Key Technologies for the Efficient Development of Thick and Complex Carbonate Reservoirs in the Middle East

Kaijun Tong, Juan He, Peiyuan Chen, Changyong Li, Weihua Dai, Futing Sun, Yi Tong, Su Rao and Jing Wang ()
Additional contact information
Kaijun Tong: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Juan He: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Peiyuan Chen: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Changyong Li: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Weihua Dai: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Futing Sun: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Yi Tong: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Su Rao: CNOOC International Limited, Beijing 100028, China
Jing Wang: Laboratory for Petroleum Engineering of the Ministry of Education, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: In order to enhance the development efficiency of thick and complex carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East, a case study was conducted on M oilfield in Iraq. This study focused on reservoir characterization, injection-production modes, well pattern optimization, and other related topics. As a result, key techniques for the high-efficiency development of thick carbonate reservoirs were established. The research findings include the following: (1) the discovery of hidden “low-velocity” features within the thick gypsum-salt layer, which led to the development of a new seismic velocity model; (2) the differential dissolution of grain-supported limestones is controlled by lithofacies and petrophysical properties, resulting in the occurrence of “porphyritic” phenomena in core sections. The genetic mechanism responsible for reversing petrophysical properties in dolostones is attributed to “big hole filling and small hole preservation” caused by dense brine refluxing; (3) fracture evaluation technology based on anisotropy and dipole shear wave long-distance imaging was developed to address challenges associated with quantitatively assessing micro-fractures; (4) through large-scale three-dimensional physical models and numerical simulations, it was revealed that water–oil displacement mechanisms involving “horizontal breakthrough via hyper-permeability” combined with vertical differentiation due to gravity occur in thick and heterogeneous reservoirs under spatial injection-production modes; (5) a relationship model linking economic profit with well pattern density was established for technical service contracts in the Middle East. Additionally, an innovative stepwise conversion composite well patterns approach was introduced for thick reservoirs to meet production ramp-up requirements while delaying water cut rise; (6) a prediction technology for the oilfield development index, considering asphaltene precipitation, has been successfully developed. These research findings provide robust support for the efficient development of the M oilfield in Iraq, while also serving as a valuable reference for similar reservoirs’ development in the Middle East.

Keywords: Middle East; thick and complex carbonate reservoirs; gypsum-salt layer; fractures; injection-production modes; asphaltene precipitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/18/4566/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/18/4566/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:18:p:4566-:d:1476466

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().