Abstract
Recently, flood kill applications have been evaluated to cure blowouts due to gas migration from behind the casing while keeping the well integrity intact for further production. Traditionally, deterministic evaluations are used in planning these operations, ignoring the uncertainties in the characteristics of the gas sources behind the casing. This work focuses on using reservoir simulation-based workflow to evaluate the uncertainty providing probabilistic operating conditions to control the gas rates coming from behind the casing. The results of the simulations are combined to provide general guidelines for performing an effective flood kill operation. The studied parameters are divided in different categories based on their influence/impact on the effective kill. For example, the relationship between the best relief well position and reservoir permeability and anisotropy are studied, and the guidelines for the definition of the best location is identified. Based on the results of the analysis, the optimum required proximity of the wells can be determined. The analysis identifies the main factors for a successful flood kill operation. The situations where flood kill could be beneficial are identified and the success rate could be evaluated. This paper presents a methodology and guidelines for the design of an effective flood kill application. This methodology will help in positioning of the relief well and provide required control mechanisms to increase the chances of a successful operation. The methodology also provides insight on the required operating parameters, such as pump rates and total volume to be injected, for the operation to be successful. In addition, the developed workflow can be updated as more information is gathered while drilling the relief well. This will help in improving the chances of a flood-kill operation while providing tighter controls on the operational conditions.
