SPE-199332-MS

Improving Well Productivity and Sustainability in a Horizontal Exploratory

Well by Multistage Fracturing - A Case Study

Sulaiman Almulla, Haifa Al-Bader, Abdullah Al-Ibrahim, Packirisamy Subban, Vidya Sagar Duggirala, and Mani
Maran Ayyavoo, Kuwait Oil Company KOC

Copyright 2020, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control held in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, 19-21
February 2020.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
Objective/Scope: The main objective is to find a way to increase the well production and sustain the
production by connecting the reservoir through several stages of fractures spaced throughout the horizontal
drain hole.
Method, Procedures, Process: Exploratory wells targeting Mauddud reservoir were normally drilled
vertically and stimulated in a conventional way using matrix acid treatment, which proved a good
hydrocarbon potential, but with low productivity. A study was conducted in one the lower cretaceous
reservoir (Mauddud) which recommended the option of drilling a horizontal well in the mentioned reservoir
and applying multi-stage acid frac for productivity enhancement and sustainability. The target carbonate
reservoir is tight, has a porosity of approximately 12-20% and permeability between 0.05 to 2 md. The
first horizontal well for Maudddud reservoir was drilled up to a measured depth of 11,171 ft MD with a
horizontal section of 2,752 ft. It was completed with swell packers and seven frac sleeves for multi stage
fracturing job in the horizontal section. Designing and execution of multi-stage frac in a horizontal well is
technically more challenging than the conventional vertical well.
Minifrac was performed to find the fracture pressure, closure pressure and understand the net pressure
needed to extend the fracture. Based on the mini-frac results, the main frac design was modified. Main Frac
treatment was carried out in seven stages, each stage was performed individually and the fractured stage was
isolated using frac balls with different sizes. Acid and gel mixing was performed continuously on location
to enable continuous pumping operation, which minimized the time between stages. After a successful
multistage frac treatment, the well was flowed back for cleanup and recovered all spent treatment fluid.
Later Coiled Tubing (CT) with milling tool was used to mill the ball and seats to provide full bore access
through the frac sleeves. Subsequently production logging tool (PLT) survey was carried out in horizontal
section using CT to confirm the effective contribution from each stage.
Results, Observations, Conclusions: Horizontal exploratory well was drilled, completed and fractured
successfully with seven stages led to a sustainable oil production after installing ESP. The flow results after
2 SPE-199332-MS

the multistage frac showed that there is tremendous increase in production but with some decline. The PLT
result showed the contribution profile for each stage and the cross flow status. Production enhancement
and sustainability achieved from this well encouraged KOC to drill more horizontal wells for Mauddud
reservoir with similar multistage completion and frac strategy to meet the production targets.
Novel/Additive Information: This paper highlights the well design, the effectiveness of multi stage
fracturing, well performance analysis, lesson learned and results of the multistage completion & acid
fracturing.

Introduction
Bahrah is an onshore oil field, located in North Kuwait and extending to Offshore in the south part of the
field. It is an anticline structure, highly faulted and fractured Carbonate/Sandstone reservoirs. Two main
potential reservoirs in Bahrah field are Maudddud which is mainly Carbonate (Structure Trap) & Burgan
which is Sandstone (Stratigraphic Trap). Both Mauddud and Burgan are from the Cretaceous age. The
structure in Bahrah is very complex due to being highly faulted in addition to existing faults, Mauddud is
highly fractured formation which made the structure more complicated. Mauddud has much more reserves
than Burgan but Burgan wells have high potential due to good reservoir quality. Due to structure complexity,
OWC could not be defined in Mauddud.
Bahrah Field Exploration appraisal evaluation project has proposed six well locations for the subsequent
drilling campaign in a certain block. All proposed well locations have been considered as exploration wells.
One well planned to be horizontal and the rest 5 wells were recommended to be vertical wells targeting
both reservoirs. Improving the extensions of Bahrah Field especially Mauddud Formation is important to
achive KOC production target.
The option of drilling a horizontal well and applying multi-stage acid frac for productivity enhancement
and sustainability of Mauddud reserervoir was applied in the case study well. The objectives are to test the
hydrocarbon potential of Mauddud reservoirs in Bahrah field and to prove the field extensions. Succesfull
completion of this case study well will prove the production potential of Mauddud reservoir which will help
in reaching Kuwait Oil Company Targets.
This case study will highlight the well design, the effectiveness of multi stage fracturing, well
performance, lessons learned and results of the multistage completion & acid fracturing.

Reservoir Characteristics
The Mauddud Formation is composed mainly of packstone (especially bioclastic packstones) and grainstone
lithofacies, with minor amounts of dolostone, sandstone, and siltstone lithofacies and trace amounts of
mudrock and wackestone lithofacies. The reservoir intervals of the Mauddud Formation are composed
mainly of lime grainstones and packstone lithofacies.
Mauddud Carbonate formation is 130 ft height and the net pay is ranging between 50-90 ft. Mauddud is
a tight reservoir where porosity ranges between 12-20% with an average of 17% and has low permeability
of 0.5-2 mD. The case study well lateral section average PHIE is 0.19 and Average water saturation (Sw)
is 0.30. Due to structure complexity, OWC in Mauddud could not be defined.

Objective
■ To evaluate the productivity enhancement of the horizontal well in Mauddud reservoir.
■ To perform and evaluate multi-stages acid frac to enhance the Mauddud productivity and production
sustainability.
■ Determine Production Potential of Mauddud reservoir.
SPE-199332-MS 3

Challenges
■ Tight reservoir: Mauddud is a tight reservoir where porosity ranges between 12-20% with an average
of 17% and has low permeability of 0.5-2 mD.
■ Highly Faulted & Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs: In this fractured reservoir, with dual porosity,
the matrix – the rock between the natural fractures – has very low permeability. We might therefore
see a ‘reservoir’ pressure (or fracture pressure) deplete quite quickly, but the rock matrix remains at
relatively high pressure.
■ Well profile: Well with 88.5° inclination & 323.5° Azimuth.
■ Stimulation: Seven stages of Horizontal Multi-Stage Fracturing. Designing and execution of
multistage frac in a horizontal well is technically more challenging than the conventional vertical
well.
■ Well Intervention: Any well intervention like Coiled Tubing, Logging, Slickline, in highly deviated
or horizontal lateral of 2752 ft will be challenging.

Case Study
One-Stage frac on a vertical well
BH-A well was vertically drilled to TD of 8,750 ft and PBTD depth at 8,635 ft. Both Mauddud and Burgan
zones were cored and logged. Based on core observation and open hole logs interpretation, Middle Mauddud
considered as a good oil bearing zone. Therefore, it was decided to test Mauddud formation and carried
out one stage hydraulic acid frac job and then complete the well with ESP using a workover rig in order
to get sustainable production for the long term. The kill string was pulled out of hole and lower interval
(7738 – 7744 ft) was isolated with bridge plug and cement placed on top. M. Mauddud interval (7604 –
7619 ft) 15 ft was perforated by 7"casing gun on wireline, DST string was RIH as Fig-1 and surface testing
equipment and coiled tubing units were rigged up. The well was tested with N2 lifting and did not show any
influx. Then, decision was made to proceed with frac operations as planned. Mini-Frac was successfully
implemented with pumping schedule shown in Table-1.

Figure 1—BH-A well schematic during Frac job:

4 SPE-199332-MS

Table-1—Pumping schedule for Mini Frac job of well BH-A:

The Finding of the Test were as following:

• Closure Gradient around 0.74-0.77 psi/ft.

• Fluid efficiency around 32%.

• Frac Extension pressure BH 6300 Psi.

After getting the obove findings, Main Acid frac was designed and executed as Table-2.

Table-2—Pumping schedule for Main Acid Frac job of well BH-A:

SPE-199332-MS 5

The well was opened for cleaning with a natural flow for a short period. Then, well was killed with
filtered brine and DST string was POOH and a test ESP Pump was used for the essential clean up period
as Fig-2. Temperature log runs were recorded using wireline before and after the Mini Frac job and after
the main acid frac job as Fig-3.

Figure 2—BH-A well schematic with ESP:

Figure 3—Temperature logs for case-I:

6 SPE-199332-MS

Post the clean-up period with a temporarily test pump, the test ESP was replaced with a permanent one
and the WOR was released. The well was connected to the nearest gathering center and put on production
for a long period. In less than two years of production the flow rate has significantly decreased to below
pump threshold. Then, the ESP was replaced by Sucker Rod Pump.

Multi-Stage Frac on a horizontal well:

BH-B appraisal well was recommended to study the productivity enhancement of the horizontal well in
Mauddud reservoir by performing and evaluating a multi-stages acid frac. Also, it was recommended to
enhance the Mauddud production sustainability. Log analysis and Mud logging confirmed good oil bearing
zones in M. Mauddud reservoir. The reservoir intervals of the Mauddud Formation are composed mainly of
lime grainstones and packstone lithofacies. In BH-B appraisal well the lateral section is 2,752 ft, the average
PHIE is 0.19 and Average water saturation (Sw) is 0.30.
The well was horizontally drilled with total depth of 10,950' MD / 7,443' TVD and with deviation of
88.5 deg. The open hole section is around 2750' and 6-1/8" size. The well was completed with 4-1/2" lower
completion multi stage frac string on 7" permanent packer and 4-1/2" tubing up to surface as Fig-4.

Figure 4—BH-B well schematic during Multi-Stage Frac job:

The rig was released and the mini-Frac job was done for only the first stage in order to evaluate the
reservoir and design the main Frac job as shown in Table-3.
SPE-199332-MS 7

Table-3—Pumping schedule for Mini Frac job of well BH-B:

Based on the finding from the mini-frac job, the hydraulic main acid frac job was performed as decided
with 7 stages "rigless" as Table-4 with below results:

• BHISIP: 5,914 psi

• Fracture gradient: 0.79 psi/ft

• Closure pressure: 5,189 psi

• Closure gradient: 0.69 psi/ft

• Fluid efficiency: 48.27 %

Table-4—Pumping schedule for Main AcidFrac job of well BH-B:

8 SPE-199332-MS

The well was kept closed for acid soaking. CTU was used to mill the isolation balls between each stage.
The well then was opened for clean-up and flow back meanwhile a PLT job was conducted using Coiled
tubing. The PLT demonstrated that only 4 out 7 stages are contributing in production as shown in table-5.

Table-5—PLT Result post Main Frac job of well BH-B:

Later, the natural completion string was pulled out and ESP was installed by a workover rig as Fig-5 and
the well was connected to the nearest facility and put on production.
SPE-199332-MS 9

Figure 5—Current well schematic of well BH-B with final completion:

Below is a summary of flow parameters for well BH-B:

Lesson Learnt
1. Post the frac job in the case study-II, the isolation balls between stages did not flow back directly as
plannedduring the clean-up period. Thus, a milling tool with a coiled tubing was used to mill them.
2. Replacing the artificial lift in well BH-A from ESP to SRP after the decline in production led to a
good results with a sustainable production.
3. Using a Y-Tool with the ESP is highly recommended for any well intervention especially to determine
the water production source from PLT if needed.

Results and Conclusion

■ A successful implementation of multi stage frac technique in an exploratory horizontal well for the
first time proved to be effective in a tight carbonate reservoir.
■ Application of multi stage frac technique on horizontal well has shown better initial flow and
production life compared to one stage frac technique on a vertical well.
■ Core lab tests which were conducted in this case study were very essential in selecting and using the
optimum frac fluids.
10 SPE-199332-MS

■ The success of the multi-stage frac technique has given better understanding and evaluation of
Mauddud reservoir in Bahrah field and should be considered in any field development plan.

Recommendations
■ All future MA wells in Bahra field should be drilled horizontaly and completed with multi stage frac
completion (swell packers and sliding sleeves) with more than 7 stages to increase the flow area /
production potential.

Acknowledgements
Authors wish to acknowledge Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Ministry of Oil (MoO) for granting
permission to publish this paper. The authors also would like to extend their appreciation to Discovery
Promotion Team, Explorations operations Team, Prospect Evaluation Team, Development Drilling Group
and service companies a for their support during well testing operations.

Nomenclature
API American Petroleum Institute
Bbls Barrels
BD Break Down
BHISIP Bottom-hole Instantaneous Shut-in Pressure
BHTP Bottom-hole treating pressure
Bopd Barrel oil per day
Bpm Barrel per minute
BPV Backpressure valve
CCL Casing Collar Locator
CO2 Carbon-di-oxide
CTU Coiled Tubing Unit
DST Drill Stem Testing
ESP Electrical Submessible Pump
FWHP Flowing well head pressure
FPP Fracture propagation pressure
Ft Feet
GOR Gas Oil Ratio
HCl Hydrochloric acid
H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
Kcl Potassium Chloride
KOC Kuwait Oil Company
L/N Landing Nipple
MA Mauddud
mD Milli Darcy
MD Measured Depth
Mmscf d Million standard cubic feet per day
MoO Ministry of Oil
OBM Oil Base Mud
OWC Oil Water Contact
PBTD plug back total depth
POOH Pulling out of hole
SPE-199332-MS 11

PLT Production logging Tool

Ppg pounds per gallon
Psi Pounds per square inch
Ppm Parts per million
RIH Run in Hole
STB Stock Tank Barrel
SCF Standard cubic feet
SRP Sucker Rod Pump
TCP Tubing Conveyed Perforation
TD Target Depth
TOC Total organic carbon
TVD True vertical depth
WBM Water based mud
WC water cut
W/L Wire line

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