Summary
Over the lifetime of a well, it is possible that several squeeze operations
will be performed, depending on scaling severity. Downhole-squeeze operations
have been performed for many years and have been an effective scale-management
tool on the whole. However, the long-term impact successive squeezing has on
treatment lifetime and well productivity has received little attention. This
paper will address these issues by comparing the results from a unique sequence
of long-term corefloods designed to replicate five successive treatments on the
kaolinite-rich, Middle Tarbert core from the StatoilHydro-operated field
Oseberg Sør. Relatively few squeeze treatments have been performed on this
field, and the coreflood results have been upscaled to provide a potential
prediction of the effects of long-term squeezing on well productivity on
Oseberg Sør. Furthermore, the laboratory results have been cross checked by
comparing them with the Heidrun field, which has been squeezed for many years.
Heidrun is an analog of Oseberg Sør, with kaolinite-rich producing intervals,
and has similar productivity issues related to kaolinite mobilization.
Introduction
In many respects, the opening sentence of Vetter (1973) is still valid 35
years after publication: "There are a number of gaps in our knowledge of
the principles involved in the squeezing process." This paper will address
one of those identified knowledge gaps, which is the effect well lifetime
squeezing has on treatment performance and productivity. Depending on the
scaling severity, a well can require squeeze treatment as often as every 10
days, as is the case for the Miller field (Wylde et al. 2007), or after several
months [e.g., Oseberg Sør field (Fleming et al. 2007a)]. With regard to the
latter field, a study was initiated to determine the long-term impact of
squeeze treatment on well performance. This forms the basis for the paper. The
laboratory results will also be compared to the StatoilHydro-operated Heidrun
field that has been squeezed over several years.
© 2009. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
6 March 2008
- Meeting paper published:
28 May 2008
- Revised manuscript received:
19 September 2008
- Manuscript approved:
13 October 2008
- Published online:
30 July 2009
- Version of record:
8 September 2009
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