Redefining Fracpack For Sand And Fines Control Completion in 30 Years Old Producing Field
Authors: Selladurai Jagaan , Roh Cheol Hwan , Zeidan Amr , Anand Saurabh , Madon Bahrom , Akbar Ali Anwar Husen , Motaei Eghbal , Murugesu Thanapala Singam , Othman M. Nizar , Ismail M. Izuddin , Zain Siti Nur , Zamani Nur Hidayah , Bela Sunanda Magna 
Published: March 2021

Malaysian clastic reservoirs are plagued with high fines content which rapidly deteriorates the productivity from wells completed with conventional form of sand control techniques. To mitigate the fines production issue, Petronas recently successfully completed 3 reservoirs in two wells in Field-D using enhanced gravel pack technique. This paper explains in detail the workflow, challenges such as depleted reservoirs, coal streaks, and nearby water contacts and operational execution for the successful re-defined extension pack jobs.

This new approach consists of a re-defined Extension Pack / Frac Pack job with fine movement control resin and a re-defined perforation strategy. Perforation strategy consists of limited number of 180 deg phasing non-oriented perforations done under dynamic underbalance conditions. The key requirement to have fracturing as a sand control method is to have a tip screen out (TSO) or high net pressure placement to ensure the fracture has good conductivity. To obtain a good TSO, data acquisition is of paramount importance. The fracturing jobs in the Field – D wells were preceded with step-rate tests, injection tests, minifrac and Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test (DFIT).

The data from diagnostic tests were used diligently to have best possible fracturing treatment in the target zones. Excellent pack factors of greater than 500 lbs. per ft were obtained for all the treatment jobs using only linear gel with proppant concentration up to 7 ppa. This high pack factor translates to very good frac conductivity which is essential in fracturing for sand control. Some of the fracturing treatments concluded with a TSO signature which is a big achievement considering the challenges that were associated with fracturing in Field – D. In addition, DFIT and ACA (After Closure Analysis) was performed to estimate permeability and results were compared with various techniques such as log derived and formation tester permeability. Ultimate objective from this analysis is to have a work-flow which can screen candidate wells for such treatments from openhole logs and give an estimated liquid rate post treatment. Also, the workflow for planning and executing fracturing jobs will be presented for Malaysian clastic reservoirs. This work-flow will be vetted against the extensive diagnostic and fracturing data that has been acquired during fracturing treatments in Field – D.

Design, actual diagnostic, and fracturing data will be presented in this paper. It is expected that this modified form of sand and fines control will help in reducing the fines issue in Field – D to a great extent along with expected incremental in oil production. If long term production sustainability is proven, similar approach will be adopted by Petronas and can be shared amongst other South East Asia operators in many similar other fields.