Abstract

This study describes the process of characterizing, geo-steering, modeling, and stimulating a Bone Springs Play – the first project of this magnitude in the Permian Basin. Proactive geo-steering of PeriScope / PowerDrive (BHA kept 82% of the well path within the target zone. MP3 sonic delineated a 3-foot thick “sweet spot” within the target sand, now identified as a future drilling target. Integration of these results reduced the drilling time to 9.5 days (as opposed to 20 days on previous wells with similar conditions). It also minimized the dog leg severity of the wellbore, allowing the Packer Plus system to slide into place without incident.

Other oil field services include Petrel, wireline, and well services, all of which helped to optimize the project. Petrel was used to characterize the observed reservoir-scale heterogeneities for the local area, aiding the construction of a proactive model for planning drilling trajectories. This plan could eliminate the need for a pilot hole; saving the client approximately $0.5 M.

Wireline data provided the inputs for PowerSTIM frac modeling, which lead to optimization of the well’s stimulation. A engineering enhancement for the stimulation allowed for the isolation ball to be dropped on the fly, thereby reducing total frac pump time to 4 hours (as opposed to 11 hours on previous wells). Post stimulation analysis indicates good fracture coverage over all of the target sands. Post production numbers are limited to date, however preliminary results indicate the current well to be the most promising well in the field.

Integration of various solutions enhanced field performances, through better communication of data, expertise, and knowledge.