SPE Drilling & Completion
Volume 20, Number 2, June 2005, pp. 147-155

SPE-84415-PA

Completion and Well-Performance Results, Genesis Field, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

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DOI  More information 10.2118/84415-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/84415-PA

Citation

  • Pourciau, R.D., Fisk, J.H., Descant, F.J., and Waltman, R.B. 2005. Completion and Well-Performance Results, Genesis Field, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. SPE Drill & Compl20 (2): 147-155. SPE-84415-PA.

Summary

The Genesis project was ChevronTexaco’s first Gulf of Mexico deepwater development project and the first industry project to use spar technology for drilling, completion, and production operations.1,2 This paper discusses the unique results and lessons learned through the first 4 years of the Genesis project in the areas of integrated teams, organizational learning, spar operations, completion practices, well performance, and reservoir management.

Introduction

The Genesis field is located in Green Canyon Blocks 160, 161, and 205 in the Gulf of Mexico. The spar is located in Green Canyon Block 205 in 2,590 ft of water. The Genesis project is a joint venture among three partners: 56.67% ChevronTexaco (operator), 38.38% ExxonMobil, and 4.95% BHP Billiton.

The discovery well was drilled in 1988, and several delineation wells followed in the early 1990s; development funding was approved in 1996. A semisubmersible rig was used to batch set 36-, 26-, and 20-in. casing strings on 19 wells. The seafloor well pattern includes locations for 20 wells and two export riser bases. Spacing between locations is 20 ft in a 140-ft-diameter circle. The semisubmersible rig also drilled and cased the first two development wells.

The spar was installed in mid-1998, followed by topside and rig installation. Hookup work began, and the first rig operations—running the export risers—began in November 1998; first production occurred in late January 1999.

Through the first 4 years of the project, 14 producing wells have been drilled in the Genesis field. These 14 wells include 10 wells with single completions and four wells with stacked wireline-selective completions. Major rig workovers to change producing zones have also been performed on two of the initial 14 wells. 

Maximum daily production from the Genesis field was 61,130 BOPD and 98,670 Mcf/D of gas, achieved on 4 July 2001. Future plans for the field include numerous sidetracks and major rig workovers.

Ref. 1 discussed the development plan for the Genesis field as it related to drilling and completion design and execution. This paper presents a unique comparison between the planned and actual development program and describes results and lessons learned through the first 4 years of the Genesis project.

© 2005. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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