Development and First Field Application of a Gel/Cement Water-Shutoff System

Abstract

Summary Water production in northeast Syria has increased significantly in recent years. As a result, costs per barrel of oil have increased and the field's production is currently constrained by the facilities capacity. Production logging tool (PLT) surveys, combined with a reservoir study, showed that good-quality sands were not properly swept by the water, probably because of poor connectivity in the reservoir. It was anticipated that these unswept sands could contribute to production if the watered-out sands were shut off. A newly developed gel/cement has been used to shut off the watered-out sands in a cost-effective manner. The gel/cement system combines the properties of two shutoff techniques: Cement for mechanically strong perforation shutoff. Gel for excellent matrix shutoff. The gel, used as "mix water" of the cement, will be squeezed into the matrix, creating a shallow matrix shutoff. The cement will remain in the perforation tunnel as a rigid seal. This system showed superior shutoff performance in the laboratory compared to normal cement squeeze techniques. Selective perforation of the hydrocarbon zones will re-establish the oil production. The shutoff zones can be reopened later in the well's life when artificial lift has been installed. The system was tested in the field in two wells. In the first field trial, 84 m of perforations (gross) was squeezed off with the gel/cement in a single attempt. After reperforation of the top and the middle zone, the well produced at a strongly reduced water cut (i.e., 25 to 33% compared with 60 to 62% before the treatment) and an increased oil production (i.e., 3,000 BOPD compared with 1,000 BOPD before the treatment). The oil production declined to 2,000 BOPD over a year; the water cut gradually increased over that period to 56%. In the second well, full shutoff was achieved but oil production could not be resumed for reasons that are not fully understood.