Improving Well Productivity in North Kuwait Well by Optimizing Radial Drilling Procedures

Abstract

Abstract Reservoir management requires continual efforts to identify opportunities for production enhancement. Radial Drilling (RD) technology is a method for production optimization by extending the contact area with reservoir. It utilizes hydraulic jetting energy to create several lateral holes within the zones of interest along different directions. A candidate cased hole well-A was selected based on sub-normal production from a sandstone reservoir. Three extended laterals holes, at ±300 ft lengths each, are made using the RD technology. Job planning includes core studies, static and rotary jetting test using clean fluid. In order to avoid any possible formation damage during operations, RD job procedures have been optimized by using the different fluids mixtures during jetting, backwash and enlarging the created lateral holes. Jetting fluid used was brine mixed with NH4CL and Mutual Solvent, and followed by 10% HCL regular Acid. The results showed a significant improvement in well productivity compared with previous well history. The post-treatment production test showed a ±110% gain in oil rate resulting from the improved reservoir deliverability. The dominant factor responsible for the success of this technology is the meticulous planning and testing before job execution. Moreover, it has proven to be an effective solution to bypass the deep damaged area around the sandface, and to improve the production recovery from heavy oil zones. The success of the new Radial Drilling technology with the optimized procedures can be implemented as a best practice in similar wells in north Kuwait fields. This paper presents the advantages of the Radial Drilling technology in the recovery of bypassed crude oil from existing thin reservoirs, the optimized radial drilling procedures that ensured a clean lateral hole, and the evaluation of the impact compared to the conventional procedures.