A field wide review of rig workovers was carried out for the Prudhoe Bay reservoir to enable a set of ‘best practices’ to be drawn up and implemented. Particular emphasis was placed on well killing, together with the minimisation of formation damage and loss in productivity index associated with rig workover operations. Clear conclusions emerge which have a significant impact on productivity as well as reducing total workover costs.

The results of this case history are of direct relevance to all workover operations, detailing how cost effective well killing can be performed with the minimal productivity loss.

Keywords:
drilling fluid property, fracture, milling, well control, debris, drilling fluid formulation, hydraulic fracturing, workover, formation damage, upstream oil & gas
Subjects:
Drilling Operations, Pressure Management, Drilling Fluids and Materials, Hydraulic Fracturing, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Formation Evaluation & Management, Well control, Drilling fluid selection and formulation (chemistry, properties)
Copyright 1993, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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