bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Re-Skilling Young Sarawak's Talents into Oil and Gas Workforce, A Noble Social Engagement to the Community
Authors: Banda M. E. Yanez , Johan Z. J. , Dubois A. , Abang D. H. , Musa N.
Published: October 2023

Sarawak, a state in Malaysia has long been the key contributor to probable and proven (2P) Petroleum reserves, in which the state bearing and account to 60.8% of total National reserves. Known for its untapped reserves and with sturdy relationship with partners and investors to spur growth to national economy for decades, now it just the right time for the State to focus on its social contribution to Sarawak's young talents in the energy industry.
CO2-e Emissions Factors for Well Completion Operations in Mature Oil Fields in Colombia
Authors: Sánchez Walter , Gomez Nelson , Hernandez Claudia , Hernandez Mario , Tibavizco Laura , Quintero Eloisa , Guarín Liliana , Martinez Santiago , Gomez Juan Jose , Rangel Diego
Published: October 2023

The methods available for calculating emissions in the industrial sector are limited to industry-average, supplier-specific, hybrid or spend-based emission factors (tCO2e per material purchased or tCO2e per dollar billed, respectively). This provides a high-level view of the total emissions and average CO2-e values ​​generated per drilled and completed well. However, these data are not sufficient when it is necessary to know the emissions from a specific activity such as the completion of a well, a well service, a drilling or workover rig consumption, or when it is desired to determine the reduction of emissions from the use of a technology in a specific activity.

This article will present a methodology to calculate the CO2-e emission factors during the completion of injection and producer wells in different fields in Colombia. Includes an analysis of the existing literature regarding emission factors for completion operations, the description of the main emission sources in completion operations and the procedure used to obtain the emission factors by type of well (tCO2e/completed well), by completion activity (tCO2e/activity) or by type of equipment (tCO2e/equipment).

The calculation methodology includes the procedure for data gathering and validation, database creation, specific CO2-e factors calculations as well as the premises considered. For the studied wells, the work identified the activities with the greatest impact on operations, the type of well with the highest emissions, and offers a comparison in terms of type of intervention equipment such as Workover Rig, drilling Rig or Coiled Tubing. Finally, a list of emission factors will be presented by type of well, by type of equipment and by specific activity.
CO2 Huff and Puff Injection Operation Overview in Jatibarang Field Lessons Learned from a Successful Case Study in Mature Oil Field
Authors: Halinda D. , Zariat A. Az , Muraza O. , Marteighianti M. , Setyawan W. , Haribowo A. , Rajab M. , Firmansyah M. , Hasan I. , Nurlia D. , Adham A. , Prabowo P. , Okabe H. , Mikami K. , Kento K. , Susanta P. , Palupi A. S.
Published: October 2023

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the CO2 Huff and Puff injection operation in the mature Jatibarang field, Indonesia, and share the lessons learned from a successful case study. The scope of this paper includes the project preparation, implementation, and troubleshooting. The aim is to provide insights into the key factors that contributed to the success of the project and to identify potential challenges and their solutions. The paper will present a comprehensive review of the CO2 Huff and Puff injection process, start from the design of the injection plan and the monitoring and evaluation of the injection process. The methods, procedures, and process used in the project will be discussed, including the selection of candidate wells, the injectivity test, the CO2 injection rate, and the well performance evaluation. The paper will also highlight the challenges faced during the implementation of the project and the solutions adopted.

The results of the CO2 Huff and Puff injection operation in the Jatibarang field are promising, with an oil production rate increase of up to 86% with minimum operational difficulties. The successful implementation of CO2 Huff and Puff injection operation in Jatibarang Field was mainly attributed to the good operation procedure that prioritized safety and efficiency. With careful planning and intensive discussion conducted to identify potential risks and minimize operational difficulties, the operation was able to run smoothly, with minimal issues and zero HSE incidents. One of the key challenges that CO2 injection operations usually face is the risk of pipe blockage due to CO2 freezing. Fortunately, no such incidents occurred during the operation. Continuous monitoring of the injection process and fluid properties managed to ensure that the CO2 remained in gas phase in surface and supercritical state in the bottom hole throughout the operation. In conclusion, the success of the CO2 Huff and Puff injection operation in Jatibarang Field was due to the careful preparation and execution of a well-designed operation procedure. The operation demonstrated that with the right approach, the potential risks and challenges associated with the project can be mitigated.

This paper will present novel information on the implementation of CO2 Huff and Puff injection in a mature oil field in Indonesia. The lessons learned and the best practices identified in this project can be of benefit to the petroleum industry, particularly for those dealing with mature oil fields. The paper will also provide insights into the design of the injection plan and the monitoring and evaluation of the injection process, which can be useful for future CO2 Huff and Puff injection projects.
The Untold Success Stories of NEB Females Leading the Way
Authors: Qaydi Sabha Al , Meraikhi Amna Ali Al , Harthi Reem Al
Published: October 2023

There are countless remarkable success stories of females in the oil and gas industry who have shattered glass ceilings and made significant contributions. These females have excelled in various roles, including engineering, geology, management, and leadership positions. Their achievements showcase their expertise, dedication, and resilience in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

This paper aims to develop and enroll female youth to become an essential and integral part of the Oil & Gas operations. To achieve this, a mechanism has been established to enhance the Female leadership and decision-making skills. This involves creating a positive environment, developing a specialized tailored training program, ensuring active participation, and engagement. In addition, conducting competency assessments to identified gaps, while following up closely with their progress which will allow them to enhance their technical skills, performance and paving a robust career path for their progression.

The expected results of this implementation will allow females to successfully handle responsibilities, manage and operate field activities without any limitation. Furthermore, implementing these programs and strategies will add value to the company, such as improved implementation of safety procedures, therefore increasing our productivity. Also, this will encourage all youth to lead the responsibility of a role in the sustainability and decarbonization, energy transition & future proving.

NEB Females have been provided the required support from Dr. sultan al Jaber in year 2017, woman empowerment is very important, therefore it must be reflected in the field no matter the position. In addition, nationalization of the critical position as panel operators to be fully led by UAE national (male and female) by year 2030.
Coiled Tubing Autonomous Conveyance Improves Consistency of Offshore Intervention Operations
Authors: Segura J. , Tran V. V. , Fossati L. , Ramondenc P. , Gabdullin A.
Published: October 2023

The implementation of coiled tubing (CT) conveyance automation in the North Sea represents the first step toward autonomous CT operations. It is also the first documented case of autonomous conveyance in CT interventions in the world. This new technology delivers repeatable, consistent running speeds while monitoring the key safety parameters in real time, reacting automatically if any anomaly is detected. The system provides higher efficiency by achieving faster safe running speeds and is a building block towards reducing the size of the offshore crew by enabling remote operations.

The present technology leverages an advanced edge system placed in the CT unit to achieve true autonomous conveyance. Based on the job plan and equipment information, the system generates and executes the correct steps to achieve the operational goals, controlling the equipment to run at the maximum safe speed and performing tasks like pull tests or slowing down at the restrictions. An advanced real-time mechanical model calculates the safe weight operating limits and automatically slows down or stops if any anomaly is detected.

Operations using CT conveyance automation were started offshore in February 2022, and the system was tested in ten runs. It consistently achieved the required running speeds in those run-in-hole (RIH) and pull-out-of-hole (POOH) activities where it was enabled, and it kept them more constant and controlled than during manual conveyance. In one of the field test jobs, the system conveyed the CT at 25 m/min, a 25% increase compared to the maximum speed traditionally used in manual operations. During automation operations, 85% of the running meters were executed autonomously; remaining manual activities were identified and mainly corresponded to pull tests. Automation of such activities are the next target of the automation scope. The usability of the system was also demonstrated, with any user being able to operate it after a short 1-hour competency training. The users remained present and in control during the entire execution and had the ability to recover manual control at any time. The system can also fully operate without connectivity. However, when network connection is available, it also provides high-quality real-time health and diagnostics data (depth, speed, weights, and automation safety limits) for remote monitoring of operational performance.

This first worldwide implementation of CT autonomous conveyance contributes to increased operational consistency and efficiency of well interventions. The software architecture has a layer of abstraction from the specific CT hardware, simplifying the portability of the technology to other units, offshore or onshore. The results of the system implementation in offshore Norway are a reference for the rest of the industry, paving the way to autonomous CT operations and the potential benefits that they can provide.
On Raster Image Segmentation, Well Log Instance Detection, and Depth Information Extraction from Rasters Using Deep Learning Models
Authors: Gune O. A. , Lokhande A. R. , Mangsuli P. R.
Published: October 2023

Raster images contain regions such as plot segments, log headers, depth track etc. which provide valuable information about well logs. The automatic extraction of these regions from raster documents is necessary for well log digitization which can further open-up numerous possibilities of processing the well log data such as well log prediction and correlation. As the first step towards raster digitization, in this work, we address the raster segmentation task to automatically extract important raster regions such as plot segment, depth track, and log headers. Next, we propose to identify the number of well logs recorded in the raster. Further, we aim to extract depth information using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in the extracted depth track region given by the raster segmentation. Specifically, we propose a novel two stage Deep Learning (DL)-based approach using conditional Generative Adversarial Network (c-GAN) for raster image segmentation where for each raster image we detect plot segments, log headers, and depth track regions. The raster image segmentation is carried out using a DL-based image-to-image translation strategy. In the image-to-image translation, input raster image is processed to get an output segmentation mask. In the next step of raster digitization, we identify different well logs by processing the log header region extracted in the raster segmentation step. We propose a faster RCNN-based model to delineate each log header instance from the log header section of a raster image. In the third step, for depth values extraction, we use the depth track region extracted by the above raster segmentation model. We use OCR to extract the depth values in the depth track image. Output from the OCR can be noisy due to inferior quality raster images. The OCR output is denoised to obtain accurate depth values at each point in the depth track region. We evaluate the proposed raster segmentation and well log instance detection model on a test dataset of variety of raster images with varying quality. We achieve an excellent mean intersection over union (mIoU) of 85.6% in the case of raster segmentation. The above results are due to the novel approach of raster segmentation using c-GAN, and data augmentation strategy used to create large data using limited training data of raster images. Similarly, we achieve mIoU of 91.82% in the log header instance detection task. Furthermore, denoising module for depth values extraction delivers robust performance in automatic extraction of depth values. We measure the performance of the depth track extraction module in terms of ability to correctly identify the extreme values (start and end) in the depth track. Our method attains an outstanding 90.5% accuracy addressing OCR failure modes (due to noisy raster images).
Aquifer Water Preservation in Water Injection Systems
Authors: Alblooshi N. , Al Memari M. , Alshamsi A. A. , Al Breik M. , Solaippan M. , Modi J. M. , Pillai G. R.
Published: October 2023

ADNOC Onshore has been striving to achieve the objective of developing the latest methods and sustainable approaches to enhance day to day operations that would advance the industry to environmental sustainability globally. With this prime objective, NEB Field being one of the most biodiverse locations in the UAE and has always strived for better and smarter solutions to protect the sensitive flora and fauna systems. NEB has been the pioneer across the onshore fields, to first implement an in-house project that served as the window towards changing the philosophy of operations. NEB field development team has observed a rise in its waterflood and during its phase of development, the produced water cut will continue to rise as a result of maturing wells, necessitating management of the inevitable increasing produced water. The scope of the project is to reduce our reliance on aquifer zones that is used for water injection, by alternatively reinjecting the separated produced water instead. This innovative approach preserves the natural water table and reduces our power consumption, which ultimately supports the reduction in green house gas emissions. Power consumption is optimized by reducing our dependance and requirements on electrical submersible pumps in water supply wells.
A Comparison Between ANNs and Ant Tracking Outputs for Fault and Fracture Detection
Authors: Mohammadi R. , Mohebian R.
Published: October 2023

Knowing the fractures and faults in a field or reservoir leads to more precise exploration and makes development strategies less uncertain. To better identify these events, in this study, the outputs of multilayer perceptrons (MLP), and unsupervised vector quantizers (UVQ), were compared with the outputs of ant-tracking. Although the specific seismic attributes and ant-tracking allow for the depiction of faults and fractures, the combination of the shortlisted attributes in the ANNs, especially MLP, reveals small-scaled and, in some areas, vertical faults and fractures more continuously and precisely than previous studies that used only conventional ant-tracking. The chaos has some deficiencies in identifying the faulted and fractured zones. Ant-tracking has a much lower performance than the MLP output. The output of ant-tracking attributes shows fault detection with less accuracy than the MLP output or even that of UVQ. To be clearly described, for the given seismic survey data, finding small-scale and in some areas vertical fractures using the integration of seismic attributes were more reliable than the output of the ant-tracking.
Improved Drilling Performance Using an Innovative Cloud-Based Ecosystem and Bespoke Operator Technology
Authors: Barry Jonathan , Lee Melissa , Bostick Tad , Cheatham Curtis , Maqui Agustin , Schneider Chris
Published: October 2023

This paper describes how an operator implements continuous improvement methodologies using real-time drilling data analytics in a novel cloud-based ecosystem. Standardized key performance indicators (KPIs) are benchmarked and tracked in real time for the entire drilling team to monitor and take corrective, collaborative action. In addition, the operator has implemented its own proprietary technology in the form of custom-built applications.

The methods in this paper are used in basins and environments globally. The underlying principle is simple: capture and visualize real-time data, measure and track rig fleet KPIs benchmarked against safe, iterative goals, and evaluate trends over time.

In practice, this often requires significant human resources. Advanced analytics tools now automate most of this process. Leveraging a wide range of purpose-built and custom applications to analyze real-time information and generate metrics, decision-makers can witness the effect of process change rapidly. Leadership focus on the specific KPIs emphasizes to the workforce the importance of using the noted tools to drive performance.
Selective and Reversible Water Shut-Off Technology Based on Emulsion System with Nanoparticles for Low to High Permeabilities Carbonate Reservoirs at HTHS Condition
Authors: Yonebayashi H. , Abe M. , Sergeev V. , Furuno J. , Murakami S. , Sonoda T. , Hiraiwa T. , Suzuki M. , Arief R. , Zahaf K. , Al Ameri M.
Published: October 2023

This paper presents the evaluation results of Emulsion System with Nanoparticles (ESN) as a water shut-off (WSO) agent. The ESN has unique advantages to overcome crucial hurdles in the existing polymer and gel materials; thermal stability in higher temperature, low sensitivity to mineralization, pseudoplastic characteristic, selectivity of blocking effects for water zone only, and reversibility of blocking effect. The surface modified silica (SiO2) nanoparticles work to reinforce the emulsion stability. The ESN make-up is convenient and quicker by utilizing the on-site oilfield materials such as crude oil and injection water. From the aspect of compatibility to reservoir, the majority of on-site material, mixed with small amount of nanoparticles-based surfactant, never causes any problem. To evaluate the ESN performance for UAE's carbonate reservoirs in high temperature and high salinity (HTHS: 130 °C and 240,000 ppm TDS) condition, physicochemical analysis and core flood tests were performed. The ESN, which was confirmed stable at the HTHS condition, achieved 1-2 orders permeability reductions for intermediate and high Swi cases of the core flood tests using intermediate-high permeability carbonate cores (50-570 mD) while no impact on the low Swi case. The relative permeability analysis confirmed the ESN reversibility by unblocking. Through comparative analysis by incorporating the previous laboratory works using tight cores (10 mD), all the test results proved the technological potentials of ESN successful application in the UAE's oil fields.
Comprehensive Steam System Optimization: A Key Element for Carbon Emissions Reduction and Energy Efficiency
Authors: Hou A. , Gomaa A. , Mita T.
Published: October 2023

This paper introduces a Steam System Optimization Program (SSOP) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving energy efficiency in the refining and petrochemical industry. The refining industry is a significant contributor to global GHG emissions, and optimizing steam systems within refineries can play a crucial role in achieving emission reduction targets. The SSOP is designed as a continuous, annual cycle, ensuring sustained improvements in the steam system's reliability, energy efficiency, and environmental performance.

The program was successfully applied to over 220 Japanese plants across different industries, including approximately 48 refineries and petrochemical plants. Through the program's implementation over a period of 16 years starting from 2006 till now, a significant reduction of 562,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year was achieved by decreasing steam generation by 3.85 million tons annually. This resulted in substantial monetary savings of $77 million USD each year.
A 4D Geomechanics Modelling Approach Using Machine Learning for Drilling Events Predictions in the Giant North Kuwait Jurassic Field
Authors: Haas M. , Al-Hamad N. , Heiland J. , Hussein A. M. , Shekhar S. , Srivastava D. N. , Ramon J. , Abdel-Basset M. , Al-Anzi Abdullah , Al-Obaidi Ibrahim
Published: October 2023

Drilling new wells in the deep Jurassic formations of the North Kuwait fields has gained increased importance given its high gas production potential, which represents a strategic target for Kuwait's domestic gas independency. However, reaching these formations bears severe drilling risks and challenges caused by differentially depleted reservoir sections that lead to arbitrary stress distributions and high pore pressure zones. This study presents an integrated 4D geomechanical model that includes a machine learning model for the development of a drilling expert system. This allows to predict drilling events along any arbitrary well trajectory in the 3D field model by analysing the stress field based on the construction of a mechanical earth model. The model further assesses completion quality to hydraulically fracture the rock mass. The simulation covers a 34 million grid cell model and is based on high-resolution geological information, seismic inversion data, rock core laboratory data featuring uniaxial, triaxial, multiaxial geomechanical tests, scratch, creep behaviour and thick-wall cylinder tests as well as petrophysical logs from 54 deep Jurassic wells. Seismic acoustic impedance data served as a proxy for co-kriging the spatial distribution of geomechanical properties. In addition, fault and fracture models were incorporated at reservoir levels.

The drilling expert system allows for an easily applicable and efficient extraction of the required drilling parameters and rock properties along any arbitrary well trajectory to conclude on the probability of drilling events occurring. The derived wellbore stability analyses reduce the costly and time-consuming risks of wellbore collapses when passing through high pressure formations. The simulated 4D stress field yields a strike-slip stress regime with a minimum horizontal stress direction of 135°. Identified zones in the reservoir sections show high hydraulic fracture potential given by the under- and overlying stress barriers in the anhydrite formations for stress containment. The evaluation of critically stressed, natural fractures as well as faults lead to the conclusion of potential reactivation due to high pressure injections in the Najmah reservoir for hydraulic fracturing. The study successfully showcased the integration of domain geomechanics expertise and data science, to derive a 4D geomechanical earth model as input for training machine learning models to evaluate drilling integrity and hydraulic fracturing potential.
The Vital Role of Advanced Cutting Analysis in Unconventional Reservoir Characterization
Authors: Fahmy Mahmoud Fawzy , Nguyen Kim Long , Dasma Mohammed , Al-Mutairi Nami , Al-Morakhi Rasha , Alkandari Abrar Yousef , Quttainah Riyad , Ousididene Karim , Moustafa Ahmed , EL Masry Mohab , Magnier Caroline , Sharma Sachin
Published: October 2023

Advanced Cutting Analysis technique has been widely used in the industry to assist drilling operations as well as providing support in formation evaluation. Recently, alongside with the speedy development of Najmah Kerogen unconventional reservoir in Kuwait, the technique has demonstrated its vital role resulting in significant cost saving, and reliable measurements that could be used to replace other expensive evaluations from cores or open-hole logs.

The Advanced Cutting Analysis was applied in Well-H drilled recently in Kra Al-Maru field, West Kuwait (Fig. 1) that comprised of different technologies: X-ray diffractometry (XRD) for mineralogy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for rock chemical composition, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis, and Pyrolysis for source rock characterization. The XRD-XRF technology was popular in the industry, and it could be acquired from core or open-hole log data. In this study, XRD-XRF was conducted on cutting samples. In order to prove the efficiency of this technology applied on cuttings and its potential use as alternative method to support unconventional reservoir characterization in the future, the result was validated with elemental spectroscopy wireline logs.

This paper presents the workflow used for analyzing and integrating multidisciplinary datasets in order to develop an alternative method for unconventional reservoir characterization that included the use of surface advanced cutting and fluid analysis. The aim is to:

Reduce the uncertainty of production sustainability and proper well planning of the tight fractured carbonate unconventional reservoir. Build up alternative reservoir assessment model using advanced cuttings analysis in HPHT wells, slim hole, limited logging, etc. Evaluate mineralogical composition of the rock including the formation brittleness index, which helps on the post drilling fracturing strategy. Elemental Gamma Ray as cost effective for geo-monitoring and well placement assistance as well as eliminate the risk associated to down hole effects such as: hole geometry, vibration, high mud weight used while drilling, rock mechanical stress, high temperature and pressure can lead to lost signal.
Path to a Green and Circular Decommissioning
Authors: Friederichs C. H.
Published: October 2023

Various Oil & Gas companies, in the current context of Energy Transition, have the ambition to develop a circular economy approach framework which ranks the options for dealing with waste, beginning from the reduction of its generation, listing the possible actions in order of precedence for its management making possible also a better use of resources and finally maximizing the reuse and/or recycling of materials and components. Eni has developed within its organization a new culture of Circular Decommissioning with the main goal to set up a structured process to improve the environmental performance by implementing the Circular Economy principles during the engineering and execution of Decommissioning projects. The new initiative is aimed at encouraging all discipline functions towards a circular economy "culture" of reutilization also maximizing the Assets residual life. For this reason, during the preliminary stages of the Asset life cycle, specific feasibility studies are usually carried out to select the most preferred decommissioning solution from the environmental point of view and providing an early evaluation of potential benefits from the recycling of the residual materials. A circular economy can be simply considered as an upside of the linear economy where resources are taken from the natural environment, producing materials, components and equipment generally used for a short period of time, and then at their final stage of the life cycle are disposed of in different ways with a negative environmental impact. Circular economy can be explained in hundreds of different ways but surely it has a primary objective based on the maximization of the waste prevention optimizing the environmental, technical, and social benefits. Various Operators have the ambition to make possible the adoption of Circular Economy principles in their processes with the main goal to get a better use of resources, limiting the carbon emissions and promoting the use of renewable materials and energy. In the last two years, Eni has developed a new standard of circular decommissioning approach mainly aimed at adopting a new circular culture with the improvement of the environmental performance in other words reducing the amount of the waste materials through the reuse and/or the recycling of components. This approach, better described in next paragraphs as "3R" - Reuse, Recycle and Reduce approach will have a considerable importance over the next years with an increasing portfolio of high complexity decommissioning projects. It is supported by a new company culture based on the shift of decommissioning perception "from a liability to a regeneration opportunity" leveraging two fundamental pillars: the circular economy approach and the assets value maximization.
A Three-Phase Integrated Asphaltene Deposition Model in Oil Wells
Authors: Al-Safran E. M. , Aql A. A. , Ghasemi M. , Alrashedi H. G. , Qubian A.
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates asphaltene deposition in an oil well produces from a deep Jurassic reservoir located in Kuwait by developing a three-phase asphaltene deposition integrated model. The objective of this study is to develop and validate an integrated well model that incorporates asphaltene thermodynamic, aggregation, deposition, and transportation models coupled with a three-phase thermal-hydrodynamic mechanistic model. The proposed model is numerically solved to predict temporal and spatial asphaltene deposition and concurrently tracks oil composition changes due to asphaltene deposition. The elemental models of the integrated model are tuned against field data, and the deposition result is validated with a caliper log data. The field validation study revealed a very good match between the measured deposition behavior and model predictions. In addition, sensitivity analysis showed that although asphaltene precipitation increases as water cut increases due to higher pressure drop, asphaltene deposition decreases due to increasing shear stress and decreasing asphaltene sticking tendency on the pipe wall. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis revealed that as GOR increases, asphaltene precipitation increases; however, asphaltene deposition decreases. The proposed model shows significant sensitivity to asphaltene particle diameter, revealing that as particle diameter increases, deposition thickness decreases.
Unlocking Oil Production Through Debottlenecking Water Facilities by Implementation of a Novel PWRI Solution
Authors: Grutters Mark , Tiar Saloua , Mathur Avnish Kumar , AlDhanhani Jawaher Mohamed , Alblooshi Noora Aadel Mohammed , Liu Weiliang , Li Zhengzhong , Zhai Feng
Published: October 2023

An onshore oilfield producing more than 200 MBD from carbonate reservoirs has been facing production constraints, due to increasing water cut and produced water (PW) disposal limitations caused by surface flow line integrity issues. Traditionally, PW is disposed in water aquifers without treatment other than water settling tanks. Aquifer water is used for reservoir pressure maintenance. To reduce the water disposal volumes and hence debottleneck oil production, and to limit the intake of water from environmentally sensitive aquifers it was evaluated if PW could replace aquifer water for injection. A comprehensive laboratory study, with water analysis and core flooding demonstrated that PW alone, without treatment, is likely to cause significant formation damage. However, additional modeling indicated that PW reinjection (PWRI) was feasible if mixed with aquifer water without the need for further treatment. It was estimated that 35% PW could be mixed with 65% aquifer water for matrix injection in tight reservoirs (<10 md). The risk for inorganic scale formation due to water incompatibility and the risk for corrosion or pitting was assessed to be low. After a facility engineering study it was decided to expedite routing of PW to the injection water manifold via a temporary flexible line. A surveillance program was put in place to monitor the water quality and injection well performance. PW reinjection has been implemented without any recorded instances of increased injection pressure since the start. This ‘reversed engineering’ approach, in which critical oil-in-water (OIW) and total suspended solids (TSS) specifications were first established for different reservoirs, followed by modelling of mixing scenarios that meet these specifications, resulted in a successful PW/aquifer mixing pilot project. The increased produced water handling capacity has unlocked 3,000 t0 5,000 BOPD, resulted in further cost reductions by eliminating drilling of disposal wells and contributed to the overall goals of eliminating water intake from vulnerable aquifers.
Incorporating Human Aspect into Service Contract Procurement
Authors: Almaghaslah A. M.
Published: October 2023

Organizations always strive to develop robust contracts to support supply chains. Depending on the size of the organizations, tens to thousands of contracts are procured to secure goods and services, including manpower. However, many disputes and penalties occur after contract awarding due to manpower qualifications not being satisfied as per contract terms and conditions (Brian, 2018). As the demand to outsource services increases, optimal safety operations require more qualified manpower. This paper introduces a new contract measure to evaluate individual safety intelligence, which represents the ability to recognize self and others safety profiles and use information and knowledge to guide thinking and behavior towards safe operations and safe working environment. Safety is always one of corporate values and is recognized as one the pillars to operational excellence models. Individuals’ safety intelligence factors can be used in contracts to assess candidates and current employees’ capabilities and interest in safety. This can help organizations which plan to outsource, to select the right staff based on their safety intelligence.

Various literature reviews demonstrate the importance of human aspect to safety, but only a few shows a practical approach to measure its quality and fitness from contract administration perspective. Safety intelligence, as introduced here, can be used to guide organizations to assign qualified staff at the very early stage in a business relationship. This can optimize operations while protecting lives and assets.

Contract procurement is one of the major activities that company has to perform in order to get necessary services to operations (Andrea, 2023). This paper focuses on contact procurement that includes manpower. Each organization has its own way to do the procurement but they all agree on some basic steps. Service contract procurement usually consists of 4 major steps shown in Fig. 1, namely develop service procurement plan, service procurement, contract administration, and adjust service procurement plan (Andrea, 2023).
Completion Design and Equipment Selection to Facilitate Operations in a New Deepwater Region
Authors: Giuliani C. , Tahirov T. , Hou W. , Xiao Y. , Eissa M. , Varghese M. , McKenzie K. , Roy A. , Leng M.
Published: October 2023

Mauritania and Senegal are emerging oil and gas producers with new oilfield infrastructure being developed. However, exciting new Deepwater Opportunities are starting to be developed with a 4 well subsea production well program recently being completed in the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) field. The operator, having extensive deepwater experience globally, and regionally, completed a thorough set of extensive completion design studies with a view to installing fit for purpose completions to match the reservoir and environmental conditions which included: Deepwater Wells (2,700m)Limited Oilfield Infrastructure and logisticsGas reservoir with risk of perched water / aquifer presenceHigh-rate gas wells > 220 mmscf/day per wellMulti-layer reservoirsPotentially weak rock / borderline sand control requirementHydrate risks

This paper will examine the approach to completion design to deliver effective completions with life of well integrity/performance while simultaneously addressing the challenges of opening up a new oilfield region.

The completion selection process will be discussed in detail including the methodology whereby technical requirements for robust solutions in critical areas such as sand production risks and reservoir performance are weighed against more nebulous selection criteria such as in-region supplier capability (limited in a new region), desire for operational simplicity.

Fit for purpose completion designs have been installed in the first phase of 4 wells and the paper will detail the lessons learned and insight around the effectiveness of the decisions made including: Sand control effectiveness of the Cased and Perforated CompletionPerformance of wireline deployed perforating with dynamic underbalance incorporatedImpact of limited inventory in a new oilfield environment with minimal infrastructureImpact of well clean-up in multi-layer wells from reduced production rates due to surface equipment limitationsEffective data acquisition in multi-layer reservoirs including PLTs, DFOS and PBUHydrate management in a relatively low temperature gas reservoir in deepwater

With the experience gained by Operator, the Partners and Service Companies completion design is already underway for the next phase of wells in 2025 with the desire to implement more complex Downhole Flow Control completions in highly deviated wells to address the subsequent challenge of multi-layer reservoirs with more aerial distribution. The design approach to meet this challenge will also be introduced in this paper.
Overcoming Accessibility Challenges in Open Hole Laterals Longer than 10,000 Feet
Authors: Galvan I. I. , Mallanao G. L. , McClelland G. , Shaheen T.
Published: October 2023

Maximizing well productivity in extended reach wells with open hole completions in Saudi Arabia has been hampered by the difficulty encountered by coiled tubing (CT) to fully access open hole laterals with sections surpassing 6-in bore diameter and 10,000-ft in length. This paper discusses the innovative technologies, engineering string designs, and procedures that have been developed to increase the capabilities, dependability, and predictability of CT interventions in such wells. An exhaustive CT tubing force modeling analysis compared the performance of designs in 2.375-in and 2.875-in diameters and identified key operating parameters for future models and reach contribution from tractors and vibratory downhole tools.

Records were reviewed and compiled for the most recent wells designs with varying bore sizes, target depths, open hole sections, and operating parameters. These open hole horizontal wells generated high frictional drag forces due to large completion diameters and tortuous wellbore trajectory. The presence of СО2 and H2S limited usable CT to sour service grades. Comprehensive tubing force and hydraulic pre-job analyses were used as basis of iteration for the versatile 2.375-in, and 2.875-in CT designs with up to 32,000-ft length and +90 MT in weight, combining engineered designs with novel CT heat treatment technologies. These CT designs were developed for a wide range of well configurations, conditions, and intervention treatments. The string designs feature wall thickness configurations selected to maximize reach and life in sour environments.

The engineered CT strings were able to reach target depth (TD), comparable to the predicted results of the pre-job analyses. The engineered CT strings provided complete stimulation treatment over entire target zones, while minimizing risk and maximizing production economics for the operator.

Extensive pre and post job analyses demonstrate the new designs’ capability of reaching all target depths, with allowances made for reach-assisting technologies in long, tortuous wells. The agitators, high expansion tractors, lubricants, high-pressure jetting tools, and the combined or isolated use-case of each to reach TD, are discussed in this document, as they were critical to maximizing the overall success of the intervention.

This paper outlines the strategies used to reach deep well TDs through CT string design for various open hole completions longer than 10,000-ft. Operational and logistical procedures were changed for these unprecedented CT strings —including mobilizing the largest commercially available CT units and injector equipment in terms of capacity and power. The most recent CT manufacturing technologies that have helped cement and broaden the limits of extended reach stimulation interventions in open hole wells will be documented.
New Possibilities with the Novel Modelling Approaches developed for WAG and FAWAG
Authors: Skauge A. , Chang P. L. K. C. , Sorbie K. S.
Published: October 2023

There has been substantial development of modelling tools for viscous instabilities and multi-phase flow in recent years. This has enabled better opportunities of modelling near-miscible WAG (Water-Alternating-Gas), respecting gas fingers and simultaneously representing more correct phase mobilities. The objectives of this paper are to demonstrate advanced near miscible WAG modelling including WAG three-phase hysteresis, and present cases of Foam Assisted WAG (FAWAG) revisited with several novel modelling approaches.

The numerical modelling has been performed using commercial reservoir simulators, STARS and GEM from CMG. The methodology of describing viscous fingering, analogue to Sorbie et al. (2020), is a 4-stage approach: (1) selection of fractional flow to maximize total mobility; (2) derivation of the relative permeability; (3) establishing an appropriate random correlated permeability field; and (4) simulating the process with a sufficiently fine grid. Simulations have been performed in 3D models using fine grid and random Gaussian permeability field. Three-phase fluid flow modeling used the GEM implemented version of Larsen and Skauge WAG hysteresis model, and the CMG foam model.

We have used two differentrock permeability models, a standard vertical layered model, and a model with heterogeneous permeability within each layer. The fluid flow functions were either a conventional or a WAG hysteresis model respecting three-phase mobilities and phase trapping. The impact on gas finger development was analyzed and was based on simulation production data, but also on the in-situ fluid distribution. WAG hysteresis dampened to some degree the gas fingers but was able to show oil bank formation and enabled interpretation of in-situ fluid diversion.

We have expanded the numerical modeling to include foam and specifically the foam assisted WAG (FAWAG) process. This is a revisit of an earlier study (Skauge et al. 2002 on Foam Assisted WAG, a Summary of Field Experience at the Snorre Field), but now updated with the novel modelling approaches.

Many factors influence foam strength, with mobility reduction factor (MRF) as the key factor. We used the GEM version of foam description, with MRF as the main factor defining the foam properties. In this approach we were able to describe the reduction in GOR, but also the oil banking and consequently the extra oil production due to FAWAG injection.

Simulation studies show that it is possible to include complex modelling in a commercial simulator. The advanced models enable a more correct history match of production and a more systematic analysis of local diversion of fluid flow due to WAG and FAWAG that would not be possible using a conventional approach. With the new approach, improved decisions for field development can be made.
Project Execution Philosophy - Design Build Own Operate & Maintain (BBOOM) Contracting Strategy
Authors: Al Busaidi J. H. , Al Naamani J. , Mohammadi A.
Published: October 2023

Projects executed typically by Engineering Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracting strategies conducted with distributed risks, and responsibilities between the Company, and Contractors with a higher level of risk undertaken by the Company. When factoring in the additional risks associated with the Commissioning, and Operation of facilities, it is imperative for Oil, and Gas operating Companies, such as OQ Exploration & Production (OQEP), to consider project execution strategies that reduce risk to the Company while ensuring winning partnership with Contractor for successful project execution, an example of which is deploying a Design, Build, Own, Operate & Maintain (DBOOM) contracting strategy.

With the increasing complexity of Oil processing facility designs, the process of construction, and maintenance demands advanced strategies, and systems for OQ Exploration & Production LLC. It has experience implementing the Design Build Own Operate Maintain (DBOOM) for Oil processing facilities & Utility projects.

The Oil was discovered in the Bisat reservoir approximately five hundred km south of Muscat at OQEP Block 60 concession area. The reservoir is in a ‘Sabkha’ area with a high ground water table which makes drilling, and erecting foundations a challenge. As per the OQEP Business plan, the Bisat Field Development Plan ("FDP") entails having more than 270 Oil production wells along with 34 Water disposal wells.

The Bisat field urban plan was developed to execute the oil production project within 5 years including all operating & utility facilities. The TIME is the main contracting strategy driver of the Bisat project, which shall make sure early oil production, and cash realization for the shareholders.

we can find that TIME is an essential criterion for such a project, which is supported by the projects’ Net Present Value (NPV) targets. The early project completion, the early oil production, and subsequently the early revenue to the Company.

Implementing a new project execution & management, and business model was the diversion for OQEP to deliver the oil production target date. In and after a detailed market intelligence, and research, both Projects & Contract teams recommended implementing the DBOOM contracting strategy for executing the main project phases including processing plants, and utility facilities by having a close, and long relationship with key Contractors, and driving the project success.
Design and Evaluation of Carbon Capture Systems for Enhanced Efficiency in Fossil Fuel Power Plants
Authors: Irfan M.B. , Ahmed M. , Ahmed U. , Siddiqui M.T.
Published: October 2023

This research paper focuses on designing and optimizing carbon capture systems for fossil fuel power plants, with the ultimate goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The study comprehensively analyses carbon capture techniques, including pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion methods.

Based upon an extensive literature review, a carbon capture system is designed and optimized for a typical fossil fuel power plant using Aspen Plus simulation software. The optimization process involves selecting appropriate equipment and operating conditions, as well as analyzing the impact various parameters can have on the system's operation.

The results of this research indicate that the optimized carbon capture system has the potential to capture up to 80-90% of CO2 emissions from a typical fossil fuel power plant. The system employs a post-combustion capture technology utilizing a solvent-based absorption process.

Furthermore, the optimized system also demonstrates a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The economic analysis reveals that the system can be economically viable with the implementation of carbon pricing policies, which encourages the reduction of carbon emissions.

In conclusion, this research contributes to the field of carbon capture by designing and optimizing a carbon capture system for fossil fuel power plants. The findings highlight the system's ability to capture a substantial amount of CO2 emissions, achieve a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate economic feasibility with the right policy support.