SPE 25592
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Middle East 011 Technical Conference & Exhibition held in Bahrain, 3-6 April 1993.
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609
2 Horizontal Drilling in Saudi Arabian oil Fields; Case Histories SPE 25592
drilling are to prevent gas conning and/or Nudge: The purpose of this nudge is to
higher production rates. None of the take the well path away from the existing
completed wells has been produced, as of wells to avoid magnetic interference
December, 1992. They are waiting on flow and/or wellbore collisions. The depth of
line hookups. nudge varies from well to well. In a six
well platform, the first two wells are
nudged at +/- 2000 ft (610 m), and the
CARBONATE RESERVOIRS: rest are nudged at shallower depths. Angle
is built to 5° at 1° -2°/100 ft (30.5 m).
Offshore Field: The first horizontal wells Once the required horizontal displacement
drilled in Saudi Arabia have been in the is achieved the angle is dropped to
offshore carbonate field. Several vertical at similar rates.
horizontal oil producers have been drilled
and completed since the first completion First Build Section: Wells are typically
in January, 1991. The horizontal kicked off in the 17 in. ( 432 mm) hole
production from the tight carbonate section and the build rates vary from
reservoir has demonstrated a three fold 2.5° to 3.5°/l00 ft (30.5 m). Kick off
increase in production rate compared to depth also varies as a function of the
surrounding conventional wells. The horizontal displacement. The angle is
production from the permeable reservoir built to 25° - 40° and the 13-3/8 in. (340
has also demonstrated a similar increase mm) casing is run and cemented.
with the application here as being conning
control and attic oil recovery. A First Tangent section: Length and angle of
horizontal water injector was also drilled the 12-1/4 in. (311 mm) hole tangent
to increase the rate and sweep efficiency. sections vary from 500 ft. (152 m) to 1500
ft (457 m) and 25° to 40° respectively.
Tangent sections are adjusted to provide
Onshore Field: Here the applications have profile correction while drilling.
been mainly directed to more effective
reservoir pressure maintenance. Horizontal Second Build section: The second build is
injectors have been drilled to improve oil commenced in the 12-1/4 in. (311 mm) hole.
production, sweep efficiency and achieve a The build rate varies from 3° to 6°/100 ft
high injection rate. A three to four fold (30.5 m). Normally this build section
increase in injection rate compared to continues in the 8-1/2 in. (216 mm) hole
conventional wells has been measured. A section until target inclination is
horizontal salt water disposal well has achieved.
been drilled to reduce disposal costs and
increase disposal rate. Horizontal section: The horizontal section
is drilled in the 8-1/2 in. (216 mm) hole.
Length and angle of this section varies
from 1500 ft. (457 m) to 2000 ft (731.5 m)
CASING PROGRAMS: and 89° to 91°, respectively.
Casing programs differ from field to
field. A typical casing program for each
field is shown in tables #1, 2 and 3. CARBONATE RESERVOIRS:
610
SPE 25592 K. A. AL-Buraik & J. M. Pasnak 3
tendencies. The core barrel was driven requirements are evaluated on a well by.
with a high torque low speed motor. well basis.
The transmitted real time gamma ray and CARBONATE RESERVOIRS: Producers and
resistivity were used for directional injectors are typically completed open
control and formation tops picking. hole as the carbonate reservoirs are well
consolidated. An injection well was
CARBONATE RESERVOIRS: A suite of logging completed recently with a short 7 in. (178
while drilling sensors and drill pipe mm) liner run below the 9-5/8 in. (244 mm)
conveyed logs were run on an experimental shoe to cover a high permeability streak
basis in Saudi Aramcos first horizontal near the top of the reservoir.
well. The LWD sensors included compensated
dual resistivity (COR), compensated Producers are completed with conventional
density neutron (CON), and gamma ray (GR) permanent packers and 4-1/2 in. (114 mm)
which were run in real time and recorded VAM tubing. In one case the packer
mode during the drilling of the 12-1/4 in. tailpipe was extended below the 9-5/8 in.
(311 mm) and 8-1/2 in. (216 mm) hole (244 mm) casing shoe to cover a washed out
sections. The OPCLs were run through the interval above the target reservoir. This
8-1/2 in (216 mm) horizontal without will allow easier CTU operations and open
incident. Comparison of the LWO and OPCL hole production logging.
showed good correlation.
613
6 HClrizontal Drilling in Saudi Arabian Oil Fields; Case Histories SPE 25592
sandstone fields were perforated with 4- of the wells was plugged and abandoned
1/2 in. (114 mm) drill pipe conveyed because of this problem. The casing
perforating guns (DPC). The average length setting depth was modified for all of the
of the perforated intervals ranges from subsequent wells. The 9-5/8 in. (244 mm)
560 ft (171 m) to 1500 ft (457 m) and the casing is set on top of the main sand, to
perforatio,n density is 4 5 SPF. The cover all of the shale stringers.
perforation is done in one trip and the
wireline GR-CCL are used for depth Several stuck liners and casings were
correlation. The location of DPC experienced in the 9-5/8 in. (244 mm)
perforating guns is controlled by using casing and the 7 in. (178 mm) liner,
radioactive tags. Radioactive tags are because most of the 12-1/4 in. (311 mm)
placed in the working string at an and the 8-1/2 in. (216 mm) holes were
inclinations that are accessible by WL motor drilled. Since then most of the
logging tools. The WL GR is correlated to motor drilled holes are reamed with a
the LWD GR and the pipe is moved stiff, non drilling assembly prior to
accordingly. The perforating is done running casing or liner. Applying this
overbalanced, because of the complication practice, the occurrence of stuck pipe
in killing the well prior to pulling out decreased. The reaming assembly is
with guns. composed of bullnose, near bit reamer, two
drill collar or heavy weight drill pipe,
roller reamer, heavy weight, jars and rest
of the string.
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: CARBONATE RESERVOIRS: Major drilling
problems encountered were twist off of
SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS: The major problems bottom hole assembly (BHA), stuck pipe,
encountered during drilling the first few short bit life on motor runs, and extra
wells in the sandstone reservoirs were tripping for BHA changes or motor/MWD
borehole collapse and mechanical failure.
instability of the shale. These problems
are mostly caused by shale mechanical
instability and shale exposure time.
CONCLUSIONS:
Wellbore stability studies conducted
indicated that shale mechanical 1. Preplanning and a team approach is
instability was behind the problems necessary for successful horizontal
encountered. Early results also indicated drilling campaign.
that some of the shale intervals must be
drilled with a minimum mud density of 92 2. Based on the success of the first
pcf (12.3 ppg) in order to keep the two horizontal wells drilled in the
borehole open. offshore carbonate reservoirs, an
ambitious horizontal drilling
Shales are usually time sensitive and campaign is in progress in sandstone
there are several factors affecting shale and carbonate reservoirs.
exposure time. Among these factors are
long drilling time (short bit runs & low
ROP) and casing setting depth. An ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
ambitious bit trial test program was
conducted including motor and PDC bits. Appreciation is given to the Saudi Arabia
Usage of these bits will increase rate of Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral
penetration (ROP), bit life and ultimately Resources and to Saudi Aramco for
decrease drilling time. Bottom hole permission to publish this paper. Special
assemblies (BHA) are designed to handle thanks are expressed to W. H. Turki for
range of build rate, tangent & build his valuable recommendations.
section and are capable of building and
holding in rotary mode. This approach
decreased number of trips for BHA REFERENCES:
adjustment trips drastically. The 9-5/8
in. (244 mm) casing setting depth for the 1. AL-Buraik, K. A.: "Application Of Long
first few horizontal wells drilled was on Radius Horizontal Drilling In Saudi
the top of shale sand sequence formation. Arabia; A case History" Presented at the
The shale below the shoe was exposed for 1992 OAPEC/IFP Horizontal drilling
the entire time required to drill the 8- Workshop, Paris, June 23-25.
1/2 in. (216 mm) hole. Unfortunately one
614
SPE 25592 K. A. AL-Buraik & J. M. Pasnak 7
Table #1: A typical casing program for the Sandstone horizontal wells
.....
"Pl:lsiIlg Specification APP:roxillulte Setting Remarks
.... ...... Depth '(MD}, ft· •
36 in. 0.625 in. WT BE X-60 150-250 Conductor casing
24 in. 176# X-42 LS 700 intermediate casing *
18-5/8 in. 115 lb/ft K-55 BTC 1100 -2500 intermediate casing
13-3/8 in. 68 lb/ft J-55 BTC 4500 - 5500 intermediate casing
9-5/8 in. 43.5/47 lb/ft L-80 LTC 6000 - 7800 above target reservoir
7 in. 26 lb/ft J-55 VAM 8600 -10,200 TO - 500 ft lap with 9-
5/8 in. CSG
Table #2: A typical casing program for the offshore carbonate horizontal wells
.....
,".,",'" .- . ""-'.
Table #3: A typical casing program for the onshore carbonate horizontal wells
IIc~as·i······~·:~····r·····~····~·P
·t~F·····i.··ficat.i,.oll< ...• • • . .>< APPJ:'c)xiI1lCll~ .Setti.119 Remarks.
11>-> • • .• .•. . . ... • ' '.''. "". .•.•. . • . .•. <.... ., '., "",··.pept){ (MD).. . it>
36 in. 0.625 in. WT BE X-60 100 Conductor casing
24 in. 176 lb/ft X-42 LS 800 intermediate casing
18-5/8 in. 115 lb/ft K-55 BTC 3000 intermediate casing
13-3/8 in. 68 lb/ft J-55 BTC 5000 intermediate casing
9-5/8 in. 40/43.5 lb/ft L-80 LTC 8000 above target reservoir
615
8 HORIZONTAL DRILLING IN SAUDI ARABIAN OIL FIELDS; CASE HISTORIES SPE 25592
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LATERAL DISPLACEMENT (FT X 1000)
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COMPARISON PLOT OF ACTUAL VS PLANNED TRAJECTORY
616
SPE 25592 K. A. AL·BURAIK & J. M. PASNAK 9
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LATERAL DISPLACEMENT (FT X 1000)
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COMPARISON PLOT OF ACTUAL VS PLANNED TRAJECTORY
617