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Application of Multilateral Wells to Increase Well Productivity in Offshore Oil

Field Case Study

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-2649-7_11

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2023 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Application of Multilateral Wells to Increase Well

Productivity in Offshore Oil Field Case Study

Authors : Salma Osama Taha Taha El Daly, Elhassan Mostafa Abdallah, Yasir Mukhtar

Published in: Proceedings of the 2022 International Petroleum and Petrochemical

Technology Conference
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Application of Multilateral Wells to Increase Well Productivity in Offshore
Oil Field Case Study | springerprofessional.de
https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/application-of-multilateral-wells-to-increase-
well-productivity-/25343128

APPLICATION OF MULTILATERAL WELLS TO INCREASE WELL

PRODUCTIVITY IN OFFSHORE OIL FIELD CASE STUDY

1,2,3()
Salma Osama Taha Taha El Daly1, Elhassan Mostafa Abdallah1() and Yasir Mukhtar

1
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, UCSI University,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1001542244@ ucsiuniversity.edu.my
elhassan@ucsiuniversity.edu.my
2
China University of Petroleum- Beijing,
3
Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan

yasir@cup.edu.cn

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Abstract. Multilateral wells are mentioned as technologies to improve reservoir recovery rates. Some strategies are
simple and straightforward, while others are far more complex. Such complex completions enable the use of
multilateral wells in a much broader range of well-scenarios, but they also create a new set of obstacles, concerns,
and threats. Few operators, however, were prepared to design a multilateral well. The Fishbone wells are new
production techniques that have been introduced to improve productivity and provide access to complex geological
types and reservoirs. The main benefit is the low cost and short time required to run this system. This study
discusses a project that demonstrate the concept of using multilateral wells as an alternative by comparing it to two
conventional horizontal wells, which can lead to a significantly lower operating cost. The primary goals of this work
are mainly to design a multilateral well scenario with five wellbores (Wellbores #1, Wellbores #2, Wellbores #3,
Wellbores #4, and Wellbores #5) to increase oil production from offshore oil fields and evaluate their productivity
and economics. The Landmark Software, COMPASS is utilized to design the plan trajectories, CasingSeat is used to
determine the best casing design and suitable casing ODs, and the tNavigator Software is used to assess oil recovery
and economy. The most production was found in multilateral wells formed by Fishbone. When compared to
conventional horizontal wells, these multilateral wells provided more oil over a longer period of time with lower
operating costs. As a result, the net profit has been calculated, and the multilateral well performed better because its
total net income exceeds that of the two horizontal wells to be drilled.

Keywords. Multilateral well; Oil production; Offshore oil field; Horizontal

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Introduction

The changing financial matters of oil field improvement has come about in administrators, and thus, benefit
companies, being challenged to deliver more prominent quantities of oil at diminished costs. More profound and
more corrosive environments are being created to extend production capacities, and modern innovation is being
empowered within the endeavor to create as much "value" from a well as possible. This interest and the resulting
improvement of modern strategies has been a major factor in permitting projects to be endeavored that traditionally
would not have been seen as financially doable. The multilateral concept could be a prime case of inventive
technology that has been utilized to support current financial needs. But despite their expanding financial request,
the mechanical stability of the multilateral junction remains one of the foremost challenging issues within the
industry.
A multilateral well could be an interesting framework that interfaces two or more laterals (horizontal, vertical, or
deviated) with the most wellbore. Which permits one well to create from a few reservoirs. Multilateral wells are
reasonable for complex geology where drilling more new wells to penetrate to those reservoirs isn't conservative.
Sidelong segments may be utilized to produce from a separated area in depleted, faulted, layered and heavy oil
reservoirs. Can construct multilaterals in both new and existing wells. An ordinary establishment incorporates two
laterals; the number of laterals would determine by: the number of targets, depth/pressure, risk analysis and well-
designed parameters.

Methodology and Experimental Setup

This chapter will cover up the methodology of the desired case study that will take place in this paper. The following
steps will be assessed by operating the landmark Software (Compass, CasingSeat) and tNavigator program.
Furthermore, the methodology of the case is to study the multilateral wells and its productivity by simulating data in
the software mentioned above.

COMPASS

The wellbore location needs to be precise to optimize production of every well drilled well into the target region.
And by expanding the amount of the complicated wells in multilateral, extreme variations including long horizontals,
it is much more significant. Many horizontal wells are being drilled quicker and near together, with small goal areas
or also in already mature fields. In order to contribute, engineers need to drill rapidly while preventing geological
risks and collisions to direct the bit into the productive pay zone.
COMPASS program is the sector's main program for the design of directional well pathways, data collection
analyses, tracking and anti-collision tests. This was built for the petroleum industry and the drilling firms. It will
improve the performance, safety, and expense-effectiveness of advice well programs. It includes various 2D and 3D
modelling processes, optimized torque and drag research, Optimization of expenses and re-entry, planning, data
interpretation of research and aim production of drillers.
In a shared data and configuration framework, the program is built on the Engineer's Data Model (EDM) platform
enabling data integrity and decreased cycle times in preparation. Members of the product team must be informed
that if any modifications arise due to software upgrades and alerts, the technical findings should still be changed in
real time.
Through interdisciplinary resources team settings this program is also an important aspect of integrated well
planning. Assimilation with OpenWorks geoscience software means both geoscientists and engineers understand
trajectory improvements generated by the other group, so each project manager can have direct guidance to
accomplish both engineering and sub-surface targets.

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CasingSeat

CasingSeat program is a processor-based device that can assess the length and wellbore width of the casing and
effective casing. Will optimize efficiency on tubular expense using the CasingSeat program in the early stages of the
casing design method.
The program incorporates assets-based control of appropriate hole and case size variations and offers thermal-based
and lithology-based analysis of subsurface initial conditions and operational restrictions, including all those relevant
to wellboard integrity, minimal unbalance, and variable sticking. CasingSeat program offers strategies of approach
from the bottom up and top down, focused on minimal configuration-depth criteria and the highest allowable drill-
ahead range for the definition and rating of casing systems, accordingly.
CasingSeat application is based on the application model Engineer's Data Model (EDM), which provides a highly
developed range of well-engineering and information analytics technologies. This allows data to be accessed once,
and only used in the program to encourage better strategies and a framework to maintain and navigate organizational
information and learned lessons.

tNavigator

Is a common downloadable program application that enables the user to construct static and dynamic reservoir
models, operate dynamic simulations, measure PVT fluid properties, create surface network models, measure lifting
tables and conduct advanced uncertainty analyses as result of an automated system. Both aspects of the process
share a similar standardized internal data storing framework, super-scalable parallel numerical engine (tested up to
10240 Processor and 35840 GPU cores with model sizes greater than 1 billion active grid blocks), application I / O
process, and graphical user interface.

Environmental Impact and Conclusion

Environmental Impact

Routine oil and gas activities in each production, decommissioning and exploration process may have adverse
environmental effects. Impacts can occur indirectly (traffic & sound) and physically directly (drilling fluids, drill
cuttings and anchor chains) Drilling programs run around the clock, affecting biodiversity, sources of water, human
safety, leisure activities and other public lands. The petroleum and gas perforations in our wild lands and ecosystems
have serious consequences.
Damage to marine life caused by seismic surveys aimed at estimating the scale of a petroleum and gas reserve pose
environmental issues. Additive attack from seismic surveys have found that fish eggs and larvae are harmed or
destroyed, that they hinder hearing and health of the fish and that they are unable to locate or interact with each
other. Such disruptions intervention and displace essential patterns of migration that force marine life away from
proper habitats such as nurseries, feeding stuffs, spawning and migration corridors.
The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon explosion destroyed about one million seabirds on the coast and offshore, five
thousand of marine mammals, and one thousands of sea turtles. Spills of chemical and oil can. Damage the kidney,
brain, liver, spleen, or other organ of animals. Causes cancer, reproductive failure, and suppression of the immune
system. And cause long-term environmental changes by destroying the nesting or breeding grounds of animals.
According to the United Nations, oil and gas production is one of the main culprits for the pollution of the
atmosphere. Respiring this air can lead to asthma, cardiovascular disease, developmental disorders and even cancer.
The process of "fracking," which includes contaminants that cause cancer, birth defects and liver damage, is
notorious for its pollution of water supplies.
The effects of long wildfires, heavy hurricanes and extreme heat waves are all around us. Human have burned fossil
fuels that led to the increasing of releasing greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution.
Carbon dioxide is primarily emitted in the air by bubbling of oil, coal, and gas, is the most abundant source of
greenhouse gas. During natural gas drilling, another gas, methane, is emitted using the "fracking" process.
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Building roads, facilities and sites known for the use of heavy equipment as well as pads can lead to the destruction
of large sections of the untouched wild. Oil and gas complex development can cause serious and long-term land
damages including destruction of the plant ecosystem, erosion, landslides, floods, and seriously fragmenting natural
habitats for wildlife.

Conclusion

The primary goal of this research has been accomplished. Using COMPASS software to create drilling trajectories
for a multilateral well and a horizontal well. Sakura W1 is a multilateral well with five wellbores, Wellbores #1,
Wellbores #2, Wellbore #3, Wellbore #4, and Wellbore #5, designed successfully under one slot called E1 with
545617.00 m east and 6543423.00 m north; a Jack-up Rig with an elevation of 125.0 feet above mean sea level, a
mudline depth of 305.0 feet, and a mudline TVD of 430.0 feet. The desired targets were reached at the desired depth,
Target1 at 12,000 ft TVD, Target2 at 5640 ft TVD, Target3 at 5275.0 ft TVD, Target4 at 6640.0 ft TVD and Target5
at 8645.0 ft TVD of each branch. The well trajectories created for both multilateral and horizontal wells are J-type
wells that were applied to each branch with a single fixed drilling platform. A horizontal well named Sakura W2
was successfully designed under one slot called E2 with an easing of 545609.48 m and a northing of 6543422.41 m.
Target1 must be reached at the desired depth of 5275.0 ft TVD. Besides, a static model and a dynamic model were
developed using two software programs, tNavigator and Petrel, to estimate the oil recovery of both scenarios. The
multilateral wells' maximum rate of oil production was set at 60,000 stb/day, with a total oil production over 20
years of 365.629 million stb and 235.365 million Mscf total gas. The maximum rate of oil production for two
horizontal wells was set at 10,000 stb/day each, for a total oil production of 107.079 million stb and 57.9807 million
Mscf total gas over 20 years. After calculating the net profit via Excel, the total net profit of drilling two horizontal
wells was $6,379,912,639, with a cost of $6,000,000. The multilateral net income was 22,592,449,839 dollars, with
a drilling cost of 16,000,000 dollars.
5. Nomenclature

Symbol Description Dimension / Unit

COMPASS Computerised Planning and Analysis Survey System Dimensionless
TVD True Vertical Depth ft.
KOP Kick Off Point ft.
TOC Top of Cement ft.
MD Measured Depth ft.

Acknowledgement. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, all praises go to Allah and His
blessings for the completion of this thesis. We thank God for all the opportunities, trials, and strength that have been
showered on us to complete this work.

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