Workshop Timetable
Monday
1500 hours
Hotel Check-In begins
1700 - 1800 hours
Registration
1800 - 1900 hours
Welcome Reception
Tuesday
08.30
Chairman's Introduction
08.45 - 09.30
Keynote Speakers
- J. Gerstenlauer, Wintershall
- J. D. Bokhoven, EBN
09.30 - 10.30
Session One
Counting the Costs
Session Chairs: Wouter d'Engelbronner and Helen Hichens
The aim of this session is to review and discuss the economic challenges facing the industry in bringing "tight gas" to the market place. There are many factors that influence these decisions, some to a greater or lesser degree depending on the prevailing market conditions: gas price, rig rates, service costs, supply chain costs, taxation, perception and evaluation of risk. In this session we will discuss these issues along with alternative solutions to drive down costs, cost reduction through collaboration and synergies and managing risk.
11.00 - 12.30
Session One Continued
12.30 - 13.30
Lunch
13.30 - 15.00
Session Two
Reservoir Characterisation
Session Chairs: Jamil Al-Hajhog and Gerry Coghlan
In the UK North Sea and in other regions of the world, the number of tight-gas projects under consideration has grown significantly over the last few years. Whereas historical developments of low-permeability gas reservoirs have often benefited from limited natural fractures, the new swathe of potential developments cannot necessarily rely on this.
What has become clear is that peoples' expectations have to be changed. In NW Europe, for example, tight-gas developments cannot sustain high density drilling; therefore complex well solutions are often adopted. Project teams are confronted with a) uncalibrated well performance forecasts, b) limited well control and c) unfamiliar reservoir characterisation. The required accuracy of the latter can offer a particular challenge - people may historically have ignored as non-net rock of the quality now being targeted.
Log interpretation and petrophysical data will be considered together with other issues such as relative permeability. It is naturally recognized that integrated reservoir characterisation form the principle foundation for the assessment of hydrocarbon properties and permeability. Therefore, the question of the appropriate level of geological and reservoir modelling will be considered in the processes of understanding the inherent uncertainty in the tight reservoirs.
15.00 - 15.30
Coffee Break
15.30 - 17.00
Session Two Continued
19.00
Dinner
Wednesday
09.00-10.30
Session Three
Production Optimisation
Session Chairs: Fred Van der Bas and Kees Veeken
Tight gas reservoirs typically require hydraulic fracture stimulation to achieve economic production rates. This session will focus on the strategy of completing the wells, either vertical or horizontal with single or multiple hydraulic fractures. It will address, amongst others, the impact of fracturing fluid selection and proppant concentration. Special attention will also be given to formation damage, slow clean-up behaviour and shorter effective fracture half-lengths than predicted. Also the outflow aspects of tight gas wells will be considered i.e. the impact of liquid loading on ultimate recovery and the selection and performance of various gas well deliquification measures.
10.30 - 11.00
Coffee Break
11.00 - 12.30
Session Three Continued
12.30 - 13.30
Lunch
13.30 - 15.00
Session Four
Case Studies
Session Chairs: Gerry Coghlan and Raymond Godderij
The aim of this session is to share a selection of operator experiences.
Short briefings will be offered on current tight-gas developments in NW Europe
both on and offshore. Where it applies, the evolution of drilling and
completion practices will be highlighted and explained in terms of a high cost
environment, hence low well count with knock-on effect of reservoir uncertainty
and challenging gas sales contract structures. It is also hoped to bring
relevant cases from further afield (possibly CIS, Mexico and US) to emphasise
the production profile that should be anticipated from a tight-gas
development.
Lengthy well clean-up durations will be highlighted and concerns about the potential for formation damage from prolonged exposure to fracture fluids will be explored. The challenges of deploying US experience may be discussed.
15.00 - 15.30
Coffee Break
15.30 - 17.00
Session Four Continued
Thursday
09.00 - 10.30
Session Five
Innovative Technologies
Session Chairs: Yann Caline, Sami Haidar and Chris Tzinieris
This session will focus on what's new in the service industry and what the oil companies are looking for. There will be short presentations and topics of discussion from the major service providers as well as the major oil companies.
The session will also include a panel discussion to address whether oil companies and service providers are aligned on what needs to be done to enhance development of 'tight gas' around the world with special emphasis on the North Sea.
10.30 - 11.00
Coffee Break
11.00 - 12.30
Session Five Continued
12.30 - 13.30
Lunch
13.30
Workshop Close
