Minimize Produced Water

Challenge

Since the beginning of the modern oil and gas industry, the problem of water production has plagued operators. For one thing, it can cost as much, if not more, to produce a barrel of water as it does to produce additional hydrocarbons. Water production sometimes also leads to additional costly problems such as scale, corrosion, and production fines. In addition, water production can hinder and, in some cases, result in complete loss of hydrocarbon production. If no action is taken once water production occurs, the problem typically worsens before it becomes better.

Solution

Halliburton utilizes a series of steps to first understand the reservoir and then determine the optimal, most economically viable water solution. Diagnostic tools and techniques are used to gather information for formation evaluation and fluid flow analysis, including data such as porosity, water saturation, casing integrity, cement integrity, fluid movement, fluid composition and specialty visualization. A variety of treatments is available to operators, including mechanical means such as plugs or packers (swellable, retrievable or inflatable), external zonal isolation, squeeze cementing or injection of a chemical agent such as a synthetic gel. Successful results have also been obtained with in-situ polymerized systems, cross-linked polymeric solutions and silicate-based gels. Both SmartWell® intelligent and standard passive inflow control device completions can be used to delay the onset of water production. Intelligent completions are also able to isolate the watered out interval if the zone becomes uneconomical to produce.