Challenging Water Channeling in Unconsolidated Heavy Oil Reservoirs: Risks and Management

The paper describes the basic features of the East-Messoyahskoe oil field that are important for efficient reservoir development, the key of which are high oil viscosity (111 cP), high heterogenieity and permeability contrast, and the presence of aquifer with a different strength. The review of the experience in proactive breakthrough risks identification is presented. The actual breakthroughs during waterflooding of the PK-13 reservoir of the East-Messoyahskoe oil field are described and analyzed. The backgrounds and regularities increasing the risks of breakthroughs are identified. The analytical calculations have been made and key influencing factors have been defined. Based on the obtained results, the methodology of the proactive breakthrough identification was developed. The methodology has been tested in the real conditions of the East-Messoyahskoe oil field. The first results have been received, which confirm the operational efficiency of the developed methodological approach. All wells were rated according to their breakthrough risk, and measures for operative and proactive breakthroughs risk management has been proposed. All listed are combined into a system which permits minimization of breakthrough risks and manages them for the increase of unconsolidated heavy oil reservoirs development efficiency.