Thru-Tubing Ceramic Screen Application to Unlock Mature Sandy Well Efficiently: Successful Implementation in Sisi Nubi Field
Keywords:
acoustic sand detection, efficient, offshore, safe production, sand control, sand production, shallow reservoir, thru-tubing ceramic screen, unlocking potentialAbstract
Controlling sand production from shallow gas reservoir(s) is a challenge. Sand control is needed to avoid wellbore productivity damage and excessive sand production on the surface. Sisi Nubi is a gas field located in 25 km offshore from Mahakam delta. Most Sisi Nubi wells are completed with sand control in primary well completion to minimize sand production. Thru-Tubing Ceramic Screen (TTCS) is a new sand control method used in Mahakam. Ceramic screen was selected as it has higher durability and resistance against erosion than metal screen. Previous application in the swamp area shows good indication, thus encouraging further application offshore. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to perform the first trial of three joints TTCS implementation in offshore Mahakam field and unlock well potential to produce more than 3 MMscfd by applying thru-tubing ceramic screen (TTCS).
In this project, TTCS was utilized in a new perforated shallow reservoir in Sisi Nubi, NX-Y. The installation involved isolating water producing zone, perforating reservoir target, setting three joints of thru-tubing ceramic screen in front of perforation interval, and cleaning up the well with sand filter. However, this was the first trial of three joints TTCS, as previously only one or two joints installed. As per previous experience, one joint can only accommodate 3 – 4 MMscfd to maintain operating in safe working envelope area. Since targeted reservoir indicates higher potential (i.e. > 4 MMscfd), three joints of thru-tubing ceramic screen was implemented for the first time. In order to ensure TTCS execute properly, well ramp-up was performed step by step to form natural packing between the screen and the wellbore supported by fixed acoustic sand detection to monitor sand production.
As a result, NX-Y well succeed to produce up to 10 MMscfd which is more than 300% from initial target with sand free indication. Furthermore, this successful trial potentially leads to other implementations in Mahakam offshore further.
