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Copyright 2007, SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology Conference & Exhibition
re-entry wells drilled with coiled tubing are highly reduced
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology due to the elimination of pipe connection procedures, the
Conference & Exhibition held in Cairo, Egypt, 22–24 October 2007.
increase in rate of penetration, the prevention of conventional
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE/IADC Program Committee following
review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the
drilling problems such as fluid circulation loses and related
paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers or differential sticking events, the increase in the bit life and
International Association of Drilling Contractors and are subject to correction by the author(s).
The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the SPE, IADC, their reduction in time and drilled distance to reach the profitable
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper
for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers
production level.
and International Association of Drilling Contractors is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in
print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied.
The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper This paper describes the technical basis for the design and
was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836 U.S.A.,
fax 1.972.952.9435.
implementation of the Coiled Tubing Underbalanced Drilling
project in Hassi Messaoud and highlights the operational key
Abstract factors and challenges faced during this particular and
successful application in Algeria.
Drilling in the Cambrian Reservoir, in the peripheral zone of
Hassi Messaoud field, specifically the 1A, 1B and 1C zones Introduction
(Figure 1) is a real challenge, basically due the petrophysical
reservoir complexity, the low reservoir pressure, the extremely The Hassi Messaoud field (Figure 2), discovered in 1956, is
hard and abrasive sandstone and quartzite formation the largest oil field in Algeria, covering about 2000 Km2 and
associated with numerous vertical and sub vertical fractures currently including over 1000 Wells. The field is divided
that connect the reservoir with deeper formations leading to aerially into 25 zones that are separated from each other by
major problems related with the salt saturated water low permeability barriers, usually faults. The Cambrian
production. Many of the vertical wells drilled in that zones Reservoir is subdivided into four lithological zones designated
have more than 30 years from completed and a large from base to top as R3, R2, Ra and Ri. The Ra sub reservoir
proportion of them have been shut in since being drilled. shows the best petrophysical properties with a maximum
thickness of 150 m in the western part of the field. The Ra is
Well E was the 5th re-entry well in the Sonatrach Coiled farther subdivided into five sub zones: D1, ID, D2, D3, and
Tubing – Underbalanced Drilling campaign. A total of 372 m D4 based on reservoir properties and depositional conditions.
from KOP and 316 m from landing point were successfully
drilled in a continuous underbalanced condition inside D1 This is the first of its kind Coiled Tubing - Underbalanced
formation. As a result, the well productivity while drilling, the Drilling project undertaken in Hassi Messaoud field. The
Reservoir characterization and rate of penetration was candidates wells are from a pool of vertical shut in wells
significantly improved, compared with offset wells, due to the drilled in the western area of the field and have seized to
positive impacts of UBD operations. produce with varying completion string and production casing.
The increase in number of candidates for thru tubing re-entries
The combination of Underbalanced and Coiled Tubing added to the depletion of the reservoir have raised the
Drilling technologies has been proven to be a viable solution importance of use the combined technologies Coiled Tubing -
to successfully drill horizontal re-entry wells in mature fields Underbalanced drilling in Hassi Messaoud field. The original
where the reservoir pressure is adequate to induce reservoir pressure was 6860 psi and the average permeability
underbalanced conditions using single phase or multiphase ranges from 0.5 to 1.0 mD but can reach up to 1000 mD in
drilling fluid. cases where open fractures are encountered. Production is
43.7 – 45 º API oil with original average GOR of about 200
The experience in this field has validated the benefits of the m3/m3 and a formation temperature of approximately 120 ºC.
combination of these technologies and has been attributed to Until 1964, the production mechanism was only depletion
the excellent balance between drilling cost and improved above bubble point. Gas injection and water injection started
productivity. For example, the drilling cost in the short radius after that year to improve the production.
2 SPE/IADC 107305
Original Well E was drilled in September 1977 and completed 2- Petro-physical criteria:
with 5” slotted liner in open hole and 4 ½” production tubing. • Evaluation of formation lithology
The first well DST results was 12.35 m3/hr at WHP of 1750 • Evaluation of petro-physical properties
psi and the reservoir pressure was 5775 psi. The well was put
in production until May 1979 and shut in for rapid production 3- Reservoir criteria
decline due to tubing collapse caused by 7” casing corrosion • 2130 psi (3.68 ppg EMW) of Reservoir pressure was
and high pressure water invasion. The total oil produced was
(Figure 4). Production case was also evaluated, assuming • Bottom Hole Circulating Pressure (BHCP)
expected average values for oil production, 4 m3/hr, and Gas
production, 10000 m3/day (Figure 5). These plots are The nitrified drilling fluid reduced the bottom hole
normally referred to as the operating envelope. Various circulating pressure from 3900 psi obtained on the first
constraints that must be fulfilled during the underbalanced leg to 3200 psi in average. Hydraulic simulations were
drilling operations were plotted on this operating envelope. performed on location during the complete UBD
These constraints include: a minimum and maximum operation (flow drilling and Multiphase sections). The
From the initial simulations, the optimum liquid rate and The complete second leg was drilled underbalanced
wellhead pressure in no production scenario were selected to using the D1 crude oil and nitrogen as the gasified
be 350 l/min – 50 psi (10% drawdown), and for Oil / Gas drilling fluid. The multiphase flow operation started at
production scenario in 370 l/min – 200 psi (10% drawdown). 3482.5 m MD and the first traces of oil and gas
production were observed at 3520 m MD, 70 m after the
Hole cleaning simulations landing point. A higher oil production rate was obtained
In horizontal wells, hole cleaning is an important issue. Thus, at 3600 m MD and the well produced 7 m3/hr of oil
in a low viscosity scenario, liquid velocity is the critical steadily for the rest of the drilling operation. During the
parameter that controls a circulation system’s ability to UBD operation in second leg, a total of 806.83 m3 (5076
transport solids. The criteria used is based on the annular fluid bbl) or crude were produced. Figure 8 shows the oil
velocity that for operational experience is set in 55 m/min for production behavior while drilling.
annular liquid velocity in the vertical portion of the well and
65 m/min in the horizontal section. Hole cleaning could also • Rate of penetration (ROP) and hole cleaning
be a concern, upon the degree of washout encountered. The
use of appropriate hole cleaning practices such as wiper trips In average, the rate of penetration for Well E was 2.5
and viscous sweeps minimizes the risk of having severe hole m/hr. The first 212 m including cement, built and
cleaning problems. Figure 6 depicts the velocity profile horizontal section were drilled with an average ROP of
obtained using specialized hydraulic simulators. 2.1 m/hr. The following 167 m of horizontal section was
drilled with an average ROP of 2.8 m/hr. In Figure 9 is
The design parameters used for UBD modeling can be represented the ROP behavior versus depth.
summarized as follow:
• Drilling fluid: native crude oil (0.80 S.G.). No drilling problems due to bottom hole cuttings
• Injection rates: 100 – 450 l/min. accumulation was reported in the UBD operation.
• Wellhead pressure variation: 0 – 400 psi. During most of the operation, the liquid velocity in the
• Reservoir pressure: 4544 psi. annular space varied between 100 – 110 m/min and 95 –
• Minimum drawdown: 10%. 105 m/min for the horizontal and vertical hole intervals
• Maximum drawdown: 20%. respectively. No hole cleaning issues were foreseen and
• Maximum motor equivalent flow rate: 450 l/min. experienced.
• Minimum annular liquid velocity in horizontal
section: 55 m/min. • Productivity index while drilling (PIWD)
• Minimum annular liquid velocity in vertical section:
65 m/min. The purpose of calculating productivity index while
• Coiled tubing and BHA dimension: 2 3/8” x 3 1/8”. drilling (PIWD) is to quantify the reservoir deliverability
during the drilling phase. During UBD, the reservoir will
flow at various rates depending on the amount of
Results obtained
drawdown and the reservoir characteristics. If there is
limited effective hydrocarbon in the reservoir from
A total of two legs were drilled. The first leg was of 54 m
compartmentalized formations, then the reservoir’s static
open hole length and drilled with a single phase fluid,
bottom hole pressure may change over the period of the
continuous circulation losses were experienced. This leg was
drilling of the well and will affect the PIWD plot of the
plugged back with cement and a second leg was sidetracked.
well.
Due to the lower reservoir pressure encountered, the sidetrack
Hydrocarbon production was first recorded at 3520 m
was drilled with a multiphase drilling fluid system (Nitrogen
MD (70 m after the landing point). From this depth, the
plus Crude Oil). The nitrified drilling fluid reduced the
productivity index was relatively constant at an average
bottom hole circulating pressure from 3900 psi obtained on the
value of 0.008 m3/day/psi. However, at 3600 m MD, 185
first leg to 3200 psi in average.
SPE/IADC 107305 5
m away from the original vertical well, the PIWD started Conclusions
to increase gradually up to 0.14 m3/day/psi at the total
depth of 3766 m MD. Figure 10 shows the PIWD • Coiled Tubing and Underbalanced Drilling
behavior. technologies have obtained successful results applied
together in this well. Rate of penetration was
• Flow Test improved (comparing the 2.5 m/hr obtained in UBD
Performance review – issues and solutions • UBD operations were maintained during the
complete production section drilling in second leg,
• Bit – motor incompatibility during curve section using the same D1 crude oil (0.8 S.G.) and Nitrogen
drilling: as multiphase fluid system (nitrified fluid). A total
High RPM motors were incompatible with tri-cone bits production section length of 316 m (from landing
and resulted in premature bit failure. The use of 3 1/8” point) was drilled.
low RPM - high torque motor address the issue
• No bottom hole cuttings accumulation events was
• Excessive vibrations: obtained during the UBD operation.
Excessive vibrations coming from motor was identified as
the cause behind MWD failure and loss of cutting • It was possible to drill short radius with the required
structure of impregnated bit causing premature gauge build rates (58º/30m as in this well) using coiled
failure and resulted poor life. Weight transferred to bit in tubing, drilling 372 m of 3 ¾” production hole
horizontal drain sections, as the bit drill off formation was section.
second major contributor to damaging vibrations. The
use of large motor diameter (3 1/8” OD compared to 2 • After start this project in Hassi Messaoud field, the
7/8” OD) to make BHA assembly stiffer thereby reducing combination of Underbalanced and Coiled Tubing
vibrations. After introduced “Thruster” in the BHA, Drilling technologies has been proven to be a viable
string vibrations were appreciably reduced, improving bit solution to successfully drill horizontal re-entry wells
life. Thruster is a down hole tool that provides Pump where the reservoir pressure is adequate to induce
Open Force (POF) to apply hydraulic Weight On Bit underbalanced conditions using a single phase
(WOB) during drilling operations. Thruster also absorbs drilling fluid and where the reservoir pressure is
weight transfer from the drill string and keeps the positive extremely low, requiring the use of gasified fluids.
displacement motor from stalling out. It is also improved
the impregnated bit life making possible to drill 150 m of
Acknowledgments
horizontal drain with single bit.
The authors wish to extend their appreciation to the
• MWD failure: management of Sonatrach in Algeria and to Weatherford
A new design, more robust MWD tools with better tool International Ltd. for the permission to publish this paper. The
stabilization and robust electronics were tried, improving authors also thank the many individuals within Sonatrach and
MWD performance. Weatherford who have contributed to the success of this work.
• Bit performance: References
Tried 3 ¾” monocone bit with dramatic improvement in
1. Moore, D., Bencheikh, A., and Chopty, J. (2004):
bit life. The gauge retention is very robust and none of
“Drilling Underbalanced in Hassi Messaoud”, SPE/IADC
the bit had bearing failure. The bit gave desired build 91519.
rates and excellent direction control. The combination of
2. Durst, D., Hart, S., Brown, W., (2001): “Drilling,
3 1/8” low RPM motor and monocone bit reduced the
Completion, Isolation and Thru Tubing Re-entry of
vibration and associated MWD failures. Multilaterals in Hard Open Hole Formations”, OTC
13285.
3. IADC Underbalanced and Managed Pressure Drilling
Operations Committee “IADC Fluid selection for
Underbalanced Operations”, adopted by the IADC boards
of directors August 2005.
6 SPE/IADC 107305
150000
9
4
8 Algiers
140000
20B 15
2
23 2X 20A
19 17 16 14
ALGERIA
1B
120000
24
25
110000
790000 800000 810000 820000 830000 840000
Coiled tubing
OD 2 3/8 in
ID 2.026 in
BHA
OD 2 7/8 in
Motor 7:8, 3.6 stg
BIT
OD 3 3/4 in
7" casing shoe at 3380 m
Production Casing
OD 4 1/2 in
Set Depth 3424 m 56 m
316 m
landing point= 3428 m TVD slant section (90° inc)
TD = 3430.41 m TVD
= 3450 m MD
= 3766 m MD
4900
4300
BHCP (psi)
WHP = 50 psi
350 lpm crude injection
3700
flow range BHCP = 4089 psi (10.1% DD)
recommended Min. Horizontal velocity = 89 m/min
Min. Vertical velocity = 72 m/min
3500
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Crude Injection Rate (lpm)
Figure 4: Initial UBD Operating Envelop with planned injection rates and wellhead pressure for no production case
5000
4400
4200
10% Draw dow n = 4095 psi
BHCP (psi)
4000
15% Draw dow n = 3868 psi
3800
20% Draw dow n = 3640 psi
3600
200 psi WHP WHP = 200 psi
370 lpm crude injection
150 psi WHP
3400 BHCP = 4090 psi (10% DD)
100 psi WHP flow range Min. Horizontal velocity = 96 m/min
recommended Min. Vertical velocity = 100 m/min
3200 50 psi WHP
3000
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Crude Injection Rate (lpm)
Figure 5: Initial UBD Operating Envelop with planned injection rates and wellhead pressure for production case
(4 m3/hr Oil – 10000 m3/day Gas)
8 SPE/IADC 107305
500
3000
3500
4000
5000 500
3000 300
BHCP (sensor)
1000 100
500 50
0 0
3380
3400
3420
3440
3460
3480
3500
3520
3540
3560
3580
3600
3620
3640
3660
3680
3700
3720
3740
3760
3780
3800
1950
During Drilling Operations During Flow Test
1850
1750
1650
Flow Drilling Nitrogen Injection
1550
1450
1150
Gain / Loss (m3)
1050
950
850
750
650
550
450
350
gain/losses
250
150
50
-50
-150
-250
01 Jun
02 Jun
03 Jun
04 Jun
05 Jun
06 Jun
07 Jun
08 Jun
09 Jun
10 Jun
11 Jun
12 Jun
13 Jun
14 May
15 May
16 May
17 May
18 May
19 May
20 May
21 May
22 May
23 May
24 May
25 May
26 May
27 May
28 May
29 May
30 May
31 May
Time
ROP 3100
10
Trajectory
3200
8
3400
4
3500
2
3600
0 3700
3388 3408 3428 3448 3468 3488 3508 3528 3548 3568 3588 3608 3628 3648 3668 3688 3708 3728 3748 3768 3788
Measured Depth (m)
3050
3150
PIWD
Trajectory
True Vertical Depth (m)
3200 0.15
PIWD (m3/d/psi)
3250
3300 0.1
3350
3400 0.05
3450
3500 0
3400
3410
3420
3430
3440
3450
3460
3470
3480
3490
3500
3510
3520
3530
3540
3550
3560
3570
3580
3590
3600
3610
3620
3630
3640
3650
3660
3670
3680
3690
3700
3710
3720
3730
3740
3750
3760
3770
3780
Measured Depth (m)
700 70
600 60
500 50
400 40
WHP
300 Gas Production Rate 30
Oil production rate
200 20
100 10
0 0
08/06 08/06 08/06 08/06 09/06 09/06 09/06 09/06 10/06 10/06 10/06 10/06 11/06 11/06 11/06 11/06 12/06 12/06 12/06 12/06
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00
Flow Test Tim e