Acidizing Workflow for Optimized Well Performance in Zhdanov and Lam Oil Fields Offshore Caspian Sea
Authors: Kalabayev Ruslan , Sukhova Ekaterina , Rovshenov Gadam , Kontarev Roman 
Published: October 2021

Successful sandstone matrix stimulation treatments require addressing complex mineralogy, correctly identifying formation damage, selecting the best stimulation fluids, and placing these fluids correctly. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a workflow considering laboratory testing, advanced software modeling including acid and diverter fluid efficiency calibration using field experimental data, field execution, and relevant case studies in two oil fields located in the Cheleken block, offshore Caspian Sea. Implementation of the workflow has led to positive results.

Matrix acidizing was selected as the primary method for restoring production of the oil wells drilled into sandstone reservoirs due to the reservoir characteristics. Deep Zhdanov wells and shallower Lam wells possess ~15 and ~250 md permeability and ~90 and ~50°C static reservoir temperature, respectively. The target rock mineralogy in both fields predominantly consists of quartz, chlorite, and carbonate minerals. Fluids selection, stimulation design and job execution followed the above mentioned workflow. Treatment modeling considered calibration factors derived from field testing and incorporated several acid and diverter systems. A mix of bullhead and coiled tubing placed treatments were employed.

The first step of the workflow considered characterization of the rock mineralogy and selection of the best-fit treatment fluids. Rock dissolution and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests were run to develop the optimum formulations for the treatment conditions. Further, the results of the laboratory testing were incorporated into the advanced matrix acidizing simulator to model and optimize the treatment schedules. The recently developed matrix stimulation software incorporates geochemical, thermal, and placement simulations calibrated with experimental data. Offset well stimulation treatment pressure match was done by calibrating the acid and diverter fluid efficiency, and those calibrated values were considered for design simulations for the following acid treatments. In this paper, the term "acid efficiency" is defined as a measure of the relative rate at which the acid can penetrate when it flows in the rock matrix as a function of matrix porosity and the overall acid reactivity. The term "diverter efficiency" is defined as a measure of the viscosity developed by a given diverter when it flows in the rock matrix. Such a calibration method accounts for the actual reservoir large-scale acid-rock reaction kinetics. Finally, diagnostic tests and main acid treatments were executed that enabled achieving the desired levels of skin reduction, reservoir placement, zone coverage, and hydrocarbon production rates. Several acid stimulation operations were conducted including three cases in which a low-temperature well with carbonate damage needed repeated acidizing and two additional cases that involved wells with deep, hot, and clay-rich pay zones. Several fluid schedules were applied including foam diversion technique.

The above approach uses a unique method of acid efficiency calibration using field experimental data. It requires good knowledge of reservoir rock mineralogy, porosity, and permeability profiles in the zones of interest. Pretreatment skin is calibrated using production data prior to acid efficiency calibration based on matching the actual treatment pressures. The pressure behavior observed during the following treatments closely matched the design pressures confirming applicability of the approach.