Authors: Bimal Wanigaratne, David Collier, Janny Spilsbury and Mohammad Kabir
Date Published: December 2002
Number of Pages: 11
Reference Type: Magazine Article
Abstract:
An integrated approach has been used to identify development drilling opportunities in a mature gas field. This lead to the successful drilling of three development wells in an ongoing seven well incremental developmentprogram.
The field is estimated to contain some 300 Bcf original gas in place (OGIP). During the initial exploration, appraisal and development phase a total of seven wells have been drilled and has been on production since 1993. It has produced 103 Bcf of liquids rich gas to date.
One of the main issues affecting the field production is the onset of water production. The increasing water production has lead to water-loading problems in a number of wells and as a consequence the field has
experienced a rapid decline in gas production. Other issues affecting gas deliverability are primarily reservoir
heterogeneity and compression.
A long-term development strategy was developed to ensure that the field is produced to its optimum potential.
An integrated multidisciplinary approach was adopted to address the issues. The outcome was the formulation
of a field development plan that included seven additional development wells with appropriate downhole completions to allow water shut-off and nodal compression. The development program is aimed to develop 20 to 30 Bcf of incremental reserves.
As the first phase of the program three wells were drilled in 2002. These wells were drilled, completed and connected on schedule, and under budget. The results obtained from the three-well program have so far been
encouraging with initial rates above expectation.