A Decade of Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Stimulation Experience

摘要

The deepwater Gulf of Mexico is a technically and economically challenging production environment. High rate and ultimate recoveries per well are required to offset high development costs. Stimulation is employed to maintain wells at peak production rates and accelerate reserve recovery. In the complex layered reservoirs of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico stimulation is also necessary to ensure volume recovery. The primary objective of stimulation is to restore impaired well /reservoir connectivity. In complex reservoirs this may be reflected in either a reduction of skin or improvement in apparent permeability height. In poorly consolidated sandstone reservoirs production may become impaired during completion operations by suspended solids, polymer residue, or incompatible fluid systems. During production fines migration, scale deposition, and organic deposits in the near wellbore and sand control system can lead to declining inflow performance. Successful identification of the cause and location of impairment is required for success. The increasing population of subsea wells creates new challenges for intervention. Correct operation of the well post stimulation is also necessary to achieve the desired rate increases without compromising production system performance. The nature of impairment, treatment options, and post treatment production issues often change over the life of the well. Looking back over a decade of experience in this challenging environment yields useful insights as we move into new deepwater provinces.