Optimizing Reservoir Permeability to Hydrocarbons with Micro-solutionTechnologies

Optimizing Reservoir Permeability to Hydrocarbons with Micro-solution Technologies Gary Gwartney; Gary Gwartney Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Mark Stephen; Mark Stephen Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Monty C. Leeds; Monty C. Leeds HiTech Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Anthony B. Rea Anthony B. Rea ARC Fluid Technologies LLC Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Technology Symposium, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., April 2007. Paper Number: SPE-107739-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/107739-MS Published: April 16 2007 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Gwartney, Gary, Stephen, Mark, Leeds, Monty C., and Anthony B. Rea. "Optimizing Reservoir Permeability to Hydrocarbons with Micro-solution Technologies." Paper presented at the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Technology Symposium, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., April 2007. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/107739-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Rocky Mountain Petroleum Technology Conference / Low Permeability Reservoirs Symposium Search Advanced Search AbstractThe focus of this paper is to discuss the importance of controlling multiple phase interfacial tension between all solids, liquids and gas phases associated with the drilling, completion and maintenance of wells. Particular emphasis will be placed on mature reservoirs, low pressure reservoirs, under saturated reservoirs, low perm reservoirs and their relative hydrocarbon production potential sensitivities associated with the interactions between the fluids and chemicals introduced during the various phases of the life of the well. Supporting laboratory studies and field case histories will be included.Optimizing reservoir potential in mature, low pressure, under saturated and low perm reservoir environments requires a pro-active engineering design for the well construction and maintenance processes. The intermediate bridge technology between the reservoir and the mechanical equipment throughout the wells existence are the fluids employed to drill, cement, complete, workover and stimulate the well. These fluids and components therein are the primary bridge technologies for enhancing mechanical performance during the well construction process. More importantly these fluids are the primary foreign contact medium with the reservoir and therefore are secondary only to the reservoir quality in defining production potential.Fluid and chemical selections are therefore dependent upon the rock and insitu fluid characteristics of not only the reservoir but all exposed formations during the drilling process. In all cases, fluid selection should focus on limiting the transference of free fluid from the bulk fluid phase to the reservoir, controlling highly mobile fluid invasion and optimizing surface forces between the rock, fluids and gases associated with the imbibition and invasion processes. Controlling the negative aspects of these interactions with micro-solution technologies minimizes filtercake lift off pressures, optimizes flow back of imbibed and invaded fluids during the drilling and completion processes and minimizes phase trapping. Employing micro-solution technologies in the workover processes improves remediating fluid efficiencies, idealizes the reservoirs permeability to hydrocarbons and the reservoirs production potential.IntroductionSpontaneous imbibition occurs within low permeability under saturated reservoirs whenever they come in contact with another fluid that has a high invasion potential. Invasion in higher perm rock or fractures and the depth of invasion therein is a function of annular versus reservoir pressure differentials and spontaneous imbibition associated with the secondary porosity and permeability within the rock. Highly invasive fluids typically contain a large percentage of highly mobile free liquids (HMFL). Typical HMFL fluids are drilling fluids which are intentionally designed to de-water or de-oil in an effort to deposit a solid phase semi-permeable filtercake across an exposed permeable rock in an effort to control invasion. Completion fluids such as brines also fall into the HMFL phase category as do foam based fluids. On a stand alone basis these HMFL fluids are well suited for well construction issues associated with normal reservoir pressures of moderate to high permeability. The water based systems typically offer little if any assistance for managing high capillary pressure driven instantaneous imbibition in low permeability, water wet, under saturated formations and in fact feed the beast. Keywords: drilling fluids and materials, completion, drilling fluid chemistry, drilling fluid formulation, drilling fluid selection and formulation, Upstream Oil & Gas, drilling fluid property, perforation only qi, drawdown pressure, micro-solution technology Subjects: Drilling Fluids and Materials, Drilling fluid selection and formulation (chemistry, properties), Drilling fluid management & disposal This content is only available via PDF. 2007. 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