Underbalanced and Coiled-Tubing Drilling Technologies Successfully Applied in a Through-Tubing Horizontal Short-Radius Well in Hassi Messaoud Field, Algeria

Abstract

Abstract The Hassi Messaoud field (Figure 1), discovered in 1956, is the largest oil field in Algeria, covering about 2000 Km2 and currently including over 1000 Wells. The field is divided aerially into 25 zones that are separated from each other by low permeability barriers, usually faults. The Cambrian Reservoir is subdivided into four lithological zones designated from base to top as R3, R2, Ra and Ri. The Ra sub reservoir shows the best petrophysical properties with a maximum thickness of 150 m in the western part of the field. The Ra is farther subdivided into five sub zones: D1, ID, D2, D3, and D4 based on reservoir properties and depositional conditions. Well F was the 6th re-entry well in the Sonatrach Coiled Tubing – Underbalanced Drilling campaign. A total of 363 m from KOP (303 m from landing point) were successfully drilled in a continuous underbalanced condition inside D1 and ID formations. As a result, the well productivity while drilling and while production test, the reservoir characterization and rate of penetration was significantly improved, compared with offset wells, due to the positive impacts of UBD operations. The combination of Underbalanced and Coiled Tubing Drilling technologies has been proven to be a viable solution to successfully drill horizontal re-entry wells in mature fields where the reservoir pressure is adequate to induce underbalanced conditions using single phase or multiphase drilling fluid. The experience in this field has validated the benefits of the combination of these technologies and has been attributed to the excellent balance between drilling cost and improved productivity. For example, the drilling cost in the short radius re-entry wells drilled with coiled tubing are highly reduced due to the elimination of pipe connection procedures, the increase in rate of penetration, the prevention of conventional drilling problems such as fluid circulation loses and related differential sticking events, the increase in the bit life and reduction in time and drilled distance to reach the profitable production level. This paper describes the technical basis for the design and implementation of the Coiled Tubing Underbalanced Drilling project in Hassi Messaoud Field and highlights the operational key factors and challenges faced during this particular and successful application in Algeria.