Production Optimization By Focussing On Specific Pool Characteristics-Site Specific Solutions to Site Specific Problems
Authors: Berglund Leonard 
Published: March 2010

Introduction

Much emphasis has been placed on business optimization through the alignment of a hydrocarbon production company with a company who provides products and/or services. These types of alliances are often driven by the financial and procurement gains obtained by opening up information channels and guaranteeing work. With relatively strong prices for both oil and gas, and the resulting strong industry, many of these relationships find themselves on shaky ground with one or both of the partners dissatisfied.

An approach now being used for the optimization or maximization of hydrocarbon production from a single field or pool could be called a Proactive Pool Alliance (PPA). In this type of arrangement a service company, or companies, has experience throughout an area that can be shared with all the operators who produce in the area for highest benefit for everyone.

A three step process has been developed and refined over time to maximize a pool's production while minimizing costs. The first step is to identify the cause of decreased production. Once identified, a cost effective damage removal system is implemented to remove the damage. Then, frequently a maintenance program can reduce overall operation expenses while maximizing production. Both producing and injection wells, and their unique problems, must be considered when looking at a field or pool as a whole.

Impairment Identification

Formation damage is a major concern for all judicious producers. Organic deposits such as wax and asphaltene, inorganic deposits most often in the form of scales, and water production all combine to decrease hydrocarbon production and, therefore, decrease current profitability of many fields.

As when a patient visits a doctor, even though he/she may have an obvious limp, many probing questions must be asked to arrive at the proper diagnosis. When looking at a well a lot of facts are required to make a proper diagnosis and take the exact remediation that will best remedy that ailment. Elaboration on all possible impairments exceeds the reach of this editorial but insight can be gained by examining the methodology described.

Producing Wells

Wax and asphaltene are the most common near wellbore impairment in oil producing wells. In the past hot oiling has been utilized extensively to remove "waxy" deposits but we now know this practice is only a short term solution with undesirable side FIGURE 1 Available In Full Paper effects. Using single aromatic solvents or aliphatic solvents are also short term solutions with diminishing returns and undesirable side effects.

Properly designed solvent systems contain several aromatic solvents (which work synergistically to greatly expand their combined solvency or efficiency), aliphatic solvents, dispersants, deemulsifiers, and water wetting agents. As no two oils are identical, neither are two deposits formed from these oils identical. Over the production life of a well the properties of the oil and its resulting deposits change. Analysis must be conducted to determine the present condition or composition of either the oil or organic deposit (or both) at the present time.