51315-5612-Reservoir Simulation and Near-Well Bore Modelling to Aid Scale Management in a Subsea Gulf of Mexico

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Product Number: 51315-5612-SG

ISBN: 5612 2015 CP

Author: Oleg Ishkov

Publication Date: 2015

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This paper presents the findings of a study into the impact of reservoir flow behaviour on both the scaling risk at production wells and the options for managing this scaling risk for a deepwater sandstone reservoir in the Gulf of Mexico. One significant feature in this field is that flow takes place through isolated formation layers and choices made regarding the seawater injection wells have a great impact not only on the BaSO4 scaling tendency but also on the placement of scale inhibitor squeeze treatments in the producers.In addition to seawater injection oil production is supported by the aquifer. The first stage of this study involved identifying the split between connate aquifer and sea water in the produced brine. This provided data that could be used to calculate the evolution of the scaling risk over the lifecycle of each well. The formation brines contain barium and the injection water is full sulphate seawater and the relative proportion of each brine the water production rate pressure and temperature conditions all determine the scaling risk. This changes with time as water cut and water composition changes. However these calculations also give an indication of the sweep process and whether the injection water is displacing connate water (and hence sweeping oil) or aquifer water (and hence not directly sweeping oil but providing pressure support).Furthermore by varying the amount of seawater injected into each of the formation layers the pressures in the layers are affected. This can have an impact on the ability to place scale inhibitor appropriately since during a squeeze treatment a greater proportion of the treatment will enter low pressure zones. This provides an opportunity to manage the injection wells via intelligent completions not only to improve sweep efficiency but also to balance reservoir pressures and make squeeze treatments more efficient