The operator's primary objective was to increase production and ensure long-term sustainability by preventing further fines migration—a key factor contributing to declining well performance. The well had been experiencing gradual production decline, with well performance analysis revealing a high skin value likely caused by fines migration. To address this issue, a CT wellbore cleanup and acid wash were conducted by another service provider to remove obstructions and restore flow. However, these treatments failed to yield significant production improvement, leaving the operator with continued performance challenges.
The OneSTEP EF solution effectively addressed the operator’s primary challenge—formation damage due to fines migration—while also aligning with broader sustainability and operational efficiency goals. Unlike conventional multistage acidizing systems, the OneSTEP EF solution simplifies the sandstone acidizing process into a single-stage treatment, minimizing operational complexity, treatment time, and associated logistics. The fluid system was customized with a fines migration control additive, designed to stabilize clay particles and prevent future fines movement, supporting sustainable production and minimizing the risk of recurring formation damage.
Prior to the treatment, a comprehensive damage identification and extensive laboratory testing process was conducted to determine the damage mechanism and propose the best treatment for the well. A core flow test was performed with the actual core sample from the reservoir to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment fluid in removing the formation damage without causing any undesired precipitation. The matrix acidizing treatment was executed successfully, surpassing the operator’s post-stimulation production forecast and setting a new benchmark for a mature field in Malaysia.
This achievement—marked by a 400% increase in oil production above the initial target without increasing the water cut—underscores the outstanding collaboration between the operator and SLB in identifying the issues and proposing the optimal solution for the well.
