Use of Time-Delayed Filter-Cake Removal System Significantly Improves Productivity Index in 20-Well Comparison

摘要

Drilling horizontal wells successfully has become one of the most important challenges facing oil companies. Horizontal wells allow operators to obtain more oil production from a single hole, compared to the cummulative production from several traditional vertical wells. New technologies have been developed to help maximize productivity in horizontal wells. A highly effective, field-proven new technology is the time-delayed filter cake removal system. The system is applied mainly in horizontal wells and can be used with different completion types including open hole, stand-alone screens, expandable screens, slotted liner, or gravel pack. The system generates organic acid downhole in a controlled manner, which dissolves all acid-soluble materials present in the mud cake throughout the horizontal interval. This breaker can be formulated to match specific well conditions and reaction delay requirements based on temperature and pressure requirements and return permeability analysis. This paper discusses the laboratory tests, planning and application processes of the system in 20 horizontal wells in Ecuador and compares the resulting productivity index of each well as a function of system design and operational parameters.