Abstract
The Machar field is located in UKCS block 23/26a. BP Amoco operate the field as part of the ETAP (Eastern Trough Area Project) development. The reservoir is mainly low permeability (less than 1 millidarcy), fractured chalk. Production rates from appraisal wells in the 1980s and early 1990s were disappointing at 2,000 to 8,000 bpd, which reduced the economic attractiveness of developing the field.
The Machar Field is now under development and recent production wells have delivered flowrates in excess of 30,000 bpd. These improvements have been achieved by close and careful integration of all aspects of well planning and operations which have evolved over several years. This case history discusses some of the areas which have contributed to unlocking the chalk potential of the Machar field. These are, use of a phased development; optimisation of well planning, fracture identification and acid stimulation to provide highly productive wells.
