Abstract: Integration of Technology Supports Preventive Conformance Reservoir Techniques

SOLIMAN, MOHAMED, Halliburton Energy Services

Although oilfield conformance techniques have gained in acceptance as a means of enhancing well productivity, one misconception continues to surface. Most operators still believe that conformance applications should only be considered late in the life of the reservoir -- after problems have been noted. Although the term, conformance technology, is generally defined as the management of unwanted water and gas, the methods of management can be significantly more effective if applied early in the life of the reservoir -- before production problems actually occur. The intent of this paper is to provide evidence that a conformance pretreatment may be more effective than a reactive treatment.The success of a conformance treatment depends on several factors with the first consisting of an accurate description of the reservoir. Without an accurate description, it is impossible to properly diagnose the underlying mechanisms leading to the unwanted water and/or gas production. Thus, an attempt to apply an appropriate remedial treatment will be guesswork at best.Since the proper diagnostic tools are critical for accurate assessment of the reservoir for the potential of unwanted production; this paper will discuss the tools that are available today and how these tools can determine the type, location, and mobility of reservoir fluids. The fact that the success of preventive measures will generally be greater than that of remedial treatments makes the accuracy of the diagnostic tools as well as the knowledge of how to use them of primary importance. Presently, there is only one technology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that has the capability to fulfill all the diagnostic needs. MRI technology is currently available as an openhole logging (MRIL) tool that operates on magnetic resonance imaging principles. Finally, the paper will focus on how the coupling conformance and MRI technology provides a better understanding of potential conformance problems.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90911©2000 AAPG Pacific Section and Western Region Society of Petroleum Engineers, Long Beach, California