Maximizing Production through Optimal Wellbore Placement for Energy Accessibility and Affordability

Abstract

Abstract Considering the high cost of drilling wells in recent times, with associated subsurface geological complexities, and brown fields` operating concerns. It becomes challenging on how to properly drain or recover the remaining oil in place to meet and sustain the ever-increasing demand of energy at affordable cost. This paper streamlines an innovative approach applied to delineate the sweetest spot in a target reservoir through optimal wellbore placement and improved production. Methodology deployed involved looking beyond the bright spot in the seismic volume, with a deep dive into petrophysical parameters of the existing wells, reservoir characterization, utilizing high resolution sequence stratigraphical approach, static modeling and reservoir simulation. The systematic approach utilized aided in delineating the rock properties quality of different regions of the reservoir. After a series of sensitivity tests, a lateral length of 1200 feet was selected to accommodate identified structural and drillability constraints. #-82h wellbore was placed at the sweetest portion of the reservoir. The well production performance has been consistent with over 1,700 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) over the past two years. Lessons learned: optimal well placement in the sweet spot of the target reservoir was guided by lithofacies analysis and reliable dynamic modeling. This remains valuable for reservoir management, maximizing reserves to production. One team approach also aided the timely attainment of the project objectives. The best practice would be to integrate reliable datasets, such as pressure information, fluid rates, well logs, 3D/4D seismic volumes and attributes, to generate representative geologic and simulation models that best depict and predict subsurface ‘architectural` behaviours.