Mauricio Gimenes Folsta

A Comprehensive Methodology to Analyze The Impact of the Sand Control Technique on the Efficiency of an Horizontal Well

Abstract. Sand production in unconsolidated formations has brought heavy injury for the oil and gas industry around the world. Million dollars have been invested in sand control techniques. Among the several sand control systems existing, Open Hole Gravel Pack (OHGP) is the one adopted for horizontal well completions in the offshore Brazilian fields. With the experience in the development of such fields, some assets start to consider the adoption of less conservative sand control strategies, such as the use of stand alone premium screens (SAS). The present work proposes a methodology for evaluating the impact of the sand control technique in the productivity or injectivity of a horizontal well. Several parameters, such as damage rate (DR) and productivity or injectivity index per horizontal effective length (PI/Lef) were used to compare similar wells equipped with different sand control techniques. The main goal of the study is to address the following questions: Is there any formation damage due to the gravel pack during production lifetime of a well? The wells equipped with stand alone screen exhibit formation damage? Wells equipped with OHGP have the same performance when compared with wells equipped with SAS? Stand alone completion is a good alternative path for multilateral and extend reach wells?

Experimental Control of Annulus Pressure While Drilling Oil Wells

Abstract Under a conventional oil well drilling task, the pore pressure (minimum limit) and the fracture pressure (maximum limit) define mud density range and pressure operational window. During oil well drilling, several disturbances affect bottom hole pressure; for example, as the length of the well increases, the annulus bottom hole pressure varies for growing hydrostatic pressure levels. In addition, the pipe connection procedure produces disturbances in well fluids flow, changing well pressure. The objective being tracked is operating under desired pressure levels, which assures process safety, also reducing costs, as drilling operation demands around U

Well Construction Hydraulics in Challenging Environments

500,000.00/day. In this scenario, control techniques are important tools for narrow operational windows, commonly observed at deepwater and pre-salt layer environments. The major objective of this paper is controlling annulus bottom hole pressure of a drilling experimental unit, using the choke opening index as the manipulated variable, in order to guarantee safe operation (target annulus bottom hole pressure), despite the inherent process disturbances and under a scenario that maximization of ROP (rate of penetration) is a target.

Development of On-Line Sensors for Automated Measurement of Drilling Fluid Properties

Hydraulics plaies a major role in well construction, especially in narrow operational window scenarios, where the difference between pore and frac pressures approaches zero. Besides, special geometry wells, where annular friction losses contribute expressively to downhole pressures, are becoming attractive alternatives to enhance production. Efficient drilled cuttings transport, minimizing contamination in fluid substitution operations and gravel packing are critical operations to be performed. The hydraulic targets for such projects require multidisciplinary technological development, including real time monitoration of downhole pressure, density and friction reduction concepts, chemicals and equipment, rheology optimization and reliable multiphase models. This article focuses on the application of latest design, chemicals, software, and equipment technology for drilling and completing (including sand control) in challenging scenarios, such as ultra deepwater exploratory wells, extended reach offshore wells, 2000 m horizontal section in shallow water carbonate reservoirs, 1200 m horizontal section gravel packing in deep water non consolidated sandstone reservoirs, managed pressure drilling onshore experiences, extended reach onshore wells for offshore reservoir exploitation, including slant rig drilling and open hole gravel packing with synthetic low viscosity fluids. Finally, the hydraulic challenges for the future will be highlighted.