SPE-192670-MS

Preserving Great Discoveries by Using Non-Damaging Killing Fluid During

the Temporary Abandonment of HPHT Exploratory Wells

Abdullah Al-Ibrahim, Haifa Al-Bader, Packirisamy Subban, Vidya Sagar Duggirala, and Mani Maran Ayyavoo,
Kuwait oil Company

Copyright 2018, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 12-15 November 2018.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
Objective/Scope: Objective of this paper is to present the successful method applied to eliminate the
damage caused by mud invasion during killing operation after successful testing of newly discovered
reservoirs using Drill Stim Test (DST) and before running the completion.
Method, Procedures, Process: DST is normally used during testing the exploratory wells to record the
downhole pressure and temperature and to collect downhole samples. After a successful well testing and
proving the hydrocarbon potential, the test is called off and the well is usually killed with mud in order to
retrieve the DST and run the completion. Heavy oil based mud (OBM) is normally used during killing HPHT
wells, which causes severe damage to the treated/stimulated zone. After running the completion, the well is
activated by displacing the killing mud with diesel using coiled tubing (CT). In most cases, the wells showed
lower productivity after the completion due to the damage caused by mud invasion and barite settlement.
In order to overcome this serious issue, non-damaging killing fluid with Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) pill
was used in several exploratory wells. The pill causes a temporary barrier between the perforated intervals
and the killing fluid (OBM) to prevent the mud invasion to the discovered reservoir. The CaCo3 pill is an
acid soluble material, which can be easily dissolved with Hydrochloric acid (HCl).
After killing the well using OBM with CaCO3 pill, retrieving the DST and running the completion, the
well is normally activated by displacing the killing fluid with diesel then spotting and squeezing 15% HCl
against the perforated intervals. Finally, the well is flowed back for cleaning and flow measurement to
confirm that the discovered reservoir is preserved.
Results, Observations, Conclusions: Excessive Losses of mud into the stimulated/discovered reservoir
has always been a major concern during well completion operations since it leads to massive formation
damage, which is difficult to be stimulated. Successful implementation of this method using CaCO3 pill in
HPHT discovered reservoir has eliminated the mud invasion into the treated zone. During killing process,
it was observed that the mud losses were significantly reduced by using fine to medium grains of CaCO3 in
the pill. The flow back after acid wash has clearly showed similar productivity to the initial testing results
prior killing. Many discovered wells were successfully preserved after treating them with small quantity of
2 SPE-192670-MS

acid wash. Field application of this method in more than 10 deep HPHT exploratory wells has preserved
them for future production.
Novel/Additive Information: Using the non-damaging killing fluid with CaCO3 pill for the future
exploratory wells, where the DST is mandatory, will eliminate any formation damage to the discovered
reservoirs with good hydrocarbon potential which will preserve the well productivity after running the
completion.

Introduction
Jurassic reservoirs in the state of Kuwait oil fields are deep, High Pressure, High Temperature, sour and
naturally fractured tight carbonate reservoirs. Najmah, Sargelu and Marrat are the three main reservoirs in
Jurassic section. These formations are considered as a combination of conventional matrix porosity as well
as low porosity fracture play. Drilling in deep, High pressure and High Temperature (HPHT) reservoirs
leads to use of high density oil based mud (OBM) up to 21 ppg. Conventional drilling muds with barite are
used during drilling, testing and completion of deep reservoir.
Exploratory wells drilled up to Jurassic reservoirs are usually perforated in underbalance condition and
tested using Drill Stem Testing (DST) technique. Almost all exploratory wells drilled in deep carbonate
reservoirs require acid stimulation treatment to restore damaged permeability. After successful DST and
before running the completion, the treated pay zone is killed with heavy weight mud. Loss of heavy
weight mud into the formation was observed during completion operations. Loss of dense mud into the
productive zone leads to permanent formation damage and well control issues in some cases. This was a
major concern during completion operations. This issue became even more complex while testing fractured
reservoir. Hence, an effective technique is required, either chemical or mechanical, to prevent mud losses
and formation damage during completion to preserve the discovery.
Based on the lessons learned from the previous testing and completion operation in Jurassic wells, non-
damaging CaCo3 pill was identified as a remedial action to prevent mud losses and formation damage to the
treated zones. CaCO3 pill technique was implemented in Jurassic reservoir to eliminate the damage caused
by mud invasion during killing operation after successful testing of newly discovered reservoirs and before
running completion. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the remedial technique to
prevent mud losses and formation damages during testing and completion of highly fractured deep reservoir
wells in the state of Kuwait.

Objectives
Main objectives of this case study are:

• To minimize or eliminate the damage caused by mud invasion during killing operation after
successful testing of newly discovered reservoirs and before running the completion.
• To use acid soluble CaCo3 pill as a bridging agent ahead of kill fluid instead of the traditional OBM
used in previous wells.

Challenges
The main challenges encountered during drilling, testing and completion of deep Jurassic reservoirs are the
high pressure(between 12,000 psi & 18,000 psi), high temperature(between 275 & 300 deg. F), high density
mud(16 ppg - 21 ppg), high H2S concentration(0.5% - 40%) and presence of natural fractures, as following:
1. HPHT Equipment
SPE-192670-MS 3

Testing and completion of HPHT wells requires special tools, equipment, chemicals and treatment
that can withstand high pressure and high temperature in addition to the presence of high
concentrations of H2S content. Drilling in HPHT reservoirs leads to the use of high density muds.
All sub surface DST/completion tools and surface equipment like Coiled Tubing, pumping units and
surface testing equipment must be rated for the high pressure application. Moreover, the high reservoir
temperatures can negatively affect the stimulation fluid properties and the time of the acid reaction.
2. High density mud
16 to 21 ppg oil based mud is required to drill and complete deep HPHT Jurassic wells. Barite
in high density mud causes significant formation damage during testing and completion process.
Moreover, the barite solids used as weighting agent in the annulus can cause problem in pressure
transmission and may plug the ports of the annulus pressure operated DST tools. For high pressure
wells, the choices of least damaging drilling fluids will become narrow. Achieving high mud densities
without increasing solid content will be almost impossible.
3. Formation damage
The main challenge here is to remove or overcome the formation damage caused during drilling
and completion. The formation damage caused during completion leads to lowering the production
capability of the reservoir. To avoid formation damage and preserve well productivity, the use of
suitable non-damaging technique during drilling, completion and killing operations is essential.
4. Completion- A Difficult Challenge
The use of water based mud (WBM) or oil based Mud as a completion fluid in high pressure and
fractured reservoir will be risky due to the potential losses of the fluid into the fractured formation and
may leads to well control issues. Fluid-loss control is very important for successful well completion
operations. In such case, completion fluid with barite as a weighting agent is typically used to maintain
the required density to control downhole pressures. However, there is a risk of mud losses into the
treated zone happens during completion operation that causes formation damage and reduction in
production. Effective completion fluid is required to minimize mud losses and formation damage.

Exploratory well testing technique

Exploratory wells drilled up to Jurassic reservoirs are perforated with tubing conveyed perforation (TCP)
tool in underbalance condition and then tested using Drill Stem Testing (DST) technique. DST assembly
consist of gauge carrier, tester valve, multi-cycle circulating valve, rupture disc valves and Down-Hole
samplers attached with 3-½″ tubing string are used to test deep Jurassic reservoirs. 15,000 psi rated Coiled
Tubing unit (CTU) is used during well activation and stimulation operations. Well schematic of the case
study well is shown in Fig-01.
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Figure 1—Well testing and completion schematic of the case study well
SPE-192670-MS 5

After activation, stimulation and flow studies, the pay zone is killed with OBM to pull out DST tools and
run the completion assembly. Mud losses were observed during killing operation, which caused formation
damage to the treated zone. After running the completion, the well is activated by displacing the killing mud
with diesel using coiled tubing (CT). High volume acid treatment is pumped to remove the formation damage
caused during killing process. In most cases, the wells showed lower productivity after the completion due to
the damage caused by mud invasion and barite settlement. The problem of mud losses and lower productivity
was overcome by developing and implementing a non-damaging loss control strategy for subsequent wells.

Modified Procedures
The following modified procedures are followed for completing well using non-damaging and acid soluble
CaCo3 pill.
1. RIH DST and TCP assembly.
2. Perforate the well in underbalance condition.
3. Record the initial reservoir pressure.
4. Activate and stimulate the well.
5. Conduct flow studies in different choke sizes followed by pressure build up.
6. Kill the well by bull heading mud with acid soluble CaCO3 pill (fine/medium grain) as a bridging
agent followed by balance OBM kill fluid.
7. Pull out of hole the DST assembly to surface.
8. RIH with completion string and isolate annulus with packer.
9. Install X-Mas tree, Pressure test and release the rig.
10. Activate, stimulate with 15% HCl and conduct flow studies.

Formation damage control using non-damaging pill

After testing the target zone, the well needs to be killed for completion or zone transfer operation. During
well killing process, the treated zone ends up in losses and the barite in OBM induce permanent damage
to the tested interval. Different fluid loss control materials are used widely in the oil and gas industry in
various applications connected with the completion, stimulation, and workover of a well.
According to Abrams (1977), Solids invasion and formation impairment can be minimized by adding
bridging materials to drilling muds. His study revealed that the invasion and formation damage occur with
all muds. The depth of invasion and level of impairment can be controlled, to a certain degree, by designing
the mud to include bridging material. The effectiveness of the bridging material in reducing invasion is a
function of the concentration and particle size of the material and of the pore sizes of the formation rock.
Formation damage caused due to invasion of high density mud into the fractured carbonate reservoir
poses a challenge to design proper stimulation treatment and to evaluate the real reservoir potential. To
minimize or avoid mud losses and formation damage, non-damaging CaCO3 bridging pill can be used as a
remedial method. Effective bridging can be done by using fine to medium size CaCO3 grains as the bridging
material. The non-damaging CaCO3 bridging pill is acid soluble and can be removed later on. As CaCO3
grains are acid soluble, after completing the well a small acid wash treatment would be sufficient to dissolve
the grains and to revive well potential. This methodology could achieve noticeable results.

Field Application
In earlier period, after stimulation and testing, the well is killed with high density kill fluid (OBM) for
completion or zone transfer or temporary abandonment. Loss of mud into the treated zone was observed
during well killing process. Excessive loss of high-density mud into the formation has always been a major
6 SPE-192670-MS

concern during testing and completion operations. The barite invasion not only damage near well bore area
but also goes deep into the pay zone through natural fractures.
To minimize / avoid such damage, nowadays 50 pounds per barrel (ppb) of CaCO3 (fine to medium
grains) pill is pumped into the tubing ahead of kill mud and then DST assembly is pulled out to surface.
This fine and medium grains in the kill fluid form a low permeable filter cake on the wellbore walls and
acts as a barrier to avoid further invasion of barite into the formation thereby minimizing the invasion of
filtrate and solids to the formation. After killing the well using OBM with CaCO3 pill and running the
completion, the well is activated by displacing the killing fluid with diesel and then spotting 15% HCl against
the pay zone. The well is flowed back for cleaning and the flow is measured to confirm the production post
CaCO3 pill application. Production Logging (PLT) was carried out in the case study well to confirm the
flow performance. The flow measurement after acid wash has clearly showed similar productivity to the
initial testing results prior killing.
Field application of this method was implemented in more than 10 deep HPHT exploratory wells
and preserved the discoveries for future production. Performance of a case study well pre and post non-
Damaging CaCO3 pill application in deep Jurassic reservoir is given at Table-1 and 2. Pre and post
Production profile and zonal contribution of the case study well is given in Fig. 2 and 3.

Figure 2—Production profile and zonal contribution(PLT)- Post killing

SPE-192670-MS 7

Figure 3—Production profile and zonal contribution(PLT)- Post killing

Table 1—Case study well performance: Pre and post non-Damaging CaCO3 application

Results and Conclusion

1. Application of non-damaging fluid loss control technique proved the reduction in formation damage
comparing with conventional mud during testing and completion operation. A recent shift in well
completion methodology using non-damaging CaCO3 pill has brought an effective fluid loss control
method for high pressure and high temperature carbonate reservoir having natural fractures.
2. During killing process, it was observed that the mud losses were significantly reduced by using fine
to medium grains of CaCO3 in the pill.
3. Performance of the case study well on pre and post usage non-damaging CaCO3 pill application in
deep Jurassic reservoir showed similar productivity to the initial testing results prior killing.
8 SPE-192670-MS

4. Potential of many Jurassic wells were successfully preserved after treating them with small quantity
of acid wash. Field application of this method in more than 10 deep HPHT exploratory wells has
preserved them for future production.
5. Non-Damaging CaCO3 pill method has been applied in Cretaceous reservoir discovery wells too.

Acknowledgements
Authors wish to acknowledge Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Ministry of Oil (MoO) for granting
permission to publish this paper. The authors also would like to extend their appreciation to Discovery
Promotion Team, Explorations operations Team, Prospect Evaluation Team, Deep Drilling Group and
service companies a for their support during well testing operations.

Nomenclature
API American Petroleum Institute
Bbls Barrels
Bopd Barrel oil per day
Bpd Barrel per day
Bpm Barrel per minute
BPV Backpressure valve
GOR Gas oil ratio
CaCO3 Calcium Carbonate
CT Coiled Tubing
DST Drill Stem Testing
FWHP Flowing well head pressure
HPHT High Pressure High Temperature
HCl Hydrochloric acid
H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
KOC Kuwait Oil Company
MD Measured Depth
MoO Ministry of Oil
OBM Oil Base Mud
POOH Pulling out of hole
Ppg pounds per gallon
PPB Pound per barrel
Psi Pounds per square inch
RIH Run in Hole
TCP Tubing Conveyed Perforation
TVD True vertical depth
WBM Water based mud

References
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of Petroleum Technology, p 586–592, SPE-5713-PA, May-1977.
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Al-Ibrahim. SPE paper titled "Paradigm Shift in Reducing Formation Damage: Application of
Potassium Formate Water Based Mud in Deep HPHT Exploratory Well." Presented at the SPE
SPE-192670-MS 9

Kuwait International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition held in Kuwait City, Kuwait, 10-12
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