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the Montrose field, has significantly increased field wide the Montrose field through the non-availabilityof certain
production rates, and dramaticallyreduced production costs facilities (especiallycontinuous use of a full drilling/workover
per bad, so allowing economic production in today’slow oil rig), and open up new opportunitiesthrough lower operating
price environment and the fulfillment of the fields long term costs and the availabilityof gas compression.Although it was
po’~iitial. tiltially anticipatedthat there would only be a minii impact
upon Montroseproduction, an ever expsndmg workacope
In addition the study has identified many techniques/lessons eventually Ied to the total loss of all rig availability fi’omApril
that can be readily applied to other similar mature field 1989to Aug 1993 (with the exception of one short period in
studies. early 1992).With the average mnlife of Montrose ESP
completionsbeing +/-200 days, this rapidly led to the field
becdi~ ~MV~i~ dCrm-. ..t *T
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319
2 MONTROSE: A CASE STUDY OF INNOVATIVE ,COST EFFECTIVE FIELD REJUVENATION SPE 28836
reworked to make the source and likely quality of all the data
From the field managementperspective,the geological model identifiable. Similar exercises were carried out with all
of the field was known to be flawed, the field databaseswere reservoir, geological,geophysical and petrophysicaldatabases,
often incomplete,and to compound the problem fiuther, low and though very time consuming was probably one of the most
oil prices were severely impacting the economicsof how ESP useful and essentialparts of the study.
operationswere historically handled.
Lesson no 1: ensure all raw data is quality checked and stored
Howeverthe opportunity was there and to this end, a major in a robust database.
field evrduationwas initiated to fimdamentallyreview the
production strategy for Montrose,to reassess all remaining
reserves, identify upside potential, and the most cost effective Geological model generation
manner in which to rejuvenate the field. This paper documents
the methods, procedures and techniquesthat were used to The need for an updated geologicalmodel was recognised, as
achieve this field rejuvenation. the developmentof the nearby Arbroath field had highlighted
a number of inconsistencieswithin the Montrose model.
3. Identificationof all areas of economicallyrecoverable (ii) Repeat Formation Tester (R.FT)data and field pressure
hydrocmbons, inciuding areas ofpotentiai upskiehrked historieswere used in conjunctionwith variances in PVT
oil. properties, to compartmentalisethe field both vertically and
areally.
4. Are-evaluation of production methods used on Montrose,
to identifi the best method for fiture production in light (iii) Gpen hole logs and core data (where available)were then
of the new operating environment on Montrose. used to generate a lithostratigraphiccorrelation within the
constraints imposed by the pressure data and biostratigraphy.
5. Identificationof candidate wells and other value added
workover activity, to optimise recovery and long term Gne notable problem faced in incmporating the petrophysical
field value. data at thii stage, was the regeneration of original water
saturationprofiles for post production wells with depleted
sections. While many methods were tried the most satisfactory
Database assimilation was found to be the regeneration of original Sw curves using a
function derived from capillary pressure data.
The &abases in existence at the outset of the study varied
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~qd In this, capillary pressure data was utilised to generate a
rapidly showed that just because it is in existence does not relationshipbetween water saturation and heights above the oil
mean that it is usable. The problems were compounded by the water contact. Ordinarily such an equation relates SW to
absenceof much of the raw data collected in early field life, height above the oil water contact with permeability as a rock
plus some incorrect interpretationand reporting. This was property function. In this case though, due to a lack of core
typified in the reservoir pressure data which contained permeabilitydata inmost wells and or a permeability function
ev~mg from good RFT da@ to 1 hr shut-in pressures in the MontroseFie14 such an equation was arranged with log
measured with gauges of dubious accuracy,none of which was porosity as the rock propaty function.
immediatelyidentifiable.It was obvious that no work could be
done with this dataae$which consequentlywas totally
320
.
Lesson N02: The in-depth nature of this study has highlighted With the installationof the Arbroath topside process plant
the need for quality &@ much of which can only be gathered which included gas compressionfacilities,the oppcvtunitywas
in early field life. i.e. it is critical to have a good distributed at hand to dramaticallyreduce future operating expensesby
core database from across the field as much of the later field the conversionof Montrose wells to gaslitt and the elimination
re-evaluationwork and some evolving technologies use core of rdltiture ESP workovers.
da@ and so cannot be done without it. Similarly it is critical to
- - a- 1- -:- ..-A—&. A: . . .4A.. .-..,..1.. ;..1 -A. I ~ d hac,tt
have good log and pressure data (NT or similar) in every unCe otisw unum waihJuIg UI UIG ~euiug,w, ~,wwl .=V “w...
321
.
gas-lifi two primary design changes had to be implemented.A have been run. The typical installationallows for tophole
new completion design incorporatinggas-litt had to be workover capability escalatingthe complexity and purchase
installedin all of the workover candidates.Also, the top side price. For Montrose,the requirement was for a proven, simple,
facilities had to be modified to rdlowhigh pressure Iitl gas to and low cost system. Several low cost options new to the
be routed to each of the workover candidates. North Sea (though many often had track records of several
hundred world wide installations)were evaluated. Key
+ Well Work f-tares of the final selection included packer setting
mechanismby tubing pressure, packer retrievability, and
The workover team was tasked with providing a cost effkctive, fimctioningby dedicated control line. However,the packer
long term gas-lifi completion design as well as the actual was sind for 7“ casing. This resulted in the gas-lift annulus
installationof the new completions, This offered several string incaporating T’ tubing in the top 800’ and 5-1/2”
challengesas the Montrosewells were old and not initially tubing tlom 800’ down to the packer setting depth inside the
designed for potential gas-lift. Design parameters included an existing T liner. A 7“ permanent packer was used to anchor
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----- .-.L:-L.---- 1-—>->m:– comprcsslan
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expected gas-lift pressure ranging tiom 1300psi to 1600psi UIC gawmt wmcn was mnaea
and individualwell rates of 3000 bpd with varying water cuts. with a T tubing hanger in the existing tubing spool. A short
Also, logging accessto the perforations was considered 2-7/8” tailpipe assembly including a production nipple hung
critical. beiOw the packer assembiy.
Both in-house and contractor nodal analysis was used to As sta@ the production tubing string incorporatedmostly
confm correct tubing sizing. Although results indicated some 2-7/8” tubing, mandrels, and nipples. A floating seal assembly,
wells could potentially be restricted if 2-7/8” production spaced out in the T’ packer sealbore,was used to isolatethe
tubing was run in lieu of the field standard 3-1/2” tubing, they gas-lift anmdus and facilitatepulling the production tubing
also indicatedthat many of the wells would flow natarally should a future workover be required. The 2-7/8” tubing was
with the smaller size. As compressorrun time and available crossed over to 3-1/2”tubing in the top 800’ of the completion
lift gas were both in doub~ it was an easy decision to select the where the annular saf~ system and a tubing retrievable sub-
option that provided some oil production without artificial Iifi. surface safety valve were located. The production tubing string
This also opened other options to reduce costs in the overall was landed in a new tubing spool raising the xmas tree height
completion design. appmxim~iy 2’. ikei%rii~hedxmas trees were utiiised as a
f!!ti_jer~Qgg~tt~qgf~h!~.
None of the wells had 9-518”production casing strings which
incorporatedpremium connections.Also, due to numerous A long track record of retrieving Montrose ESP completions
ESP workovers involving multiple cleanouts and new pump (refer to figure 4 ) had been achieved. Fluid loss control had
322
.
been identified as a problem in previous workovers and had tapping into a 6“ flowline exiting the gas dehydration plant. A
been successfullyaddressedusing sized-particlesalt pills. new blowdown line connecting the new system to the flare
Additionally,the Montroserig package had been virtually idle system was also installed.As earlier stat~ each of the xmas
for over a year prior to the start-up for gas-lift conversions. trees was raised approximately2’. This required that all of the
Fortunately,the rig had been maintained in reasonable production flowlines be modified to accommodatethe new
condkion and only relatively minor repairs to pipework and wing valve position.
valves had to be instigated.
Each of the new 1-1/2”gas flow lines requires a non-return
A major problem facing the workover team was the ever- valve and shutdown valve. Fwther a flow control valve
present PGB limitationson the Montrose platform. With only installed on the new high pressure gas line supplyingthe
83 beds and ongoing production operations supporting both gas-lifl manifol~ is activated during an ESD and segregates
the Montrose and Arbroath plus a compressorteam coming the new gas-lifi system ffom existing facilities.All pipework
and going with critical priority, every bed was a drdy downstreamof this FCV depressurisesvia the new blowdown
negotiation.To addressthe needs of a major workover line to the flare while gas upstream of the FCV depressurises
program it was vital to establisha multi-skilledworkforce. The via pipework in the existing gas plant. These modifications
engineerswho designed the new completion and planned the required significant alterations in the platform shutdown logic
workover program were transferred offshore at rig start-up and and fire/gas panels. Additionally, an engineering study
took on a dual role of rig supervisor and completionsengineer. confined the viability of additional gas volumes in the flare
Senior toolpusherswith extensiveworkover experiencewere system during a blowdown.
selectedto oversee planned operations along with hand-picked
drillers and assistant drillers. Several within the rig crew were Modificationswere required to the existing split range
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to operate- computer
-— —.—..A-— .- ——.
torque .- -.—.
mm quiprnent to reduce controller which regulates me mei gas supply ana muroam un
service company presence.A core completionsteam made up gas requirementssuch that Montrose lift gas was also
of reps from several service companieswas established, included.A new configuration was establishedbased on
creating a project oriented attitude that enabled much of the priorities 1) fuel gas, 2) Arbroath lift gas, and 3) Montrose Iifi
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reducing PGB. At peak periods during 24 hour workover removal, spare gas is flared as no export pipeline exists.
operationsthe entire rig team included only 27 personnel. Montrosewell gas injectionrates are monitored by variable
area type flow meters fitted in each of the 1-1/2”injection
Phase 1 of the workover program included six wells with the lines.
scope of pulling the existing ESP completionsand installing
the new gas-lift completionswhich included the gas-lift
annulus string and the production tubing string. The estimated
time to complete a workover was 20 days at a cost of
0$96,000.
As a result of the field rejuvenation work undertaken, field
+ Facility Modifications wide production rates have been restored fkomthe field
dormant state of+/- 1500bopd, to its former production level
The Montroseplatform has gas compressionprimarily to of 5500 bopd. In all, 10wells (with a fiuther 4 wells
provide lift gas for the Arbroath wells although the high recompleted in phase 2), have been successfidlyand cost
nrmwre cm can he rnntd thrnnuh n IT valve fnr onhmw.d .=.4...1., .-”.,.-..4 L- m@n a-—d,... - “.”l:a ....*L
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r. ----- e— ----- “- ..,...-” “- ~“ a- --- .-. “ .“. ..L...wu.wu GIw2vLIvuIy VUUVSI H uum bsr upfm auun LU &aaIMbs w mu UK
NGL recovery. The Montrose wells already had a gas header installationof low risld low cost gaslitivelocity strings and at
to which the low pressure annulus gas was directed when a cost some 18V.below the approved budget of E7.4MM.
ESP’s were in operation. Consequentlythe topside facility Fmlhermore it is anticipatedthat production costs per barrel
modificationsto allow gas-lift to commence on Montrose will decline significantlydue to the elimination of future ESP
wells were relatively minor. Piping, shutdown,and replacementworkovers.
instrumenticontrolmodificationswere the primary areas
addressed. The field evaluationhas also shown how a properly tailored
multi-disciplinaryfield investigationon mature waterflood
The piping scheme included anew high pressure line to the fields like Montrose,can find previously unidentified
existing gas header which required full inspectionprior to use opportunitiescreated by changing circumstance,field
as a gas-lift manifold. All redundant routing valves were operating practice and even changes in field management
removed to eliminate any risk of misdirected high pressure philosophy. This particular team effort/study, identified an
gas. ‘l’herequired number of existing 2“ valves on the upside potential of 12.1MMSTB.
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323
6 MONTROSE A CASE STUDY OF INNOVATIVE ,COST EFFECTIVS FIELD REJUVENATION SPE 28836
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