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Case Study: PEMEX develops new methodology to optimize reactivated gas field production
Rapid technology tools help identify workover candidates and maximize Burgos Basin recoverable reserves
Challenge
Optimize production and maximize recoverable reserves in reactivated gas fields with little or no pressure data; develop efficient methodology that can be replicated in fields with similar characteristics.
Solution
Create integrated workflow for multidisciplinary team; identify and implement gas field workovers using
- Interactive PetrophysicsTM (IP) software for deterministic and probabilistic petrophysical analysis
- OilField Manager (OFM) software for production surveillance, well and reservoir analysis, forecasting, and candidate identification
- PIPESIM software for well modeling, nodal analysis, and artificial lift design.
Results
Reaped success from new methodology: accumulative gas production of 68.4 Bcf after 267 workover jobs for Arcabuz-Culebra field, and new workover projects underway in the region.
Reactivate gas fields with limited data
It is very common to find mature fields with only a limited amount of available data, especially pressure information, which is crucial for the analysis of gas field productivity. Many of these gas fields are currently being reactivated, creating the need for efficient analysis methods to target those wells most likely to increase production in the short term and maximize recoverable reserves for the longer term.
PEMEX was experiencing this situation with respect to its gas fields in the Burgos Basin, located just offshore Mexico’s northeastern region. The company was concentrating its efforts on production optimization, but was not able to obtain desirable results due to
- lack of pressure and permeability information
- lack of a reliable petrophysical model
- inconsistent methodologies for static and dynamic field characterization
- production allocation issues in wells with commingled production.
PEMEX realized that rapid achievement of its production goals would require implementation of sophisticated software technology and collaboration with professionals who had the necessary experience to jump-start the project.
Create new ways to quickly achieve optimization results
Team collaboration and project planning
Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) and Schlumberger Data & Consulting Services (DCS) became part of a PEMEX study team consisting of reservoir engineers, production engineers, and petrophysicists. The Schlumberger team provided software and workflow expertise and helped develop a quick, reliable methodology for analyzing and optimizing the Burgos Basin gas field—even though only minimal data was available. The team’s objective was to efficiently identify workover candidates to swiftly increase production, including forecasting and economics, using an integrated multidisciplinary workflow.
Classical theories and innovative techniques
The team used a structured, repeatable project management approach, which included formalized phases that defined data collection and processing, analysis techniques, opportunity identification, and follow-up and analysis of the workovers performed. This methodology, in conjunction with the robust capabilities of IP, OFM, and PIPESIM software, was applied to a pilot project at Cuitlahuac field, located to the south of Reynosa, where wet gas is produced. Key to achieving fast, accurate results was the application of a mix of classical approaches, such as material balance, a screening process to find viable workover opportunities, petrophysical and reservoir analysis, and the participation of a skilled multidisciplinary team.
One of the most important steps in the project was the petrophysical analysis, which was performed in IP software. Adjustments of the model and well evaluations were easily accomplished using the Mineral Solver module. The major effort was focused on permeability calculations, supported by core information and well production data as input to establish a dynamic analysis process. Thanks to this pilot, the opportunity presented itself for the application of the methodology on a larger scale.
Increased production in other fields
Since the successful pilot project, the combination of rapid technology tools and project management methodology has spread to other PEMEX gas fields. Leveraging the same simple—and now formalized—techniques, additional workover projects continue to provide fast optimization of gas fields in the Burgos Basin with low data availability. One such example is the Arcabuz- Culebra field, located to the south of Reynosa, where the accumulative gas production of 68.4 Bcf was achieved following 267 workover jobs. PEMEX expects to maximize more of its recoverable reserves in the near future using this resourceful strategy.
Schlumberger Information Solutions
Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) is an operating unit of Schlumberger that provides software, information management, IT, and related services. SIS collaborates closely with oil and gas companies to solve today’s tough reservoir challenges with an open business approach and comprehensive solution deployment. Through our technologies and services, oil and gas companies empower their people to improve business performance by reducing exploration and development risk and optimizing operational efficiencies.
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