The Piper Field - Development Plan For Rapid Field Evaluation

Abstract

American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Abstract The discovery and six appraisal wells drilled in the Piper field provided data for the formulation of a flexible development plan which will permit rapid field evaluation. plan which will permit rapid field evaluation. The development plan will be modified as additional data are obtained so that the optimum development and operational plans can be used to obtain the maximum economic recovery from the field. Introduction The Piper field was discovered in December, 1972, and presented a classic example of the offshore oil industry's need to 1) make the decision to commit large sums of money toward development of a discovery at a very early stage of appraisal and 2) formulate development and operating plans rapidly in a situation of uncertainty regarding important natural features of the reservoir and its connected aquifer. Preliminary studies on hypothetical fields of Piper size and water depth completed prior to the commencement of drilling permitted the Occidental group to begin an aggressive materials procurement and design programme immediately procurement and design programme immediately after the discovery well was drilled. Geological and engineering data obtained during the appraisal drilling provided information for rapid screening of possible oil displacement programmes and the selection of the general programmes and the selection of the general injection and producing well arrangement; a mathematical reservoir simulator was then used to devise a flexible development plan which will permit adjustments in well location and type (injection or production) as dictated by information gained early in the development/ producing phase. In particular, the development producing phase. In particular, the development plan should permit early determination of plan should permit early determination of the degree to which the field faults will act as impediments to fluid flow, and the strength of the natural water influx. The development programme based on these studies includes a drilling/production platform which will accommodate a total of platform which will accommodate a total of 36 wells with plans for at least 24 producing wells and up to 10 water and 2 gas injection wells. Platform production and support facilities were designed for 250,000 B/D of oil production, 330,000 B/D of water injection, and 70 million SCF/D of gas injection. The platform will have two drilling rigs and will platform will have two drilling rigs and will incorporate safety features which will permit simultaneous drilling and production.