Production Reviews

If a new well is not the only well in the reservoir, the completion engineer should ascertain:

the performance data in the offsets (rate, water cut, pressure

( Figure 1 , Reservoir performance map));

the completions used on offsets;

the production decline curves for the offsets, including pressure, water cut,
production, and GOR;
well test analyses;
the reservoir development plan and drive mechanism (i.e., can depletion or water
breakthrough be expected; are recompletions planned).
Many completion operations are the result of workovers (recompletions), in which case there is
production data on the subject well. The checklists below list issues to consider for field and well
performance studies in workover reviews. Many of the same questions could be asked in offset
reviews when a new completion is being planned.

Checklist for field studies for selecting workover

candidates
1. Review shut-in wells.
Tabulate location, last production (date, rate, cumulative production, water cut,
GOR/GLR, history of producing problems, workovers, reason well was shut in,
possible causes).
Review options (e.g., repair, abandon, convert for injection).
2. Review wells off for reasons of reservoir control.

 Tabulate location, production data, reason well was shut in.

Review decision to leave well shut in.
3. Classify producing wells.
Prepare tabulations according to production and potential: wells producing <60% target; 6085% target; 85-120% target; potential >120% target.
4. Review limitations of facility.
Tabulate throughput and design capacity for oil, gas, and water; injection and water
disposal equipment.
5. Review decline curves.
Project group plot.
Project individual well plots

Identify anomalies, steep declines, slow declines (<10% per year), low
indicated reserves, well interference, flush production.
6. Review operating costs.
Breakdown costs according to well operations, production processing, water disposal,
personnel needs.
7. Review reservoir pressure and effects on well performance.
Prepare isobar maps, decline trends.
8. Prepare rate, GOR, and water-cut maps ( Figure 1 ).
Plot cumulative production as a circle that is scaled in proportion to total reservoir
production around each well.

Review of individual wells for selection of

workover candidates
1. Is well safe? (If not, what is the minimum that must be done?)
2. Is well producing?

What was expected?

Target?
3. Is wireline work required?

Should a BHP survey or production log be run?

Should a fluid level survey or tubing drift be run?
Should an impression block be run to determine depth and type of obstruction?
4. If performance is poor, is this related to IPR or lift system?
5. If IPR is poor, is this due to low pressure, low permeability, or skin effect?
6. Is skin effect due to well geometry, turbulence (gas wells), or damage?
7. What is required to achieve target or maximum potential?

Reperforation (underbalance, increase shots per foot, per penetration, or per

perforated interval)
Acid job (simple cleanout, matrix, deep)
Fracture job (minifrac <25 ft, conventional frac <500 ft, large frac 500-1000 ft, MHF
>1000 ft)
Ability to handle or need to reduce gas or water production
Recompletion to a different zone (uphole, downhole)
8. Is workover the best option?

Is workover economic?
Will it be economic in the future?
Is redrilling a new well another option for recovering reserves?
What is cost of abandonment?

9. If the well is located on an offshore platform or at a remote location, can several wells be
scheduled for workovers simultaneously to distribute rig costs of moving and to minimize deferral of
production?