Evolution of High Rate Water Pack Pumping Methodology During Sand Control Campaign: A Case Study from India

Abstract

Cased hole gravel pack (CHGP) is the most popular method for controlling production of formation sand in oil or gas cased hole wells. CHGP involves the packing of screen and casing annulus, and perforations to inhibit production of formation sand. Success of a CHGP depends on various factors such as perforation packing, cleanliness of completion brine, perforation strategy and minimizing drawdown. Quality of perforation packing aids in minimizing drawdown of gravel pack completions. This led to popularization of high-rate water packs (HRWPs), an evolved sand control method for cased hole wells. HRWPs involve pumping above fracture extension rate and placing gravels outside casing into the critical matrix. This paper discusses maturation process in design, execution, and evaluation methodology devised from a campaign of 16 HRWPs, which included two formation breakdown acid injections, one slim hole completion, two re-stresses and one top-off. Naharkatiya fields of Oil India Limited, in Assam-Arakan basin are characterized with high degrees of unconsolidated formation sand. Elements of heterogeneity like formation sand ingression rate, PSD, mineralogy and well-profile in these two fields, where most of the HRWP treatments were executed, demanded case-specific pre-gravel-pack workover operations. Installation of screens and pumping of HRWP treatment presented many challenges, such as formation sand ingression, high circulation pressures, uneven slack/pull weights and issues in tool operations. All these challenges were tackled in unique ways and successful HRWP treatments were completed. A holistic approach was developed towards execution of a High Rate Water Pack treatment, by analyzing all interlinked elements such as perforations, cores, cement bond, reservoir saturation, water cut and offset well history. Post-treatment evaluation of HRWPs using bottomhole gauges identified a sequence of downhole events and potential issues during execution phase. Correlating each new HRWP candidate with learnings from previous ones allowed the operator to better plan workover steps towards execution of the sand control treatment. Contingency plans were devised to tackle issues learned from previous wells, and many were successfully tested in the campaign. Production rates and choke strategies were optimized by analysis of offset wells. This paper presents data analysis of wells while correlating with their offsets. Post-treatment analysis has been discussed and correlations between suspected issues during execution with signatures in bottom-hole gauge data have been presented. Recommendation are further provided for drilling and completion operations. Evolution in design and execution process for case wells has been presented, which can be used as a reference literature for designing case specific sand control treatment program.