Abstract
The success of a scale inhibitor treatment depends on the placement efficiency. The scale inhibitor should be placed so that all water producing intervals accept a sufficient quantity of the total treatment volume. If significant permeability or pressure variations are present in the interval to be treated, treatment fluid will enter the zones with the higher permeability and lower pressure leaving little fluid to treat the other zones, which can be potentially the water producing zones. The challenge is even greater in long horizontal wells with significant permeability and pressure contrast.
To achieve a more uniform fluid coverage, the original flow distribution across interval often needs to be altered. The methods used to alter this are called "diversion" methods. The purpose is to divert the flow from one portion of the interval to another.
In response to this challenge, a joint study with the objective of improving the placement of treatment fluids was initiated by a major operator in the North Sea and two service companies in 2002.
As a result of this work a fully viscosified scale inhibitor system is developed. The system comprises a purified xanthan viscosifying agent, a standard scale inhibitor for downhole scale squeezing and a breaker to achieve controlled gel breaking down hole.
The system has been field tested at Norne field in two long horizontal wells at Heidrun field in one long deviated well, all with significant permeability variations and cross flow. The operations were successful and the scale treatments have protected the wells from scaling. The paper describes the product qualification process, placement simulation, temperature prediction and gel breaking characteristics, case histories and post job evaluation.
