An Innovative Approach to Install Production String with ESP to Avoid Productivity Impairment in Multistage Fractured Horizontal Well

Generally, tight reservoirs require hydraulic fracturing to enhance and sustain hydrocarbon production. However, fracturing requires frac string with bigger Internal Diameter (ID) to minimize frictional losses during hydraulic fracturing operation. This string ID may not be suitable to provide optimum Vertical Lift Performance (VLP) during production phase, particularly in oil wells. Therefore, it is required to replace the frac string with production string of smaller ID. Occasionally, artificial lift also becomes essential to overcome VLP issues in future due to progressive water production and declining reservoir pressure. Completion replacement often causes reservoir damage due to killing operation, which can be removed in conventional carbonate reservoirs by matrix stimulation. However, formation damage removal is difficult in hydraulically fractured tight carbonate and sandstone reservoirs. Preventive measures become essential to avoid productivity impairment particularly in hydraulically fractured reservoirs. Different preventative options are proposed and reviewed to isolate reservoir with their advantages and disadvantages. After comprehensive studies and risk assessments, an innovative modification in the completion plan was introduced and finalized. This plan includes production string with Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) to improve VLP. This completion provides full accessibility intervention job, which may be required for reservoir monitoring and surveillance in future. A comprehensive production test is performed to evaluate and compare the testing results of pre and post workover. Testing results show there is no impairment in productivity of the reservoir, which is avoided in workover process by isolating reservoir section. This paper summarizes the completion design process, selection criteria, challenges, and lessons learnt during design and execution phases. This technique will provide the guidelines for installation of the Production string/ESP in hydraulically fractured reservoir without productivity impairment. With modified design, the reservoir is isolated from wellbore and completion with ESP is run successfully without killing reservoir section. Underbalance conditions are achieved prior to establishing communication between reservoir and wellbore.