MDT
Modular formation dynamics tester
Accurately measure real-time reservoir pressure and permeability and collect high-quality, representative fluid samples.
Revitalizing Kuwait’s carbonates with engineered stimulation
Location
Kuwait, Asia, Onshore
Summary
SLB partnered with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to address low recovery and production challenges in tight carbonate reservoirs across three fields. A tailored stimulation workflow—leveraging advanced diagnostics and engineered acidizing—resulted in a cumulative oil production uplift of 22,550 bbl/d across 17 wells.
Engineered stimulation design
Customized acidizing and fracturing workflows using Kinetix Matrix™ stimulation design and Petrel™ subsurface software improved zonal coverage and recovery
Quantifiable production gains
Achieved 22,550 bbl/d uplift across 17 wells, with individual wells reaching up to 4,352 bbl/d
Scalable workflow expansion
Success led to workflow replication across other mature assets and initiated new well drilling campaigns
Objective
KOC faced significant production performance challenges in three carbonate reservoirs: WK Mishrif, SEK Mauddud, and SEK Middle Marrat. These challenges were driven by complex geological features, including thief zones, heterogeneity, compartmentalization, and faulted structures. The tight, naturally fractured formations exhibited low porosity and permeability, highly viscous oil (API ~20), and elevated asphaltene content. These conditions led to inaccurate reservoir characterization, ineffective zonal isolation, low stimulation efficiency, and ultimately, poor productivity and recovery factors (<5%), impacting field development economics.
To address these issues, SLB implemented an integrated evaluate-to-stimulate approach, leveraging proprietary technologies and workflows tailored to each reservoir. The strategy focused on acquiring high-resolution reservoir data, integrating advanced modeling tools, and engineering customized stimulation designs to enhance hydrocarbon recovery. More than 50 existing wells across the three assets were evaluated, and 17 were selected as optimal candidates for stimulation.
WK Mishrif
SLB deployed the dynamic temperature survey (DTS) to evaluate openhole laterals and identify thief zones. By integrating geosteering data with DTS insights, the Kinetix Matrix software enabled engineered designs for pinpoint stimulation using the ABRASIJET™ hydraulic pipe-cutting and perforating service. To ensure uniform fluid distribution during stimulation, the OpenPath Reach™ extended-contact stimulation service, OpenPath Sequence™ diversion stimulation service, and MaxCO3 Acid™ degradable diversion acid system were applied, improving treatment coverage and effectiveness.
SEK Mauddud
Extensive laboratory testing was conducted to assess solubility and fluid-rock compatibility. The Petrel software guided optimized acid fracturing designs, incorporating OpenPath Reach service and VDA™ viscoelastic diverting acid to achieve uniform and deep stimulation. DTS was used to evaluate fracture height, while NMR provided accurate estimates of effective porosity and permeability. The MDT™ modular formation dynamics tester enabled pressure and fluid sampling to assess viscosity and permeability anisotropy. The Sonic Scanner™ acoustic scanning platform and MicroScope HD™ resistivity- and high-definition imaging-while-drilling service supported 1D mechanical earth modeling and fracture mapping, while the 3D far-field sonic service identified natural fractures beyond the near-wellbore region.
SEK Middle Marrat
The injection logging tool (ILT), combined with DTS, enabled evaluation of injection profiles across the target zone and helped identify potential channeling behind casing. Based on these insights, OpenPath Sequence service was engineered to maximize zonal coverage, while OpenPath Reach service was optimized for deep treatment penetration under high-pressure, HPHT conditions.
This integrated approach—combining advanced diagnostics, modeling, and stimulation technologies—enabled KOC to overcome complex reservoir challenges and significantly improve production performance across all three fields.
Results
The stimulation campaign delivered measurable production improvements across KOC’s targeted fields:
- WK Mishrif: 7 of 35 screened wells were stimulated, resulting in a total uplift of 2,400 bbl/d.
- SEK Mauddud: Five wells were stimulated, achieving a cumulative increase of 3,500 bbl/d. Posttreatment analysis revealed enhanced zonal contribution and deeper reservoir insights, informing future well designs and stimulation strategies.
- SEK Middle Marrat: Five wells were treated using engineered stimulation designs tailored for HPHT conditions. These interventions delivered individual well gains of up to 3,763 bbl/d, culminating in a total uplift of 13,600 bbl/d.
In total, the integrated stimulation workflow applied to 17 wells resulted in a combined production increase of 22,550 bbl/d.
This success underscores the effectiveness of the SLB engineered approach to production enhancement. The demonstrated results have led to workflow expansion across other mature assets in Kuwait. Building on this momentum, the initiative has catalyzed broader adoption of data-driven stimulation strategies across Kuwait’s upstream portfolio. Additionally, new drilling programs have been initiated, where intelligent stimulation techniques are now being deployed on newly drilled wells—unlocking previously untapped potential in complex carbonate formations and signaling a strategic shift toward optimized, technology-driven reservoir development.
Further details are available in the companion case study: Transforming Kuwait’s Mauddud Reservoir—A Collaborative Success Story.
