Application of Natural Clay to Formulate Nontraditional Completion Fluid that Triples Oil Productivity

Authors: Munawar Khalil, Badrul Mohamed Jan, Abdul Aziz Abdul Raman

Abstract:

In the last decades, the problem of perforation damage has been considered as the major factor for the reduction of oil productivity. Underbalance perforation is considered as one of the best means to minimize or overcome this problem. By maintaining wellbore pressure lower than formation pressure, perforation damage could be minimize or eliminated. This can be achieved by the use of nontraditional lightweight completion fluid. This paper presents the effect of natural clay in formulating nontraditional completion fluid to ensure successful perforation job and increase of production rate. Natural clay is used as homogenizing agent to create a stable and non-damaging low-density completion fluid. Results indicate that the addition of natural clay dramatically increase the stability of the final fluids. In addition, field test has shown that the application of nontraditional completion fluid increases oil production by three folds.

Keywords: Completion fluid, underbalance, clay, oil production.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1061022

References:

[1] L.A. Behrmann, J.K. Pucknell, S.R. Bishop, T-Y, Hsia, "Measurement of additional skin resulting from perforation damage (Presented Conference Paper style)" presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, TX, October, 6-9, 1991, Paper SPE 22809.
[2] H. Ibrahim, S. Balushi, A. Salsman, A.J. Nunez, H. Situmorang, "Novel perforating job design triples well productivity (Presented Conference Paper style)" presented at SPE Production and Operation Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 4-8, 2009, Paper SPE119636
[3] I.C. Walton, "Optimum underbalance for the removal of perforation damage (Presented Conference Paper style)" Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, TX, October, 1-4, 2000, Paper SPE 63108.
[4] P.M. Halleck, "Recent advances in understanding perforator penetration and flow performance" SPE Drilling & Completion, pp 19-26, March 1997.
[5] W.T. Bell, "Perforating techniques for maximizing well productivity (Presented Conference Paper style)" presented at International Petroleum Exhibition and Technical Symposium of Society of Petroleum Engineers, Beijing, China, March 18-26, 1982, Paper SPE 1003.
[6] L.A. Behrmann, B. McDonald, "Underbalance or extreme overbalance (Presented Conference Paper style)" presented at SPE Internation Symposium on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana, February 14-15, 1995, Paper SPE 31083.
[7] R.S. Millhone, "Completion fluid for maximizing productivity-state of the art" Journal of Petroleum Technology, pp 47-55, January 1983.
[8] H. Lorenz, "Air, mist, and foam drilling has worldwide applications" World Oil, pp 187-193, June 1980.
[9] M.J. Badrul, G.R. Rae, M.I. Noor, A.N. Suhadi, M. Devadaas, "Increasing production by maximizing underbalance during perforation using nontraditional lightweight completion fluid" SPE Drilling & Completion, pp 326-331, June 2009.
[10] G.H. Medley, Jr., W.C. Maurer, A.Y. Garkasi, "Use of hollow glass sphere for underbalanced drilling fluids (Presented Conference Paper style)" presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, October, 22-25, 1995. SPE 30500.
[11] D. Kulakofsky, J.L. Paredes, J.M. Morales, "Ultralightweight cementing technology sets world record for liner cementing with a 5.4 lbm/gal slurry density (Presented Conference Paper style)" presented at IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Miami, Florida, February, 21-23, 2006. IADC/SPE 98124.
[12] J.A. Gadsen, "Infrared spectra of minerals and related inorganic compounds" Butterworths : London, 1975.
[13] T. Novaković, L. Rožić, S. Petrović, A. Rosić, "Synthesis and characterization of acid-activated Serbian smectite clays obtained by statistically design experiments". Chemical Engineering Journal. 137, pp 436-442, 2008.
[14] N. Yildiz, Z. Aktas, A. Calimni, "Sulphuric acid activation of a calcium bentonite". Particulate Science and Technology. 22, pp 21-33, 2004.
[15] L. Meesuk, N. Vorasith, "The use of bentonite to remove dark colour in repeatingly used palm oil" Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A. 41, pp 1189-1200, 2006.