Overview of Water Shutoff Operations in Oil and Gas Wells; Chemical and Mechanical Solutions

Abdullah Taha,Mahmood Amani

doi:10.3390/chemengineering3020051

Abstract

This paper provides an integrated overview of the water shutoff operations, starting from the causes to the solutions. The paper begins with explaining the benefits of eliminating excessive water production. Then, the different types of water production and their properties are explained. The paper also focuses in reviewing the disadvantages of producing unwanted water as well as the sources of it, followed by an explanation of the methodology for identifying the problem. Then, the chemical solutions for water shutoff are reviewed which are generally applied to solve the excessive unwanted water production in the reservoir or near the wellbore area. Finally, the paper illustrates the common mechanical solutions for water shutoff within the wellbore. The aim behind this paper is to provide a general description of identifying the unwanted water production sources and the common practices for water shutoff operations.

Highlights

Excessive water production is one of the main well-known problems that would face any oil operator in the world
Al-Zain et al [15] present a case of successful usage of fiber optics to shut off unwanted water production in an oil field
Another common technique for water shutoff operations is the usage of the polymer flooding method to increase the viscosity of the water

Summary

Introduction

Excessive water production is one of the main well-known problems that would face any oil operator in the world. This problem is typical in older wells, it can occur in new developed wells as well [1]. Water production enhances the presence of scales, corrosion, and degradation in the field facilities starting from the wellbore to the surface facilities [2]. Another major problem is that the cost of separating, treating, and disposing the produced water is a great burden to oil company budgets. With good knowledge of the formation characterizations and the unique challenges of the field, unnecessary water production can be avoided from the wellbore designing phase [5]

Types of Water Production

Identifying the Problem

Chemical Solutions

Polymer Flooding

Mechanical Solutions

Plugs and Packers