Abstract
Following an energetic, low unit development costs (UDC) workshop held by the Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) Darat asset team, with cross discipline, service company, and other low cost operator input, a fundamental change in well design was proposed. The Seria oilfield, managed by the BSP Darat asset group, is a billion barrel field that has been producing for over 60 years. As with most Brownfield sites, continued production faces a constant challenge to keep UDC economic. One of the major costs and well design requirements in this shallow oilfield is down hole sand control. It was proposed that if well design could be slimmed down, simplified, and sand produced to surface to be dealt with there, a significant reduction in well costs could be possible, even allowing for increased OPEX.
The paper will describe the change in well designs, the dynamics of a multi discipline team set up to manage this project, the drilling and completion of the wells, and the well start up process. Results from the wells will be presented along with future plans for the project, and …… why they were called Gecko wells!
