Optimization of the Al-Shaheen Field Performance using Smart Well Technology

Optimization of the Al-Shaheen Field Performance using Smart Well Technology

Gelderblom, D.O.

Jansen, J.D. (mentor)
Do, S.H. (mentor)
Kapteijn, P.K.A. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Section Petroleum Engineering

2010-07-21

This MSc thesis reports the results on optimizing the Al-Shaheen field performance using smart well technology. The field is currently being developed by Maersk Oil and Gas (MOG) offshore Qatar, using large-scale water injection on very long horizontal wells. The studied reservoir consists of a laterally uniform, tight matrix. However, undesired water short-circuiting between injectors and producers due to localized heterogeneity leads to reduced sweep efficiency and increased water production, thereby reducing the economic life of approximately 10% of the wells. Smart well technology combines monitoring and control capabilities with multi-segment completions in order to optimize flooding mechanisms. In this study two different optimization strategies were simulated on a sector model containing different level of heterogeneity. The first method comprised a reactive, measurement-based approach, where injection segments were shut-in when increased water production was observed in production segments. The second method comprised a proactive, model-based approach where the optimal shut-in timing of injection segments was obtained from gradient information. The evaluated flooding mechanisms include water injection and Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG) injection. Results show optimization with smart well technology can significantly improve recovery and reduce water and gas circulation under varying conditions of reservoir heterogeneity. The measurement-based optimization confirms that the technology can improve reservoir engineering by its increased downhole monitoring capabilities. Results from measurement-based optimization approach the optimum found by model-based optimization.

optimization
optimisation
Al Shaheen
Al-Shaheen
smart
gradient

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:93d863ff-6363-4f9f-8ab9-5be23b9d96e9

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2010 Gelderblom, D.O.