Optimum utilization of a depleted well in brown oil field

Abstract

Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd. (ADOC）is currently operating four oil fields offshore in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the oldest field of which has been producing for more than 50 years utilizing mainly electrical submersible pump (ESP）systems since 1973. Due to being a brown field, there are some inactive wells due to low oil production as a result of increase in water cut and mechanical deterioration of wellbore. For efficient wellbore utilization and to improve oil recovery, relatively challenging workover operations including re-entry horizontal drilling, sidetrack, change completion zone etc are required. This paper presents an example of one worked over well which was identified to be difficult to sidetrack and horizontally drill, introducing the stages from planning to the actual execution.