First Ever Well Intervention of Multispinner Production Logging Tool Conveyed via Coiled Tubing in an Innovative Pseudo-Lateral Completion in Saudi Arabia Oil Field – A Story of Success
Authors: Al-Shammari Fowzi , Al-Thiyabi Adel , Rifat Said , Rafee Majed , Ahmed Danish , Al Hamwi Kaisar , Arifin Muhamad 
Published: February 2017

Throughout the history of the oil and gas industry, numerous developments have been made, especially in the drilling sector. In Saudi Arabia, wells that historically have been drilled and completed vertically and deviated have been completely shifted to horizontal and even past that to extended reach and multilateral wells. Horizontal wells have enhanced the possibility of draining relatively thin formation layers, maximizing reservoir contact, decreased water and gas coning, increased exposure to natural fracture systems in the formation and better sweep efficiencies. On other side, drilling a horizontal well and further drilling a lateral adds the complexity with respect to lateral accessibility, especially during the workover and well intervention services.

Considering the challenges associated with drilling multilateral wells, completion and well intervention, an innovative completion was installed for the first time ever in an oil well in Saudi Arabia. The innovative completion technique introduced the idea of a pseudo-multilateral where the other laterals are not actually drilled but the completion consists of needles that extend into the formation enabling the well to have more reservoir contact.

The innovative pseudo-lateral completion was installed during a workover operation in an oil well in Saudi Arabia for the first time, whereas, the well was completed as an open hole in a tight formation with an electrical submersible pump (ESP) initially. Prior to installation of the innovative pseudo-multilateral completion, the well was facing issues to sustain production and though the well was stimulated using coiled tubing (CT), the intervention did not meet the objectives. Therefore, after the installation of an innovative pseudo-multilateral completion, followed by a stimulation intervention, the well was able to produce at a stabilized production rate.

To evaluate completion effectiveness of this pseudo-multilateral technology, the multispinner production logging via CT was conducted to determine which pseudo-laterals were contributing to the inflow. Since this is the first production log in this type of completion, the logging bottom-hole assembly and procedures were modified to overcome the challenges, such as completion internal geometry and profile. The production logging was executed successfully and the multispinner production logging analysis shows a homogenous production profile. The logging result provided the input in optimizing the pseudo-multilateral completion and increasing the confidence to pursue this technology in other applications.

This paper will present the process in designing, executing and evaluating the first production logging in the pseudo-multilateral completion. It will examine benefits and challenges of running production logging in such a completion. In addition, it will display advantages and disadvantages of installing a pseudo-multilateral completion as evident from well testing through the production logging.