Chemical Treatment Using Completion Rig Achieves Gains Without Service Vessel

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This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 36149, “Innovative Autonomous Chemical Treatment Using Completion Rig: Achieving Gains Without Well-Service Stimulation Vessel,” by Fernando A. Silva, Mario G. da Silva, and Rodrigo S. Tavares, Petrobras, et al. The paper has not been peer-reviewed.

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This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of autonomous scale-management strategies implemented in the Buzios Field that eliminate the need for a well-service stimulation vessel by using existing facilities onboard the well rig.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of autonomous scale-management strategies implemented in the Buzios Field that eliminates the need for a well-service stimulation vessel (WSSV) by using the existing facilities onboard the well rig. The proposed approach includes the removal and inhibition of inorganic scale using chemical treatments and operational protocols. By leveraging rig-based infrastructure, this methodology has delivered significant improvements in operational efficiency and well productivity while reducing logistical complexity and costs.

Scaling Challenges in the Buzios Field

Discovered in 2010, the Buzios field offshore Brazil holds the distinction of being the world’s largest ultradeepwater oil field. This globally significant asset is renowned for its substantial hydrocarbon reserves, low exploration risks, and competitive extraction costs. Water depths in the field range from 1,500 to 2,200 m, while its reservoirs are located between 5,000 and 6,000 m below sea level. These reservoirs primarily are composed of biogenic carbonate rocks deposited in a lacustrine environment overlain by a thick overburden of siliciclastic and salt formations.

The heterogeneity and complexity of the carbonate reservoir, combined with the substantial thickness of the producing intervals, require the use of intelligent well completions in most wells to ensure effective field management. From the earliest stages of Buzios development plans, intelligent well completion was identified as a critical component for optimizing production.

This approach not only aims to enhance overall reservoir management but also equips the technical team with greater flexibility to address reservoir uncertainties and maximize production efficiency.