Sproule provided a full suite of integrated reservoir services to a private equity firm for the development of a tight gas-condensate field in the UK North Sea. The firm required support in understanding drilling risks, selecting optimal production well locations, optimizing pipeline fill rates and negotiating with processing facilities operators. The project involved extensive geological, seismic, and petrophysical interpretation, dynamic simulation and development strategy optimization, addressing the complexities of a highly heterogeneous reservoir with challenging fluid characteristics. Sproule ultimately created an optimal development plan that included a production forecast to facilitate the tie-in of the field to a platform with the capacity to handle the produced gas.
Project Highlights
- Private equity firm looking to expand and diversify their operations
- Tight Gas-Condensate Field in the UK North Sea
- Provided integrated reservoir interpretation and development planning
- Optimized development plan with quantified risks and uncertainties
Challenge
- Project Scope: With only two wells drilled, the lack of detailed compositional analysis data made reservoir characterization challenging. The optimal development plan required a production forecast to facilitate the tie-in of the field to a platform with the capacity to handle the produced gas.
- Complex Reservoir & Fluid: The field exhibited high heterogeneous permeability, complicating fluid flow prediction and development planning. The gas condensate required sophisticated EOS modeling to handle the risk of condensate dropout and potential blockages near the wellbore.
- Geomechanical Constraints: Assessing in-situ stresses and orientations as well as wellbore stability was crucial for optimizing hydraulic fracturing and ensuring well integrity.
Solution
- Integrated Evaluation: Sproule’s expertise proved invaluable in capturing the full range of subsurface uncertainties, from limited data, into a comprehensive reservoir evaluation.
- Risk Quantification: Multiple scenarios were modeled statically and dynamically to quantify risks and uncertainties, providing a robust basis for decision-making.
- EOS Development: A representative EOS was developed, incorporating complex fluid characteristics and ensuring accurate reservoir simulations.
- Hydraulic Fracturing Optimization: Well trajectories were strategically planned to align with optimal fracture orientations, mitigating condensate blockage near the wellbore.
Value
- Optimized Operations: An optimal development plan was created by modeling multiple scenarios. The resulting plan and production forecast considered the complex reservoir conditions and enabled the client to select an appropriate third-party platform for handling gas production . This strategic approach to reservoir development ensured operational efficiency and effectiveness within the complex environment.
- Increase Stakeholder Confidence: The integrated evaluation and scenario modeling ensured that the client’s directors, partners, and investors had confidence in the development plan.
- Comprehensive Risk Management: The rigorous assessment of subsurface uncertainties allowed for mitigating potential risks, ensuring project viability.
