About this workshop

Workshop Description

A wide spectrum of challenges faces the developers of the Sudanese oilfields. Whether the fields are virgin or mature, the challenges are mounting.

It is envisaged that planning ahead in the early stages of field development may help to reduce the cost and encourage utilising EOR techniques for maximising recovery. Yet the expected commercial benefit and the timing of implementation of such techniques have still to be gauged and properly evaluated.

In mature fields, which have missed the early EOR planning, the challenges are more pronounced. This is due to big overheads related to new wells that may be needed, and the field development system and surface facilities. The cost may be deterring management from approaching such techniques and technology. Striking the balance between the techniques and commerciality, suggests the implementation of new technology which is commercially viable.

On the other hand, secondary recovery techniques need to be reviewed vis-à-vis the specific conditions of the Sudanese oilfields with regard to depositional environment, type of oil, and reservoir energy. Water shut-off techniques, sand control and recovery of by-passed oil represent the severe problems that are worrying the production and field development staff.

Maximising oil production by lesser number of wells reveals the importance on horizontal and multi-lateral wells, especially in a depositional environment such as the fluvial which dominates most of the Sudanese oilfields. Again striking the balance between the techniques and commerciality of such techniques should be valid as well as the criteria of drilling of horizontal and multi-lateral wells should match the characteristic of such oilfields.

To address the above challenges, a proper data collection, production monitoring, field measurements and routine testing are required; the objective being to build a database for effective reservoir management, performing studies and taking remedial actions on time.

All of the above challenges face the Sudanese oil industry which is still considered green despite the fast growth and the number of operating companies in the country. A workshop in Khartoum that can merge the international experience with the local pioneers may be of great help to the oil industry of Sudan. Furthermore, it may lead to a wider opening and integration between the National Scientists and the SPE Members in the international arena.

Who Should Attend?

Development managers, production managers, reservoir engineers, reservoir management staff, geoscientists, geochemists, chemical engineers, petroleum engineers, EOR researchers, surface facilities engineers and manufacturers. It is also an interesting workshop for environmental engineers and university staff.

Visa

SPE Middle East, North Africa and India will assist in providing a visa invitation letter, upon request in writing, to confirmed registrants after receiving full payment of registration fees. Visa invitation letters take five days to issue from the date of request and it is the delegate's responsibility to obtain their own visa. SPE cannot issue the visa nor can we guarantee it will be obtained.