Asia Pacific

In this article, we review the situation and prospects for the offshore well intervention market, with comment on best practice, based on a presentation at OWI APAC 2018 (Kuala Lumpur) by Dan Cole, McKinsey & Company.

SIA Cyclit Konsultants:

Pilipishin B., PhD,

Havenson I., PhD, Gonca V., PhD, Brushtunov V., PhD, Huk I.

Our original method of prediction hydrocarbon traps is based on the theory of sedimentary cyclicity (lithmology) and on the assumption of discompaction and compaction zones: oil or gas field is formed by hydrocarbon migration from the source of their generation and the subsequent accumulation and conservation in the traps, which are located along the ways of migration.

The method can significantly improve the efficiency of geological exploration work in all their phases and stages. One of the main feature of our method is that we definitely prove where wells SHOULD NOT BE PROJECTED. It will RADICALLY REDUCE fields’ research and exploration costs.

For last 20 years we analyzed more than 50 deposits (mainly Ukraine and Khazahstan) with really positive results: overall average probability of successful wells is more than 70%.

The “Seismocyclit” group carries out processing of customer’s geophysical data and search for oil and gas pools, using its own exclusive methodology. The proposed methodology includes original methods of processing and interpretation of geophysical data, realized in form of programme-methodical complexes (PMC) “Seismocyclit” and “AFCM” (amplitude-frequency characteristic of medium).

It allows:

– To carry out construction of stacks with improved signal-to-noise ratio, eliminating regular and irregular unwanted signals, which do not respond to the principle of reciprocity in seismic survey.

– To accomplish stratigraphic identification of the reflecting horizons, using logs in form of cyclites.

– To discover structural features of the geological section, and ways of migration – hydrocarbon delivery channels, which often coincide with tectonic failures.

– To single out zones, where reservoirs and impermeable beds are developed. For these goals, the sections of “AFCM” (amplitude-frequency characteristic of medium) are used, which are characterized by important and distinctive feature: the calculation of colour instead of it’s assignment. Changing of the colour on the “AFCM” sections shows that the reservoir characteristics of the section change. In the given variant of calculation, horizons of the reservoirs are displayed on the “AFCM” sections in dark blue and black colour. The efficiency of this methodology is proven on a number of structures and fields connected to various types of sections. On the presented “AFCM” sections, four boreholes (red colour) are shown, which were drilled with the help of our recommendations and have given the production in terrigenous section.

These programme-methodical complexes (PMC) “Seismocyclit” and “AFCM” – amplitude-frequency characteristic of medium have been effectively used for prognosing traps in Upper Jurassic carbonate section of Precarpathian deep.

On the “AFCM” section in the upraised block of Upper Jurassic deposits, the extensive zone of reservoirs development can be pointed out, whose presence is proven by the results of boreholes testing. In the upraised part of the sinked block we can point out similar zone which is prospective.

– Additionally for prognosing the presence of hydrocarbons in trap the data of electrical prospecting can be used – it may help to calculate longitudinal electrical resistance on several deep levels. The existence of structural form and higher resistance on certain stratigraphic levels can indicate hydrocarbons’ presence in the structure.

The proposed methodology of hydrocarbon pools forecasting can be used at any stage of geological prospecting works, significantly raising their efficiency.

The following input data are necessary for our job:

• • data of the 2D or 3D seismic survey;
  • log diagrams of acoustic and (or) gamma-ray logging of the wells;
  • a priori geological information on the geological structure of the investigated area.

As the result of the works the Customer will obtain the following main materials:

1. 1. At the prospecting of the new hydrocarbon fields:
      • • conclusions as to the expediency of drilling the wildcats and the indication of their location and the expected bedding depths of the producing layers;
        • scheme of disposition of the detailing seismic profiles with the recommendations as to the methods of the field works carrying out.
   2. At the exploration of producing hydrocarbon fields:
      • • prognosing maps of the hydrocarbon pools in the definite interval of the depths;
        • conclusions as to the presence of new objects of the prospecting in the field;
        • recommendations as to the exploration works carrying out in the field with the indication of the location of new exploratory wells.

By Mark Plummer MSc BEng

In March, 2017 ISO released their Latest Well Integrity Standard, ISO 16530-1: Life Cycle Governance. In this article I will provide the background to the standard and discuss some of the key sections contained within.

BACKGROUND TO ISO 16530-1

1. 1. It was developed by producing operating companies for oil and gas, and is intended for use in the petroleum and natural gas industry worldwide

2. 2. It is intended to provide guidance to the Well Operator on managing well integrity throughout the well life cycle. Furthermore, it addresses the minimum compliance requirements for the well operator to claim conformity with ISO 16530-1

3. 3. It provides recommendations and techniques that well operators can apply in a scalable manner, based on a well’s specific risk characteristics

4. 4. ISO 16530-1 is intended to compliment the 2014 issued ISO 16530-2 Technical Standard (TS) – Well Integrity for the Operational Phase, which is intended to provide the requirements to manage Well Integrity during the operation (production) phase only.

5. 5. The standard is not applicable to:

• • Well control activities implemented to prevent or mitigate unintentional release of formation fluids from the well to its surroundings.
  • Wellbore integrity, sometimes referred to as “borehole stability”

KEY SECTIONS OF ISO 16530-1

All well life cycle phases have common elements, methods and processes, which are integral to well integrity management. ISO 16530-1 identifies and discusses key considerations for 12 common elements, as detailed in the figure above.

Assuring well integrity comprises two main building blocks: the first is to ensure well integrity during well design and construction, and the second is to manage well integrity throughout the remaining well life thereafter ISO 16530-1 addresses the six phases of the well life cycle, and their interrelationships, as illustrated above.

This month’s video demonstrates how certainty allows for better and faster decision making and evaluate the tubing conditions of multiple sub-sea completed wells pre-abandonment.

EV was requested by a global operator to perform a multi well campaign. EV’s Optis HD Electric line camera was used to inspect the tubing conditions of multiple sub-sea completed wells pre-abandonment.

Maintaining and increasing production volumes from existing wells and facilities is a major priority for operators in the Asia Pacific. The region suffers from a 10% annual decline in recovery, 80% of the basin’s fields are operating in the brownfield phase and a huge volume of well stock (40%-50%) is currently shut in and not
producing.

Globally there has also been a 25% increase in the abandonment of existing wells (Almukhaitah et al, Fonoiki 2013) and a 65% decline in the oil price, resulting in a huge cut in CAPEX for new field development (U.S. Energy Information Administration EICA 2015).

An interview with Erik Dietrichson, Manager – Eastern Region Well Intervention Service, FMC Technologies

Perspectives and development of the RLWI business

Riserless Light Well Intervention or RLWI – is the term used to describe the method for performing inspection and maintenance of subsea wells from a monohull vessel by sluicing a toolstring suspended in a wireline into the subsea well under full pressure, but without using a high pressure riser. RLWI is a cost efficient method as it can be performed from monohull vessels rather than costly drilling rigs. Wireline operations are used to perform production logging by measuring the locations of liquid in-flow and water content, to install a plug to isolate intervals with high inflow of reservoir water and to re-perforate the well casing by use of explosives to establish a new production interval at a higher level. It is also possible to increase the production rate from a well by removing scale growth that will reduce the well’s flow area. Another routine operation is to install a so-called insert-down-hole-safety-valve, to replace the function of the initially installed safety valve.

Fishing is often a complex operation that can require more than a single run due to partial recovery of the fish or discovery of unexpected conditions.

This month’s video is a succession of clips recorded with EV’s Slickline Memory camera where a customer in South East Asia progressed through their recovery operation, progressively understanding the exact conditions throughout the different stages.

No special preparation was required as the jobs were run in a dry gas environment.

After a first run that accurately identified the top of wire, a wire cutter was run in hole and held up at an unexpected depth. The pin had to be sheared to release the cutter and the next camera run identified a slickline bird nest.

With this information, a significant amount of slickline was recovered and another camera was run to assess the results. The new top of fish, a slickline fishing head is clearly seen, followed by the top of a sidewall cutter.

After latching onto the sidewall cutter, another camera is run. This time, the sidewall cutter is found centred, which allowed the correct selection of fishing tools.

On recovering the sidewall cutter, another camera was run to check the condition of the wire below it. The last segment of video shows yet another slickline bird nest.

After multiple runs and several days, the customer successfully concluded the operation relying throughout on EV’s Slickline Memory Camera, a battery powered optical camera that records up to 5 hours of HD colour video images at 30 frames per second. Acquisition, as in this case, can be continuous; however the tools can also be programmed to record as many as 60 segments, an efficient and cost effective solution to diagnosing complex or changing downhole conditions over an extended period of time.