Bringing the Best to Downhole Fluid Sampling by Evaluating the Focused Sampling Technique with Multiple Packer Types in Exploration and Development Wells – Case Studies from South East Asia
Authors: Ali Arfan , Jofri Azimah , Zamikhan Norshah , Borah Jahnabi , Yahya Mohd Noor , Van Den Heuvel Erik , Kim Igor , Hardikar Nikhil , Coskun Sefer 
Published: November 2019

Since the advancement of Focused Sampling techniques, wireline formation fluid sampling has undergone a dramatic change. This has primarily been due to the promise of acquiring representative formation fluid samples with minimal mud filtrate contamination and large sample volumes, thereby adding value to the PVT laboratory studies as well as reducing the fluid sampling time, thus aiding significantly to the cost savings. This paper demonstrates the contribution of focused sampling technology for reservoir fluid mapping in numerous exploration and development wells in South East (SE) Asia, by optimized selection of different packer types based on varying reservoir properties.

For the exploration wells, the primary objective was to determine the non-hydrocarbon (non-HC) content (CO2 and H2S in this case) of the single-phase reservoir fluid samples, which were expected to be close to the saturation pressures. Following the 3D near-wellbore simulations, an elongated and an extra-elongated focused packer were selected due to expected low permeabilities, reservoir thickness and wellbore conditions. The wells were drilled in managed pressure drilling (MPD) conditions, with overbalance ranging from 900 to 4,300 psi. The development campaign consisted of five producers with key objectives of determining fluid type and the non-HC (CO2 in this case) content along with assessing the reservoir/block connectivity. The concentration and uncertainty in CO2 distribution would have a major impact in developing the production strategy of the area. A standard focused packer was selected for the sampling jobs which were carried out on pipe due to high overbalance conditions (~2,400 psi).

In the exploration wells, 30+ samples (gas, oil and water) were collected with the time-on-wall ranging between 1.5 and 7 hours. In the development campaign, 50+ samples (gas and oil) were collected with the time-on-wall ranging between 45 minutes and 2.5 hours. Given the depths and low permeabilities of the reservoirs with high overbalance, this resulted in significant time savings. The larger flow area of the elongated and extra-elongated focused packers ensured minimal contamination in the collected samples given the challenging sampling conditions, where restrictions to pressure drawdown existed. The PVT laboratory results showed ‘insignificant’ oil-based mud filtrate contamination in the samples. In addition, the large sample volumes provided flexibility for additional PVT studies and improved resource assessment.

The focused sampling technology was successfully applied in both exploration and development campaigns in the SE Asia region. The pre-job simulations ensured optimal packer selection between the three focused packer types. The comparison between the actual sampling results and the 3D near-wellbore simulation would help optimize future sampling operations in the area. In addition, the two campaigns have reiterated a clear value of information in saving cost, reducing contamination in the samples and technology success in the given environments.