic fracture injection tests (DFITs) execution and analysis.
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Evenly fracturing all clusters in heterogeneous zones is challenging in long horizontal sections penetrating heterogeneous reservoirs, as is often the case in the Eagle Ford shale.
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An innovative approach resulted in the development of an ultra-HP/HT permanent bridge plug for long-term exposure at 25,000‑psi pressure and temperatures of 500°F.
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Refracturing older unconventional wells is likely to reward those willing to investigate the reasons why production declines and what can be done to restore it, according to George King, distinguished engineering adviser at Apache Corp.
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The offshore industry has taken another step toward opening up new deepwater frontiers to exploration with Maersk Drilling ordering the first 20,000-psi blowout preventer (BOP) made by GE Oil and Gas.
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Running a shale exploration and production operation requires a sharp focus on costs, but not all are measured the same.
