Abstract

This paper describes an HSE integrated risk assessment performed by a multidisciplinary team for a Steamflood pilot program in a shallow geologically complex multi layered super-giant heavy oil green field in Kuwait, undergoing first phase of development using field tested Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) during first few years then followed by Steamflood (SF). In the first step of HSE integrated risk assessment methodology, the team stablished the most likely production scenarios during CSS and SF for selected well pattern types and sizes, components of surface infrastructure and production operation modes. To determine the safe distance between wells during drilling operations under current conditions, the team performed a consequence analysis. For each scenario the team defined ranges (minimum and maximum) for well production and injection rates, fluid composition, wellhead temperature, gas oil ratios and other key parameters using data and information from reservoir model, pilots and

Abstract

Optimized drilling performance and minimized cost per well are key objectives for operators in the current challenging oil and gas industry. The process of collecting lessons learned and designing new drill bit technologies based on these learnings is critical for optimizing drilling performance and reducing non-productive time (NPT). Southeast Kuwait onshore wells are drilled with conventional drill bit technology such as tungsten carbide insert (TCI) and polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits on rotary or directional-motor bottom hole assemblies (BHA). This paper discusses the analysis that enabled breakthrough-drilling performance of 16-in. hybrid drill bit technology, delivering outstanding results and cost savings for an operator. The non-homogeneous carbonate formation in these onshore wells cause impact damage, limit the drilling efficiency of PDC and TCI bits, and result in a low rate of penetration (ROP) and poor dull conditions. A collaborative technical analysis identifi

Abstract

With an objective to shorten directional intervals, operators place greater demand on higher Build Up Rates (BURs). The section just before the pay zone involves the most intensive directional work, pushing rotary steerable systems to their capability limits. This paper focuses on a particular interval of hard and soft interbedded carbonates that provides a significant challenge for conventional Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) bits to provide consistent build up rate and good borehole quality on rotary steerable systems. Throughout this paper we demonstrate the engineering process of designing a bit to increase buildup rate capabilities of rotary steerable systems and improving drilling efficiency through interbedded carbonate formations. The engineering process involved reviewing the critical issues of this application to assure a sound solution. This included: • Current build up rates versus Rotary Steerable Systems (RSS) steering capability. • Vibrations generated by conventio

Abstract

Operators in the current volatile oil and gas industry must optimise drilling performance and minimize well cost. Various drilling tools and methods have been implemented over the years to improve drilling efficiency and to reduce the non-productive time (NPT) while drilling through challenging formations. Many North Kuwait onshore wells are drilled with conventional drill bit technologies, such as tungsten carbide insert (TCI) and polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits on either rotary or performance motor bottom hole assemblies (BHA). This paper discusses the breakthrough drilling performance of 16-in. hybrid drill bit technology on a performance motor BHA, delivering outstanding results and savings for the operator. The typical 16-in. vertical section ranges from 4000 ft. to 5000 ft., and contains limestone and sandstone with interbedded layers of shale and streaks of anhydrite with high variance in the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) across these formations. The downhole

Abstract

With an objective to shorten directional intervals, operators place greater demand on higher build up rates. The section just before the pay zone involves the most intensive directional work, pushing rotary steerable systems to their capability limits. This paper focuses on a particular interval of hard and soft interbedded carbonates that provides a significant challenge for conventional Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) bits to provide consistent build up rate and good borehole quality on rotary steerable systems. Throughout the paper we demonstrate the engineering process of designing a bit to increase build-up rate capabilities of rotary steerable systems and improving drilling efficiency through interbedded carbonate formations.The optimized hybrid bit and BHA combination eliminated drilling vibrations in intervals where extreme vibrations were witnessed with conventional PDC bits, significantly increasing drilling efficiency. Improved torsional stability reduced the load on t

Abstract

In the prolific Burgan field, South East Kuwait, new well profiles are being employed which require the 16 inch hole section to be drilled deeper. This new well profile requires drilling through interbedded abrasive sandstones and sticky shale which were previously drilled in 12 1/4 inch hole size. Drilling becomes increasingly challenging using larger diameter bits where torque fluctuations, down-hole conditions and durability limit performance. As the casing profiles changed, each section's drilling solution was revisited as drilling dynamics and performance diminished drastically when drilled in the larger hole size. What was once a viable solution to drill the section in 12 1/4 inch becomes no longer suitable when drilled in 16 inch. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the engineering analysis for large diameter hole application and the selection of an optimized hybrid drill bit design, roller cone combined with Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC), to maximize drilling pe

Abstract

In the current economic downturn, operators direct more focus to cost optimization through process enhancement and innovative approach. Specifically in South East Kuwait field, where new well profiles are being employed to reach a deeper pay zone directionally. These new well profiles require the 16 inch hole section to be drilled deeper with inclination through interbedded abrasive sandstones and sticky shale; which were previously drilled in 12 1/4 inch hole size. Drilling becomes increasingly challenging using larger diameter bits where torque fluctuations, down-hole conditions and durability limit performance. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the engineering analysis for directional large diameter hole application and the selection of an optimized hybrid drill bit design, roller cone combined with Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC), to maximize drilling performance where standard PDC or roller cone bits alone fail to provide an optimal solution. The 16 inch directiona

Abstract

The development of light-oil reservoirs in Kuwait has become increasingly more important for maintaining the quality of exported crude. This is due to the fact that producing light-oil reservoirs has proven to be not only a necessary link for maintaining the oil production from this area but also for increasing it. As a result efficient testing of the light-oil reservoirs has become paramount in importance for overall well and field development. The reservoirs in Kuwait are low permeability, high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) and sour. In earlier wells, the strategy had been to perforate these formations balanced or slightly overbalanced, in mud, with through-tubing guns. Results from testing in several wells indicated that if they could be perforated under-balanced, the formations would yield better results since this method would allow better penetration and perforation cleanup. A number of reservoirs are stacked horizontally and range from typically conventional to fractured lim

Abstract

The North Kuwait Jurassic Gas (NKJG) reservoirs pose productivity challenges due to their geological heterogeneity, complex tectonic settings, high stress anisotropy, high pore pressure, and high bottom-hole temperature. Additionally, high natural fracture intensity in clustered areas play an important role in the wells hydrocarbon deliverability. These challenges are significant in field development starting from well design and stimulation up to production stages. The Gas Field Development Group (GFDG) are introducing for the first time in Kuwait new completion designs at high fracturing intensity; open-hole Multi Stage Completions (MSC), 4.5" Monobores and hybrid completions along with customized and efficient stimulation methods. This development strategy designed to overcome reservoir difficulties and enhance the well performance during initial testing and long-term production phases. At early stages of production, most of the wells were stimulated with simple matrix acidizing job

Abstract

A strategic expansion road map is developed by the North Kuwait Jurassic Gas asset (NKJG) in order to increase the non-associated Jurassic Gas (JG) production by 60-70% in the next 2-3 years to meet the growing domestic demand. The Middle Marrat accounts for the majority of gas production, yet depletion has become a main concern in reaching asset's production targets and to sustain a high production plateau. This fact has necessitated the formulation and execution of a robust appraisal and development strategy of the unconventional resources across the Organic Carbonaceous Shale (OCS), which is the primary source rock of the NKJG reservoirs. Stimulation technique is the key to achieving the production forecast for each well located in the OCS since several challenges due to unique formation properties pose complicated issues to be carefully considered in stimulation design, execution and post-stim testing. Lithological characteristics of the OCS are different from the North American sh

Abstract

In Kuwait, oil wells exploded in 1991 have created numerous massive oil lakes, which have subsequently dried and contaminated the soil. A research project was initiated to delineate the type and extent of contaminated soil using an area survey method, namely Electrical Resistivity Topography (ERT), to examine dry oil lakes located in Bahra, Subiya. The specific objective was to assess the applicability of the environmentally friendly ERT to assist in the design of measures to remediate the contaminated land. ERT results were generated by testing a grid in both contaminated and non-contaminated areas. In addition, conventional soil boreholes were used to explore the sub-surface profile and depth of contamination in these areas for comparison with ERT results. In-situ and laboratory physical and chemical tests were performed on soil samples collected from the site to identify the contamination type and concentration as well as variation in the physical properties of the soil profile with

Abstract

This work presents the use of pre-stack simultaneous inversion and geostatistical inversion techniques for the delineation of Ratawi and Minagish reservoirs of North West Kuwait (NWK). The Ratawi and Minagish formations of Lower Cretaceous age proved to be hydrocarbon plays in Kuwait. The Ratawi Limestone is hydrocarbon bearing in different parts of Kuwait and Minagish Formation is a prolific producer of hydrocarbon in southern Kuwait. Although, hydrocarbon potential of Ratawi and Minagish formations are yet to establish in the study area, however, during drilling of deeper wells, the high gas shows encountered in Ratawi and Minagish formations is a strong indication of possible hydrocarbon accumulation. In view of the high gas readings and oil shows in Lower Cretaceous, it was decided to put emphasis on this field by utilizing the spatial coverage of 3D seismic data. Hence, the pre-stack simultaneous inversion technique employed on the study area and the attribute volumes comprises of

Abstract

This work presents the use of pre-stack simultaneous inversion and geostatistical inversion techniques for the delineation of Ratawi and Minagish reservoirs of North West Kuwait (NWK). The Ratawi and Minagish formations of Lower Cretaceous age proved to be hydrocarbon plays in Kuwait. The Ratawi Limestone is hydrocarbon bearing in different parts of Kuwait and Minagish Formation is a prolific producer of hydrocarbon in southern Kuwait. Although, hydrocarbon potential of Ratawi and Minagish formations are yet to establish in the study area, however, during drilling of deeper wells, the high gas shows encountered in Ratawi and Minagish formations is a strong indication of possible hydrocarbon accumulation. In view of the high gas readings and oil shows in Lower Cretaceous, it was decided to put emphasis on this field by utilizing the spatial coverage of 3D seismic data. Hence, the pre-stack simultaneous inversion technique employed on the study area and the attribute volumes comprises of

Abstract

[No abstract available]

Abstract

Objective: The reported hypocalcemia in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who received Denosumab was low (0.05%-1.7% to 7.4%). The major prediction factors were vitamin D and calcium levels and renal function. The objective is to evaluate the incidence of hypocalcemia in patients with osteoporosis, normal renal function, and vitamin D who received Denosumab. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the medical records (2022-2023). We looked for hypocalcemia (albumin-adjusted calcium lower than 2.2 mmol/L). Results: Two hundred one postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis and received denosumab treatment were included. All patients received vitamin D3 capsules and calcium supplementation. The mean age of the patient was 75.7 ± 7.0 years (56-91 years). Hypocalcemia was observed in 46 (23%) patients following a subcutaneous dose of Denosumab 60 mg. Median calcium was 2.25 mmol/L (minimum: 0.890 mmol/L, maximum: 2.6 mmol/L). Fourteen (30.4%) patients had severe hyp

Abstract

The Wafra Field is located in the Partitioned Neutral Zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The field produces oil from the Ratawi Oolite reservoir, which has been under production since 1956. Barriers to fluid movement have severely restricted aquifer support to the overlying carbonate grainstone reservoir, leading to production-induced pressure depletion and low recovery rates. Creative integration of 3-D seismic aspects, well log stratigraphy, and engineering analysis reveal an unexploited reservoir extension which is more open to aquifer support. Wells drilled along this extension are expected to yield higher initial production rates and longer sustained production. The model was used to drill two successful step-out wells that have increased field production by over 12,000 BOPD. Eight of ten additional wells have now been drilled as a follow-up to this success. This paper reviews the case history with a focus on the multidisciplinary integration that led to opportunity identificat

Abstract

Najmah Formation is a Middle Jurassic tight, fractured formation, spread across many fields in Kuwait. The existing conventional name is Najmah Shale but it could be better called Najmah Mudstone as the unit comprises mainly carbonates with abundant kerogen and bituminous matter. The entire formation is interesting for its prospectivity and it is cored in different locations in Kuwait in several wells, since its reservoirs are often vertically and laterally heterogeneous due to depositional variability and diagenetic alteration through space and time. The bituminous intervals, often encountered drilling the Najmah, can induce damaging effects on oil recovery such as reduction of total reservoir porosity, creation of permeability barriers, diminution of water driving efficiency, modification of fluid circulation and rock wettability. Drilling challenges associated with bitumen presence may also arise. While fundamental questions still remain unclear and controversial, such as how bitume

Abstract

Production in a green, heavy oil field in Northern Kuwait with limited production history is in a fast track delivery to increase production in the short term. A fast but insightful evaluation was required to identify field-wide productivity enhancement opportunities needed to increase oil production. A parametric analysis methodology was applied to a "typical well" to first obtain the factors that limit the well's production thorough understanding of the overall well potential, to finaly identify inflow and outflow enhancement opportunities. Nodal analysis based on Darcy inflow model was utilized and multiple sensitivities were run for parameters prevoisuly identified. The parameters were expanded in value considering possible technical solutions applicable but not limited to: completion and perforation design, artificial lift performance and surface equipment, in order to determine technical limits applicable for each parameter using a combination of proven and novel technologies. Th

Abstract

Thin-bed carbonate reservoir posing huge exploration challenge, although it has a significant impact on the production proficiency. The horizon based attributes using poststack seismic data depict a qualitative distribution of reservoir facies. Utility of spectral decomposition attribute not only enhances vertical resolution of the seismic thin-bed but encompasses the lateral discontinuity of the seismic facies relating rock properties (Zeng and Marfurt, 2015). The coherency based attribute (Bahorich and Farmer, 1995) improves the understanding of patchy discontinuity for identifying the carbonate reservoir. The mud lean facies of tight carbonate can be identified with the quantifiable physical properties, like low Gamma Ray (GR), high P-wave velocity, density and P-impedance. But the porosity preservation within mud lean carbonate reservoir facies lowered the velocity, density and P-impedance. Thus, seismic inversion has reinforced to identify the porosity preservation within the carb

Abstract

The Upper Zubair Formation is a giant reservoir consisting of 350 ft of excellent quality sandstone. This main producing reservoir has a 100 thick tar mat historically encountered near oil water contact. Recently, a well completed in the crestal part of structure above tar mat zone and in good quality sand did not contribute to oil production and presence of tar was suspected. A re-look at identification, origin and distribution of the tar mat has become critical for formulating future development strategy of the reservoir. An appraisal well was drilled on the crest with a comprehensive data acquisition program including coring, fluid sampling and logging. Geochemical analyses of core plugs at every 4 ft were carried out along with fluid invasion studies. Observation from core material was compared with NMR logs to formulate criteria for identification of tar zones to supplement information from open hole and cased hole logs. NMR transverse T2 relaxation histogram was observed to be af

Abstract

The paper describes the challenging task of identifying additional production opportunities from a matured oil reservoir with significant production history, commingled production,zones with varying rock properties, and drive mechanisms. The reservoir is having more than 40 years of production history and is currently in a stage of decliningoil production with water breakthroughs in many areas of the reservoir. A new, improved workflow comprisinga classical approach and sector model review wasapplied to understand the recovery efficiency and identify any additional potentials on top of the base profile. The study resultsprovidedan interesting insight into the recovery mechanism and possible additional opportunities in the reservoir. Several recovery ideas like identifying undrained areas, improved completion strategy, the intervention of existing sick wells, and application of EOR processes were applied to estimate the improvementof recovery over the existing field development plan. Al

Abstract

Artificial Neural Network (ANN), defined as intelligence exhibited by computer through emulating the functioning of cerebral neurons, has many applications in today's society. ANN application (Ouahed et al, 2005) has become widespread in petroleum geoscience and reservoir engineering as it is able to generate accurate prediction taking an integrated and un-bias view of multiple inputs using supervised or unsupervised machine learning approaches. Unlike simple clastic sandstone reservoirs, the distribution of fractures in carbonate reservoirs is complicated and heterogeneous due to multiple genetic factors involved that makes high-resolution 3D modeling and simulation challenging. In order to enhance the reservoir characterization and modeling work in fractured reservoirs, an innovative application of Artificial Neural Network is introduced to tackle the disadvantages & shortcomings of existing techniques used in the Oil & Gas industry. This paper discusses the importance of ANN to deli

Abstract

Tertiary reservoirs ranging in depth from around 80 feet to 400 feet have produced hydrocarbons in Northern and North-Eastern part of the State of Kuwait. This paper presents the efforts to identify lead areas to propose locations for exploratory drilling in these shallow reservoirs using vintage 3D seismic data. It was a challenge to utilize the available seismic data acquired and processed for deeper objectives where the imaging of the shallow formations was affected due to unconslidated layers at shallow depths leading to velocity and static related issues. The study integrates the data from surface geology, drilling, well logs, geochemistry, seismic and gravity. The area is affected by NW-SE and NW-SE trending faults, which appear to have acted as conduits for the hydrocarbon migration. The objective was to predict areas having better reservoir properties and their connectivity with the underlying deeper source through faults. The quality of the vintage 3D seismic was enhanced by u

Abstract

Tertiary reservoirs ranging in depth from around 80 feet to 400 feet have produced hydrocarbons in Northern and North-Eastern part of the State of Kuwait. This paper presents the efforts to identify lead areas to propose locations for exploratory drilling in these shallow reservoirs using vintage 3D seismic data. It was a challenge to utilize the available seismic data acquired and processed for deeper objectives where the imaging of the shallow formations was affected due to unconslidated layers at shallow depths leading to velocity and static related issues. The study integrates the data from surface geology, drilling, well logs, geochemistry, seismic and gravity. The area is affected by NW-SE and NW-SE trending faults, which appear to have acted as conduits for the hydrocarbon migration. The objective was to predict areas having better reservoir properties and their connectivity with the underlying deeper source through faults. The quality of the vintage 3D seismic was enhanced by u

Abstract

The Umm Gudair field is located in West Kuwait. Oil was discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Minagish Oolite in 1962 and around 180 wells have been drilled on the structure. The field has been geographically divided into three smaller sectors; East Umm Gudair (EUG), West Umm Gudair (WUG) and South Umm Gudair (SUG). It essentially consisits of two anticlines, EUG/SUG and WUG connected by a saddle; into a single accumulation. Overlying the Minagish Oolite is the Ratawi limestone reservoir of around 300 feet, and is composed of mudstone/wackstone rock, representing middle to inner ramp depositional setting. The reservoir is broadly defined by three units; Lower, Middle and Upper units. The Lower and Upper units are non-reservoir, while the Middle unit of an average thickness of around 50 feet, has moderate to high porosity, is hydrocarbon bearing and developed in EUG. Six wells have been tested till date, with relatively low productivity and rapid decline of pressure, suggesting that the un

Abstract

Mature fields generally require water injection to either provide pressure support to sustain oil production and or arrest decline. The injected water produced along with oil as fluid requires separation for reinjection or disposal. Surface disposal requirements often creates increased environmental scrutiny and regulatory compliance obligations may pose significant operational and cost challenges that can limit efficiency and profitability. A cost and operationally efficient approach must include subsurface disposal. This project discusses an approach to identifying subsurface characteristic or attribute that allows for a cost effective approach to produced water disposal and enhancing oil production by 1-3% within a mature field. Identifying existing closed wells and formations with high capacity to handle the water disposal has a vital role in the overall field development by allowing currently closed highly water cut wells put back on production. Initial step was to nominate potent

Abstract

New techniques have been developed for image logs to enhance image quality, improve vendor's interpretation, identify geological features, and visualize both image log and interpretation in a 3D environment. These techniques are quite useful to handle poor image due to oil based mud and heavy mud weight in deep exploration drilling, and can be applied to all commercial borehole image logs such as CAST, CBIL, Earth Imager, EMI, FMI, OBMI, STAR, and UBI. Copyright 2004, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

Abstract

Exploring and developing the heavy oil fields is part of the Kuwait Oil Company's (KOC) goal of achieving its 2030 strategic plans. The Ratqa oil field was discovered in 1980 and is estimated to contain between 7 and 15 billion barrels of heavy oil reserves, mainly contained in stacked sandstone reservoirs of the Lower Fars formation. The lithology of the reservoirs consists of unconsolidated, alternating sandstones, clays, and various intermediate claystones and silty clays deposited in a fluvial environment. Porosity goes to more than 30% and permeability for cleaner parts of the formation is above four Darcy. Due to the high viscosity and low flow rates, cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) was employed as one of the enhanced oil recovery techniques. CSS is carried out in three phases with a first phase of injecting steam into the reservoir over a period of approximately four weeks, followed by two weeks of soaking and, in the final phase, several months of hot production. With the depth

Abstract

[No abstract available]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relation between matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and the clinical and/or pathological parameters of the epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs). Methods: Forty-two (42) patients with EOCs diagnosed after histopathological examination of the specimens were included in this study. The pathological specimens were additionally stained by immunoperoxidase technique for MMP-2 using a monoclonal antibody against activated MMP 2. The staining intensity of MMP-2 was correlated with the clinical and pathological parameters of the studied cases, including patient's age, surgical stage, histological grade, omental, and lymph node metastasis. Results: The studied cases of EOCs were classified according to the intensity or the degree of MMP-2 expression, as; seven cases (16.7%) negative, eighteen cases (42.8%) weak, seven cases (16.7%) moderate and ten cases (23.8%) intense for MMP-2 staining. There was a significant positive correlation between MMP-2 expression an

Abstract

A comprehensive theoretical and experimental study is presented of the bandgap behavior of periodic viscoelastic material (VEM) composites subjected to impact loading. The composites under consideration consist of an assembly of aluminum sections integrated with periodic inserts which are arranged in one-dimensional configurations. The investigated inserts are manufactured either from VEM only or VEM with local resonators (LR). A finite element model (FEM) is developed to predict the dynamics of this class of VEM composites by integrating the dynamics of the solid aluminum sections with those of VEM using the Golla-Hughes-Mctavish (GHM) mini-oscillator approach. The integrated model enables, for the first time, the accurate predictions of the bandgap characteristics of periodic viscoelastic composites unlike previous studies where the viscoelastic damping is modeled using the complex modulus approach with storage modulus and loss factor are assumed constants and independent of the freq

Abstract

We describe the baseline characteristics, management, and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients of age ≤40 in the Gulf region of the Middle East. We studied 8176 hospitalized patients (≤40 years) with ACS. Ten percent (805) of the recruited patients were ≤40 years. The mean age was 37 years and 89% were males. The prevalence of smoking and diabetes in the young patients was high (58% and 21%, respectively). The most common ACS was ST elevation myocardial infarction. Younger patients were more aggressively treated with more frequent use of glycoprotein inhibitors, thrombolytics, and primary percutaneous coronary intervention. They had less in-hospital heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, shock, stroke, and low rate of in-hospital mortality (1%). Measures to combat the rising prevalence of diabetes and smoking are needed. © SAGE Publications 2012.

Abstract

Production from the mid-Cretaceous Sabiriyah Mauddud Formation results to a large extent from waterflood, yet field data indicate that reservoir performance is impacted by large permeability contrasts in the reservoir. High permeability (high-K) elements in the reservoir are likely the product of sedimentological and diagenetic processes as well as the structural evolution of the field. In this abstract, we concentrate on the fault and fracture components of an integrated study with included carbonate and structural geology, seismic interpretation diagenesis, geomechanics and reservoir engineering. One of the key outcomes of the study is an improved understanding of the complex High-K pathways summarized in a so-called plumbing diagram. The two first order elements for the High-K plumbing system are 1) cemented low porosity cycle tops that are sequence stratigraphically controlled and where dissolution enlarged open fractures and vugs make up flow paths and 2) fault damage zones with i

Abstract

To determine impact of obesity on recovery parameters and pulmonary functions of women undergoing major abdominal gynecological surgeries. Eighty women undergoing major gynecological surgeries were included in this study. Anesthesia was induced by remifentanil bolus, followed by propofol and cisatracurium to facilitate oro-tracheal intubation and was maintained by balanced anesthesia of remifentanil intravenous infusion and sevoflurane in oxygen and air. Time from discontinuation of maintenance anesthesia to fully awake were recorded at 1-min intervals and time from discontinuation of anesthesia until patient was transferred to post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and discharged from PACU was also recorded. Pulmonary function tests were performed before surgery and repeated 4 h, days 1, 2 and 3 post-operative for evaluation of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak expiratory flow rate. Occurrence of post-operative complications, re-admission to ICU, hospital stay

Abstract

Back-produced polymer to surface facilities is a significant topic in the literature due to the specific properties of the polymer, which are beneficial in the effective displacement of oil in the reservoir but could give challenges in the producers and surface facilities. This literature review addresses the impact of polymer on the key components of the production facilities ranging from artificial lift to the oil refinery and produced water disposal or reuse. The main polymer properties to interfere are (1) the ability to increase the viscosity of the produced water and (2) the precipitation of the polymer with constituents in water or process chemicals. These two properties could cause equipment failure, off spec quality of the oil and water, leading to oil deferment and increased maintenance. The magnitude of these challenges depends on the level of back-produced polymer. From the literature it is difficult to diagnose at what polymer concentration, insignificant impact is observe

Abstract

[No abstract available]

Abstract

Several years back, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), the National Oil Company (NOC) of the State of Kuwait initiated multiple projects on Kuwait Integrated Digital field (KwIDF). There was a significant amount of planning before launching the KwIDF program, however, the projects involved lots of intricacies and the implementation process involved novel experiences of obstacles and setbacks caused due to introduction of innovative work and business process which were overcome over the project cycle. The paper will delve upon the positive facilitators enabling implementation of a complex project of this nature, lessons learnt from the project and necessities of an excellent change management and project management program to successfully execute the program. The key drivers for the projects, team structure for program management and lessons learnt will be discussed during course of this paper. There will be a short description of the KwIDF program, technical workflows implemented and production

Abstract

Drilling across Shuaiba formation in the western wells of Kuwait poses significant difficulties, including severe loss of drilling fluid, unstable shale formations, and deteriorating hole conditions, which may require sidetracking. Cavernous porosity development in Shuaiba formation leads to potential severe lost circulation during drilling through it. This project aims to develop an engineered solution to efficiently drill through these challenges and to minimize nonproductive time, ultimately reducing the overall cost of the well. The proposed solution involves utilizing a casing-while-drilling technology that features a drillable bit, engineered to conform to the field's formations. It aims to drill through fractured dolomitic limestone and sandstone formations while simultaneously setting the casing. This paper will discuss the geological aspect of Shuaiba formation at the early Cretaceous that lead of the major mud losses, and the proposed engineering solution with casing while dr

Abstract

A Multiwell drilling campaign was undertaken to enhance the production of a heavy oil field. Well deliverability within the target time was very difficult, as the wells were designed with a challenging profile with a DLS of 13° per 100ft at a very shallow MD of +/- 1600ft. Immediate Optimization of the entire Drilling campaign was required from the inititation of the project to meet the production requirements. Monitoring and optimization of drilling performance was required through a systematic and unique improvement cycle divided into phase's viz. PLAN, DO, CHECK and IMPROVE. As all the offset wells were vertical, there was no data available for benchmarking initial drilling performances of these challenging well profiles. Once a few wells were drilled, the data was analyzed for benchmarking, technical shortcomings were clearly identified and the lessons learnt were implemented in the next planning stage. Risk assessment was done for every section based on the Non Productive Time dat

Abstract

The Greater Burgan Field is the largest clastic oilfield and the second largest oilfield in the world. First discovered in 1938, and developed from 1946, production to date has relied on primary recovery methods. More recently secondary and enhanced recovery techniques have been investigated and water flood is now at an advanced state of implementation. The first such water flood project is being implemented in the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Wara Formation, which is one of the main producing reservoirs within the Greater Burgan complex. Here, production has been accompanied by steadily declining reservoir pressure. The Wara Formation comprises multiple sandstone units deposited in a fluvial-tidal coastal system with a total thickness of approximately 140 - 180 feet. The reservoir exhibits a considerable degree of permeability heterogeneity. Lateral and vertical extent, and the pressure communication between sand bodies is highly complex. Understanding of hydraulic connection and vol

Abstract

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is operating two Heavy Oil fields. Field A aims at production by Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS), followed by steam flood. Field B envisages primary recovery through cold production, followed by non-thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). This requires drilling and completion of large number of wells. Implementing Well, Reservoir and Facilities Management (WRFM) and Smart Field approach will be a key requirement for operation excellence in these fields. Currently both fields have some wells in production, mostly as single isolated wells or wells in 5-acre/10-acre spacing. These pilot projects aimed at de-risking the commercial phase, which is to follow in the coming years. These wells are the training ground for young KOC staff to learn how to work in integrated teams using WRFM processes. WRFM processes are tailor-made for KOC's operating environment. These processes include Digital Oil Field based on Exception Based Surveillance (to flag out only those wells and

Abstract

Historically, understanding and selecting a successful landing point candidate for horizontal drilling and fracturing was mostly performed based on a single-domain perspective or purely based on geoscience data sets. On the other hand, this paper proposes an unconventional multi-domain integration for shale oil and shale gas development for successful drilling and completions. In heterogeneous formations where organic-rich rocks are the source and reservoir, the geology and petrophysics along with engineering integration is a must for short- and long-term production and optimization. In this unconventional approach, petrophysical and 1D mechanical earth models were developed using triple combo (TCOM) and sonic by integrating in-situ core measurements to narrow down the uncertainty in the flow and mechanical properties. In the standard approach, landing points are mostly selected by looking for good petrophysical reservoir units with good porosity, good organics and low water saturation

Abstract

Seismic reservoir characterization for carbonates is a very difficult task due to its complexity in internal pore structure and depositional environment. The present case study involves seismic reservoir characterization of a carbonate reservoir in the West Kuwait area, using density and other properties estimated from pre-stack simultaneous inversion. In this study we used density from inversion results to directly predict lithology and other properties, such as porosity and water saturation. The main inference from the current study is that the use of density from pre-stack inversion results can significantly reduce the uncertainty in lithofacies prediction which is very important in mitigating exploration risk in carbonates. Also, by combining seismic inversion with Bayesian facies classification leads to significant improvements in reservoir characterization. © 2023 Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Abstract

This paper presents a field application of an advanced slim Pulsed Neutron Logging tool (PNL) for improved determination of hydrocarbon saturation as a key basis to evaluate the reliability of an ongoing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) process in an unconsolidated heavy oil sand in Kuwait. The new PNL tool was used to evaluate changes in oil saturation and to track steam movement as part of the ongoing EOR CSS project in the field. This improved determination of hydrocarbon saturation is performed as a baseline prior to CSS and then used for future time-lapse evaluation of effectiveness of recovery during and after CSS using both PNL sigma and inelastic/capture or carbon/oxygen measurements. Its features enhanced capture and inelastic spectroscopy performance, particularly at high temperatures in places where CSS is ongoing due to its 175°C rating compared to 150°C from legacy tools. Gas, Sigma and Hydrogen Index (GSH), Thermal Decay Porosity (TPHI), litholog

Abstract

Seismic expression of fractures in low porosity carbonate reservoir has brought recent challenges in the industry. An otherwise low porosity reservoir in presence of open fracture assumes a lot of importance as it enhances the capacity of fluid flow thereby the productivity and effective accumulation considerably. Several analyses and studies have been put forth towards recognition and delineation of these fracture corridors and their intensity. The expression of matrix porosity and fracturing in a reservoir are often not discernible through normal seismic especially at a deeper depth. However, with the help of suitable suite of seismic attributes and their combination, these rock characters are effectively brought out through recognition of seismic anomalies and their discontinuities. We know that the spectral statistics showing the frequency absorption mostly relate to fracturing, gas absorption and tuning effects. Therefore, the tuning cube and their phase response from spectral dec

Abstract

Characterizing carbonate reservoirs through seismic data is a challenge due to high level of heterogeneity and secondary porosity. This becomes further complicated in deep reservoirs with seismic data contaminated with interbed multiples, a common phenomenon in the Middle East datasets. To address this issue, a high resolution 3DVSP dataset in one of the deep wells of Kuwait was acquired and optimally processed to extract the reservoir scale information. This data was compared with the corresponding surface seismic data. Quantitative interpretation workflow consisting of rock physics analysis and seismic inversion was applied on this dataset to improve the reservoir characterization, facies and structural definition in the vicinity of the wellbore. This paper presents the workflow adopted and the improved imaging of reservoir properties through the 3DVSP dataset. © 2012 SEG.

Abstract

Water injectors typically suffer from injectivity decline attributed to near wellbore (NWB) damage typically caused by variation in injected water quality, pores plugging caused by scale precipitation, and fines migration. Conventional stimulation treatments to improve injectivity are conducted with coiled tubing (CT) to enhance fluid placement. However, this often sacrifices stimulation effectiveness because of the relatively low fluid penetration into the formation compared to bullheading treatment. The net result is lower than the expected treatment efficiency and increased stimulation frequency. This paper discusses a new placement technique using a fluidic oscillator (FO) tool that causes alternate bursts of fluids within the wellbore. The resulting pressure pulses propagate radially into the formation, carrying the stimulation fluid and enhancing its penetration deeper into the reservoir. A well- planned stimulation treatment recipe in combination with CT and a FO proved to be ve

Abstract

The deep, sub-salt reservoir complex is tiered with fractured tight carbonate at bottom and top, with the two sub-units of "upper unconventional kerogen" and "lower inter-bedded kerogen- carbonate" in the middle. This depositional setting is challenging for horizontal well placement where the thicknesses of respective sub-units are about 50 and 30 feet with varying geomechanical and petrophysical properties. Additionally, this complexity poses limitations in completions and effective stimulation of the Kimmeridgian-Oxfordian reservoirs in several gas fields at development stage in Kuwait. A horizontal well is placed in the lower sub-unit of the laminated complex of unconventional kerogen and fractured carbonate reservoir as a Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) type well. A pilot mother-bore was drilled and logged to identify the lithological properties across the entire vertical domain - facilitates the optimization of horizontal drain-hole placement within the targeted reservoir units. N

Abstract

Minagish Oolite reservoir is a prolific limestone reservoir in Umm Gudair field underlain by an active aquifer situated in West Kuwait. The field has been on production for over 50 years and has been experiencing rising water production levels in the recent years. Understanding the movement of water in the reservoir is vital for maximizing oil recovery. During the producing life of the reservoir, the vertical movement of water is influenced by presence of flow barriers / baffles in the reservoir and how they are distributed in the vertical as well as areal direction. Understanding the lateral distribution of the flow barriers to fluid movement in the vertical direction has been a challenge throughout the production history of the field. Efforts have been ongoing in the past, to understand the movement of aquifer water in the vertical direction based on analysis of openhole log data, structural configuration, stratigraphy, well performance, production logging (PLT) results etc. These ha

Abstract

Oil and gas production uses large volumes of water for injection during polymer flooding and hydraulic fracturing operations. The same operations generate large volumes of wastewater, of which produced formation water and flowback water make up the dominant volumes. The availability of fresh water is a growing challenge in many regions of the world and major oil companies take these challenges seriously and recognize their need to preserve fresh water. They report operations in water-scarce areas in their annual sustainability reports and they strive to reduce and ideally eliminate freshwater intake for their operations by increasing recycling capacity. Reusing high salinity water for hydraulic fracturing and polymer flooding applications is a challenge as high salinity water negatively impacts the economics and success rate of these treatments as the apparent viscosity of standard HPAM is affected by the high salinity. Desalination of these high salinity water sources can be executed