Novel Single Trip Horizontal Gravel Pack and Selective Stimulation System Improves Injectivity in Deepwater Wells

Abstract

Abstract Conventional horizontal gravel pack completions typically require multiple trips. Disadvantages of the conventional system may include the loss of rig time due to multiple trips and repeated rig-up / rig-down of pumping equipment, formation damage due to completion fluid losses and fluid loss pills, and incomplete filtercake cleanup across the entire gravel packed interval. A novel single trip horizontal gravel pack and selective stimulation (SHGPSS) system has been developed and implemented. This system allows the gravel pack assembly to be installed, the gravel pack to be pumped, and selective stimulation of the entire packed interval to be performed – all in a single trip. The benefits of the SHGPSS system include valuable rig-time savings and, efficient mechanical diversion of the stimulation fluid. This paper outlines the first applications of the SHGPSS system to successfully complete five deepwater horizontal injection wells in the Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. Hydrostatic pressure was maintained on the formation during all treatment phases, thus preventing any underbalance that could lift the filtercake off the formation and cause undesirable fluid losses. After gravel packing, a secondary ball was dropped opening a bypass area and converting the gravel pack tool to a selective stimulation tool. The system then provided the ability to perform a filter cake cleanup and stimulation by selectively treating the horizontal interval 40 ft to 80 ft at the time, depending on the screen joint length. Economic considerations along with completion efficiencies are especially important on deepwater, subsea completions. The novel SHGPSS system can reduce rig-time generating significant cost savings. Exceptional mechanical diversion of the stimulation fluid allows effective filtercake and formation damage removal yielding efficient completions. Case history information on five subsea, offshore Brazil, deepwater wells will further detail the optimized completions accomplished utilizing the SHGPSS technology.