Piloting the 1st Well-Test-Logging in the Middle East, Paving the Way to Low-Cost Dynamic Reservoir Characterization and Well Value Optimization

Abstract

The development of carbonate reservoirs of a giant field, Offshore Abu Dhabi, requires long horizontal wells to maximize productivity, but at the risk of unwanted gas and water channeling through its inherent heterogeneities. Conformance can be enhanced with dedicated segmented completions (blank sections, Inflow Control Device, Autonomous Inflow Control Device, etc.) or selective acid stimulation (diverter, Limited Entry Liner), which are increasingly implemented to extend well life, and eventually well value. If these technologies have matured, success depends heavily on the quality of the formation knowledge prior to completion. As of today, conventional logs provide the basic ground, but they lack dynamic information, whereas production logging results are obtained too late, when the well is already completed. Initially introduced for the optimization of unconventional well completions (see Jacques et al, URTEC 2019), the Well Testing Logging (WTLog) offers the advantage to record a log of mobility, at the end of drilling the openhole, enabling a favorable timing to influence adapted completion and stimulation design. Contrasted viscosity brines are sequentially circulated through the drill pipes at a constant rate and back-produced from the casing at constant pressure. The fluids interface travels in the drain from the TD to the casing shoe, and the measurement of the differential formation seepage is interpreted into an injectivity profile. Combined with rate fall-off phase analysis, permeability and skin logs are derived. Lasting a few hours and realized with conventional rig equipment (such as cement pumps, coriolis flowmeters, Managed Pressure Drilling system), it is a nonintrusive, safe, and ultimately low-cost operation. Forward, it can replace costly logging, when aimed at characterizing heterogeneities. Within a year, the two first WTLog pilots of the Middle East were successfully designed and carried out. They targeted two appraisal wells in distinct undeveloped reservoirs (Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic formations) which benefited from rich acquisition programs (Image log, Production log) to benchmark and qualify this technology. After an explanation of the technology principles, this paper describes the design, operations, and results of these pilots. It then focuses on the petrophysical consolidation of the matrix/fracture characterization. It concludes by sharing the learnings and offers insight to what extent it is a promising technology to be applied in Middle East carbonate reservoir developments.