Optimizing Oil Rim Development in a Tight, Fractured Carbonate Field: Khuff Formation, Yibal Field, Sultanate of Oman

The Khuff formation in the Yibal field is currently undergoing one of the largest field development campaigns in PDO. While the main project driver is securing gas production (highly sour) at a stable plateau rate, maximizing oil rim recovery and production is the main objective of the presented study. This is challenging as all wells are pre-drilled as per FDP recommendation and any later development optimization is expected to be difficult and costly. Newly available static (seismic, well log, borehole images) and dynamic (well test) data were utilized in a decision driven modelling approach to update existing static and dynamic models to confirm the robustness of subsurface development decisions, oil production promises and EUR. Updated structural and property modeling results were utilized to optimize placement of 2/3 of the remaining wells in order to improve drainage. Reservoir rock typing and fracture interpretation, along with cased-hole surveillance data acquired in all wells, were used to optimize production intervals and to confirm the productivity of the different intervals (dolostone/ limestone/ fractures); which were then integrated to confirm the perforation strategy going forward. This study describes the first development of Khuff carbonates in Sultanate of Oman, with limited historical production data and no analogues in Sultanate of Oman. The study highlights the importance of continuous integration of new data in a decision driven modelling approach to ensure robustness of project decisions with timely project adjustments to prevent NPV erosion.