bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Fracture Relative Permeabilities on Performance of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs
Authors: Rossen W. R. , Kumar A. T. A. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Research into the nature of fracture relative permeabilities and their effect on the performance of naturally fractured reservoirs is described. Flow of wetting phase along the fracture walls provides a means of simultaneous two-phase flow in a single fracture, under conditions where such flow is otherwise prohibited. However, fracture conductivity remains low for simultaneous flow of two phases. Asperities, locations where the fracture walls close, reduce relative permeabilities; the manner of this reduction depends on how aperture is distributed spatially along the fracture.
The effect of fracture relative permeabilities on reservoir performance is illustrated using the waterflood case of the Sixth SPE Comparative Simulation Project (SPE 6) as a basis of comparison. Reduced fracture relative permeabilities impair reservoir performance if they control the attainable flow rate at production wells; such is the case upon a roughly fivefold reduction in relative permeabilities in the SPE 6 project. Reduced fracture relative permeabilities can actually improve reservoir performance in some cases, however, by improving reservoir sweep. The sweep improvement results from an increase in lateral pressure gradient relative to gravity forces driving gravity segregation on a reservoir scale. In both cases, the effect of reduced fracture relative permeabilities is similar to a comparable reduction in absolute permeability of the fracture porespace.
Innovative Additives Can Increase the Drilling Rates of Water-Based Muds
Authors: Growcock F. B. , Sinor L. A. , Reece A. R. , Powers J. R. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Several types of organic compounds were tested as rate of penetration (ROP) enhancers for a simple gel/water mud. Experiments conducted in a full-size drilling apparatus with both rollercone and PDC bits at wellbore pressures of 1100 and 2000 psi indicate that a paraffin/ester mixture, several terpenes and a mixture of insoluble poly(proppylene glycols), or PPG's, can all increase the ROP by 5 to 20% when added at levels of 2–4% by volume. Complementary lubricity and shale recovery studies suggest that the paraffin and terpenes function by making the steel surfaces less water-wetting, thereby reducing the tendency of partially hydrated sticky shales to adhere. The PPG mixture, on the other hand, may function primarily by interacting directly with the shales to reduce their tendency to form a sticky mass. In either case, the additives increased ROP to levels comparable to the ROP observed with pure water.
Hydraulic Fracturing in a Naturally Fractured Reservoir
Authors: Britt L. K. , Hager C. J. , Thompson J. W. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing of wells in naturally fractured reservoirs can differ dramatically from fracturing wells in conventional isotropic reservoirs. Fluid leakoff is the primary difference. In conventional reservoirs, fluid leakoff is controlled by reservoir matrix and fracture fluid parameters. The fluid leakoff rate in naturally fractured reservoirs is typically excessive and completely dominated by the natural fractures.
Historically, attempts to fracture-stimulate wells in naturally fractured reservoirs have been unsuccessful due to high leakoff rates and gel damage. The typical approach is to attempt to control the leakoff with larger pad volumes and solid fluid loss additives. This approach is not universally effective and can do more harm than good.
This paper presents several field examples of a fracture stimulation program performed on the naturally fractured Devonian carbonate of West Texas. Qualitative pressure decline analysis and net treating pressure interpretation techniques were utilized to evaluate the existence of natural fractures in the Devonian Formation. Quantitative techniques were utilized to assess the importance of the natural fractures to the fracturing process. This paper demonstrates that bottomhole pressure monitoring of fracture stimulations has benefits over conducting minifrac treatments in naturally fractured reservoirs. Finally, the results of this evaluation were used to redesign fracture treatments to ensure maximum productivity and minimize costs.
Environmental Impact of Offshore Operation Reduced Using Innovative Engineering Solutions
Authors: Ritchie C. J. , Wensel E. A. , Edelblum L. S. , Beal Dan 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The North Dauphin Island Tract 73 platform is located in eleven feet (3.4 m) of water and one mile (1.6 km) from shore in Mobile Bay, Alabama. The platform is designed to dehydrate and compress up to 70 MMSCFD (1.98 × 106 SM3) from five remote gas production wells. Located near the city of Mobile, Alabama, the surrounding metropolitan and coastal area has multiple uses including manufacturing, tourism, commercial and sport fishing, and wetlands and wildlife conservation. The multiple and interdependent economic uses of the area required that the platform be designed to minimize any adverse environmental impact. A cost-effective environmental engineering solution was desired at the design phase of the project. A water catchment, containment and disposal system was designed to meet the zero discharge requirement. Pollution from air emissions was reduced by the installation of lean burning engines. A floatover installation process was used to prevent dredging of the bay, thus protecting the bay water quality. An aesthetically concealing paint and lighting scheme was chosen and applied to the entire structure. These cost-effective engineering solutions during the design phase of the project saved time and money over the life of the project. Costly changes or modifications to the design during the construction, startup and operations phases of the project were unnecessary. All regulatory permits were obtained in a timely manner, with little or no opposition. The operator of the North Dauphin Island Development won several environmental awards due to the implementation of innovative solutions and their commitment to conservation of the natural environment.
Exploration and Production Operations in an Environmentally Sensitive Area
Authors: Barker G. W. , Steele E. J. , Robalino José , Baldwin S. J. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The Ecuadorian portion of the Amazon Basin, known locally as the Oriente, is the major oil producing region in Ecuador. The tropical rain forests of the Oriente contain some of the Earth's most biologically diverse and ecologically sensitive areas. In addition, the rain forest is home to several groups of indigenous peoples. When formulating an exploration plan and prior to beginning E&P activities in the Oriente, operators must understand the environmental and sociocultural issues in the region. These concerns are considered throughout the planning process, from project conception to project closure. An environmental management plan is adopted which addresses environmental and sociocultural concerns, minimizes environmental impact, prevents delays, and limits environmental liability.
Variance in Environmental Legislation. Cause and Effect on Drilling Fluid Research and Use
Authors: Jachnik R. P. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Drilling Fluids are presently undergoing a period of pronounced change. A significant proportion of new developments are due to legislation adopted within the last ten to fifteen years by the Paris Commission (Parcom) – involving the North Sea countries, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The environmental rules and laws passed by countries that are members of these respective organisations specify what is acceptable or not in environmental terms. Data will be presented to show that a uniform or consensus approach to the selection of environmental criteria for the offshore oil industry appears to be lacking, with an ensuing effect on product research, mud system development and focus.
Use of the Decision Quality Process for Strategic Planning in the Duri Field, Indonesia
Authors: Neal Larry 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Strategic planning and rigorous decision analysis applications will be primary management tools for upstream companies in the 1990's. Merging the long term focus of a strategic planning process with the probabilistic output of decision analysis techniques can yield insightful views of the potential successes and failures of a business plan.
Even with these insights, comparing and deciding among a group of alternatives will remain a difficult task. In addition to uncertainties, business partners do not always share common value measures. Marketers want more barrels to sell, field supervisors like low operating cost strategies, and stockholders like cashflow. This environment complicates the managers' ability to choose between available options.
The Decision Quality Process, a combination of classical decision analysis techniques coupled with Quality Improvement (QI) principles, bridges this gap. The process allows managers to develop and decide between different long term strategic plans, explicitly accounting for uncertainties, unknowns, and differing value measures.
Three teams consisting of engineers, geologists, front line managers, and the highest levels of management within Caltex Pacific Indonesia, Texaco, and Chevron, spent 18 months developing and evaluating a multitude of development scenarios for the Duri Field. More than 200,000 cases of economics were run to support the evaluation. The result was a significant increase in expected value for the field regardless of the value measure used.
Towards a High Performance Organisation (An E&P Company's Experience)
Authors: Steel David , Mallon L. M. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the way in which an Affiliate of a major oil corporation is meeting the challenges and economic realities facing our industry in the current increasingly competitive and unstable environment
The cultural change programme, which began in 1988, and is ongoing, is described in some detail. There have been three distinct phases in this programme and each is discussed, with most attention being focused on the current phase of development towards a High Performance Organisation.
The results of each phase of the programme, and some of the lessons learnt, are presented in the hope that they might provide some direction for others.
Life Cycle Planning: An Evolving Concept
Authors: Moore P. J. R. , Gorman I. G. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Life-cycle planning is an evolving concept in the management of oil and gas projects. BHP Petroleum now interprets this idea to include all development planning from discovery and field appraisal to final abandonment and includes safety, environmental, technical, plant, regulatory, and staffing issues.
This article describes in the context of the Timor Sea, how despite initial successes and continuing facilities upgrades, BHPP came to perceive that current operations could be the victim of early development successes, particularly in the areas of corrosion and maintenance.
The search for analogies elsewhere lead to the UK North Sea, including the experiences of Britoil1 and BP, both of which performed detailed "Life of Field" studies in the later eighties. These materials have been used to construct a format and content for total Life-cycle plans in general and the social changes required to ensure their successful application in Timor Sea operations and deployment throughout Australasia.
Reservoir Management in a Hydrodynamic Environment, Iagifu-Hedinia Area, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Eisenberg L. I. , Langston M. V. , Fitzmorris R. E. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Northwest to southeast regional scale flow in the Toro Sandstone parallels the Papuan Fold and Thrust Belt for a distance of 115km, passing through Iagifu/Hedinia oil field along the way. This has had a profound effect on oil distribution in the Toro there, having swept the northwest side flee of moveable oil. A structurally controlled flow restriction causes a local, rapid drop in hydraulic potential, tilting local oil/water contacts up to six degrees and causing the three sandstone members of the Toro to locally behave as separate reservoirs, each with its own hydrocarbon/water contact.
Reservoir simulations of Iagifu/Hedinia which include a flowing aquifer are able to match observed production history. Without a flowing aquifer, simulation predicts greater and earlier water production, and a greater pres-sure drop in the oil leg than has been observed. Reservoir modeling using a flowing aquifer has allowed downhole, structural targeting of later infill wells to be much closer to die OWC than would otherwise have been thought prudent, and has raised questions as to the potential effectiveness of a downdip water injection scheme.
Production results from a small satellite field "upstream" of the main Iagifu/Hedinia field have shown a sudden increase in water production and reservoir pressure after a long period of pressure decline and no water production. This behavior appears to be due to an influx of higher hydraulic potential from a separate reservoir sand, the influx being brought about by pressure draw down during production and consequent breakdown of fault seal.
Length-Dependent Pseudofunction: An Improved Up-scaling Method in Black Oil Simulation
Authors: Soedarmo E. , Taggart I. J. , Paterson L. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
The up-scaling of multiphase flow from fine-scale grid data to coarse-scale grid blocks is an important step in the development of numerical models to predict full field behaviour. To perform the up-scaling, use is made of pseudofunctions for fractional flow, relative permeability and capillary pressure. While the use of pseudofunction techniques, such as those proposed by Kyte and Berry, is widespread, the general application of such up-scaled properties generates inconsistent results. This paper proposes that the underlying cause of this discrepancy is the non-constant behaviour of saturation velocities in the original fine-scale simulation.
The concept of length-dependency, or the length-dependent pseudofunction (LDP) method, is introduced in this work to allow coarse grid block models to more closely match the average behaviour of fine-scale models. Using predictions of two-dimensional reservoir displacement with varying amounts of viscous, gravity and capillary interaction, a length-dependent pseudofunction method based upon pseudo fractional flow concepts is compared to results generated through the use of the standard Kyte and Berry method. Results show that in communicating and non-communicating layered models, the proposed length-dependent pseudofunction method provides more accurate estimates of fluid flow behaviour.
Enhanced Carbon-Oxygen Log Interpretation Using Supplemental Log Curves
Authors: Wyatt D. F. , Jacobson L. A. , Fox P. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Supplemental measurements from induced nuclear spectrometry tools are examined to demonstrate what additional information they provide about the well and reservoir conditions. Logs in shut-in wells from Indonesia provide examples of oxygen activation measurements showing cross-flow from one reservoir to another via open perforations. Leaking squeezed perforations were also observed. An example from Alaska shows radioactive scale build-up in the casing which spectral analysis identifies as a mixture of uranium and thorium salts. Another log, where the casing fluid was replaced with crude oil, demonstrates a technique for identifying cement channels. Logs from Nigeria comparing oil saturation estimates before and after a squeeze operation illustrate the effect of casing fluid flushing of the formation through open perforations. Understanding the diagnostic character of these curves leads to higher confidence in the overall log interpretation process.
Gaslift Operations in Bass Strait
Authors: Walsh P. W. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Gaslift is of high importance to Esso Australia's Bass Strait operation, with 65% of oil production being gaslifted, an average of 198 kbd for 1993. As water cut increased in recent years, the importance of gaslift to crude production was recognised, hence a co-ordinated effort to improve the gaslift operation was embarked upon, including the following elements: A quality assurance program was commenced which has resulted in more reliable downhole gaslift installations.Inventory, valve testing and setting, and tracking valve histories have been established - all important in achieving quality gaslift installations.Improvements were made in gaslift optimisation through computer modelling, gaslift metering, well control and problem diagnosis to increase production within platform facility limitations.Development of a gaslift design method which is easy to understand and has provided reliable and efficient gaslift designs, including optimal injection depths and successful dual gaslift wells.Comprehensive operator training.
The combination of these elements into a co-ordinated gaslift improvement program has been successful at EAL and can serve as a model for other operations to achieve a high level of gaslift performance.
Sucker-Rod Pumping Wells Optimisation Using a Spreadsheet Database on Barrow Island, Western Australia
Authors: Lee Wilson , Mantecon J. C. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
This paper demonstrates how a carefully designed spreadsheet database can be used as an innovative tool by production engineers and field operators to optimise the performance of sucker rod pumping (SRP) wells. The spreadsheet will be available on SPE EXCHANGE DISKS for potential users.
An extensive Artificial Lift Optimisation Program (ALOP) was implemented by West Australian Petroleum Pty. Limited (WAPET) in 1991 on its Barrow Island field (BWI). Any ALOP requires extensive data collection, screening, validation and continuous monitoring. BWI has over 420 active oil producers, and 350 of them are SRP wells.
As part of the ALOP, WAPET decided to compile a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet database. The spreadsheet database contains all relevant individual well’s information and a comprehensive dynamometer card analysis module.
Apart from individual well optimisation, the database was designed to: a)identify inefficient / low profit wells,b)rank wells according to profit generation,c)establish priorities to maximise revenue during production system upsets,d)spot and fix problems early before large production losses occur,e)evaluate and plan for long term production goals.
The database provides the engineers with valuable clues indicating which wells should receive attention and where the potential for improved behaviour or increased production lies. In addition, the database provides more accurate records and better retention of the information for designing or redesigning artificial lift equipment. Without the database, engineering analysis is very time consuming.
The database has greatly enhanced communication between field and central office staff. When information is required, either in the field or in the central office, the database makes it easily available. Total revenue is also increased by communicating information on production priorities in a useful format.
Kikori River Basin Project To Sustain Environment Alongside Development
Authors: Price J. B. , Power A. P. , Henry Don 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Protecting people and the environment is an essential design and operational criteria for the Kutubu Petroleum Development Project to minimise the physical, social and economic impacts on the local people and their environment in Papua New Guinea. This paper describes how Kutubu was implemented, and how World Wildlife Fund is assisting the neighbouring communities to utilise their natural resources for long term benefit. The objectives and first year expectations of a three year integrated conservation and development project are identified, and the progress is summarised.
The Testing, Assessment, and Use of Dispersants: A Systematic Approach
Authors: Wardrop J. A. , Smith J. P. , Palmer Don , Seignior Michael , Fucik Ken , Giroletti Mark , Leeder John 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Dispersants are a valuable tool in oil spill management but also one that causes considerable concern amongst environmental groups. Some of these concerns are based on observations dating back to the Torrey Canyon oil spill of 1967 and are consequently dismissed on the basis that the dispersant and the manner in which they are used have changed considerably since then.
However, it must be stated that chemically dispersed oil is generally toxic, even if the dispersant themselves have a low toxicity. Consequently environmental damage may result from their use. The decision on whether to use dispersant or not depends then on the relative damage that can be expected from dispersed oil compared to undispersed oil.
In order to evaluate this potential, it is necessary to determine the efficiency of dispersant on an oil and the influence of chemical dispersant on the behaviour and toxicity of oil, both at sea and on shorelines.
The paper discusses a systematic approach to the testing of dispersant and oils in order to better predict and assess possible environmental and operational benefits. The use of the procedures in the testing of two paraffinic Indonesian crude oils is discussed. The broader scientific information currently available suggests a number of areas in which additional data is required.
A New Approach to Selecting Optimum Bottomhole Assembly Configuration for Any Given Well Trajectory
Authors: Agawani Mamdouh , Rahman S. S. , Maidla E. E. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
In recent years the application of steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) systems in drilling directional and horizontal wells is quite common. The quality of their performance and the amount of time spent in the hole often determines the successful execution of the planned trajectory and cost effectiveness of the well. This paper presents an analytical model for predicting performance of steerable BHA systems containing bent housing motors, stabilisers, wear pads etc.. Based on field data a design criterion is proposed which allows selection and optimisation of BHAs for a given well trajectory. This will reduce undesired dog legs and increase cost effectiveness of the wells by reducing drilling time.
Extended Reach Drilling Advancements Dramatically Improve Performance on Bass Strait Wells
Authors: Santostefano Vince , Krepp A. N. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Esso Australia Ltd. (EAL) has been drilling deviated wells in Bass Strait (see Figure (i)) since 1968. Recent technological developments have been employed on the Mackerel Infill Drilling Project, that have significantly improved EAL's ability to drill Long Reach (LR1) / Extended Reach (ER2) wells more economically and consistently. The more notable achievements have been: Advancements in hole condition reporting, utilising torque and drag monitoring;The successful use of non-rotating drillpipe rubbers to reduce surface torque to acceptable levels;Deeper casing setting depths, to minimise torque and drag, and to reduce time-dependent hole problems;The use of inhibitive / encapsulating mud systems for control of reactive clays / shales; andUse of wellbore stability modelling.Figure (i)Map of Bass Strait field, and (inset) Bass Strait field position relative to Australia.
These advancements have helped EAL to drill 50% greater metreage than was expected in 1993, at 16% lower cost per metre. This paper chronicles the engineering decisions behind these advancements, their applications in the field, the success / failure story on Mackerel to date, and how these developments have been incorporated in EAL's future well planning.