Ultra-Deep LWD Electromagnetic Directional Resistivity for Waterflood Mapping – A Game Changer
Authors: Thakur Parmanand , Singh Maniesh , Al Arfi Saif , Al Gohary Mohamed , Al Baloushi Mariam , Mohamed Al Mansoori Maisoon , Al Mesafri Ahmed , Chang Ernesto , Maire Falvien , Kenawy Maher , Boyd Douglas , Gerges Nader , Fares Wael , Clegg Nigel , Aki Ahmet , Walmsley Arthur , Gillson Robert 
Published: December 2021

Abu Dhabi's thick Lower Cretaceous carbonate reservoirs experience injection water overriding oil. The water is held above the oil by negative capillary pressure until a horizontal borehole placed at the reservoir base creates a small pressure drawdown. This causes the water above to slump unpredictably towards the horizontal producer, increasing water cut and eventually killing the well under natural lift after a moderate amount of oil production. Water slumping is difficult to forecast using the reservoir model. This paper showcases the successful deployment of an ultra-deep electromagnetic directional resistivity (UDDE) instrument to map injection water movement.

The UDDE instrument selected for the 6-in. horizontal hole was a 4¾-in. OD multifrequency tool with configurable transmitter-to-receiver spacings. Pre-well modeling using hybrid deterministic 1D resistivity inversions was conducted for the candidate well to investigate the resistivity tool's ability to identify water slumping at distances 60-100 ft TVD above the planned well trajectory. The inversions aided the selection of optimum operating frequencies, transmitter-to-receiver spacings and BHA configuration. During operations, multiple 1D and 3D inversions were run in the cloud real time during drilling to provide simultaneous deep and shallow resistivity inversions for early identification of the water fronts and structural changes, and near wellbore changes to geosteer and maximize reservoir contact in the complex layered reservoir. Real-time 1D and 3D deep inversion results indicated the resistivity tool had a depth of reliable waterflood detection of more than 80 ft. While drilling, an interpreted subseismic fault was encountered which appeared to influence how water moved in the reservoir. Water slumped closest through the sub-seismic fault towards the well path. Past the fault, the waterfront receded upwards away from the well bore. The data proved useful for updating the static model, providing a snapshot of water flood areas, reservoir tops and faults with throw, helping to optimize the completion design to defer water production and enhance oil production. Furthermore, it captured resistivities of target, underlying and overlying reservoirs to integrate with other geology and geophysics data for better reservoir and fluid characterization near the drilled area.

The positive results of this case study encouraged field-wide implementation of this technology for waterflood mapping. The information provided allowed petroleum engineers to adjust the completion design to delay water breakthrough. This proactive approach to waterflood field management improves cumulative oil production and recovery factors according to mechanistic models which have been built and tested.