Technology and Methods Used To Reduce Water Production in the Lower Delaware Sands of Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas (2005)

Technology and Methods Used To Reduce Water Production in the Lower Delaware Sands of Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas Toby Wayne Shahan; Toby Wayne Shahan Halliburton Energy Services Group Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Mark R. Briney; Mark R. Briney Halliburton Energy Services Group Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Robert P. Reyes; Robert P. Reyes Halliburton Energy Services Group Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Prentice George Creel; Prentice George Creel Halliburton Energy Services Group Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Eldon Dwyann Dalrymple Eldon Dwyann Dalrymple Halliburton Energy Services Group Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, October 2005. Paper Number: SPE-95688-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/95688-MS Published: October 09 2005 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Shahan, Toby Wayne, Briney, Mark R., Reyes, Robert P., Creel, Prentice George, and Eldon Dwyann Dalrymple. "Technology and Methods Used To Reduce Water Production in the Lower Delaware Sands of Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, October 2005. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/95688-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractProducing hydrocarbons from the lower Delaware formation in SE New Mexico and West Texas is often associated with high water production. In the Matthews Field in West Texas (Reeves County), an operator was encountering water production of over 600 BWPD (bbl of water per day) from wells that had been treated. The stimulation techniques and processes were modified in an attempt to improve the production results. Multiple stage treatments using coiled tubing (CT) with selective placement controls and reduced rates were performed to lower the fracture height growth. This method included using conventional fracturing fluids, specialized coiled tubing perforating and controlled fracturing placement, and a relative permeability modifier (RPM) capable of reducing the potential for water production by coating the formation rock. This paper will detail how these operations were performed.IntroductionThe operator has produced a steady production of oil from the Delaware pays in the Matthews Field (Fig. 1) for several years. The production decline in the field was rather flat, with an estimated reserve life of 25 to 30 years. Following the last completions, the average well produces approximately 300 BWPD along with hydrocarbons. Upon acquisition of this field some time ago, a disposal well readily available in the field was used. The produced water was injected into a nonproductive zone in this disposal well. Because the field is remote from the nearest disposal facility, transporting the water to an offsite facility would be expensive. Therefore, use of the disposal well was beneficial. Over time, the high production of water also added significant costs for lifting, additional facilities, etc. The operator obviously needed a method to reduce the water-oil ratio (WOR).The geological makeup of the Matthews Field and the methodology used to derive the applied treatment are covered in this paper. Included as well are (1) a general discussion of how RPMs work, and (2) details regarding the application in this particular case. The stimulation design and treatment is surveyed, including subsequent production results. In addition, an economic analysis of a drilled and completed well in this field is also provided. This paper illustrates how the RPM and other new technology can help decrease the WOR and increase the gas-oil ratio (GOR), thereby adding value for the operator.GeologyThe pay intervals of interest in this field are the Lower Delaware sands of Brushy Canyon and Cherry Canyon. Cherry Canyon is the more productive and is also noted for its high clay content and high water production. Its primary makeup is fine-grained sandstone with carbonate consolidation.[1]A variety of stimulation techniques has been used in this area, including fracturing with water and foamed fluids energized with either carbon dioxide or nitrogen. In this project, a conventional crosslinked fluid system was used.Stimulation treatments in the Brushy and Cherry sands are usually straightforward, but it is common for significant amounts of sand and water to flow back after treatments. A possible solution to this flowback problem entails pumping resin-coated sand, which has significant bonding capability. Use of this type of treatment in the subject well however was eliminated because of its high cost. Instead, a conductivity-enhancing additive was used to coat the proppant to help prevent sand flowback and fines migration. An RPM was also added to the treatment as a preflush to help combat water production. Keywords: operator, fluid dynamics, fracturing fluid, reduction, fracturing materials, placement control, new mexico, lower delaware sand, hydrophobic group, west texas Subjects: Hydraulic Fracturing, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Fracturing materials (fluids, proppant), Produced water management and control, Flow in porous media, Well Operations and Optimization, Well Operations, Optimization and Stimulation This content is only available via PDF. 2005. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.