Early Reservoir Appraisal, Utilizing a Well Testing System

08121-2501

Primary Performer
Nautilus International LLC

Additional Participants
Knowledge Reservoir LLC, Expro, General Marine Contractors, Louisiana State University, Texas A&M, University of Tulsa, IntecSea WorleyParsons Group, GE VetcoGray

Abstract:
Deepwater well testing in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is not adequate, primarily due to the high cost of conventional equipment. Appropriate low-cost deepwater well production testing systems would provide incentive to perform early longer term well tests to help define reservoir characteristics, economics, and field management. Well testing for the deep water Gulf of Mexico could be the major enabler to prove up billions of barrels of oil equivalent. Recent discoveries in the deep water GOM imply massive accumulations of oil, in the billions of barrels, and possibly multi-TCF of gas. To ascertain the oil or gas in place, production potential, and ultimate recovery factors requires more than electric logs, cores, 3-D seismic, and MDTs. Because of the high cost and extended times to drill these deep water wells, the appraisal well concept to prove commerciality is usually not economically viable for many parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

The project will work with and utilize a steering committee that includes GE VetcoGray, Tidewater and deepwater operators to determine the market needs of vessels, equipment, and services for deep water well testing. The project team will evaluate the various Gulf of Mexico deepwater reservoirs to identify the facility design criteria required for deepwater well testing systems and will conduct a thorough analysis of various well testing systems.

Key deliverables include comprehensive reports on this study, a database of related information, and a custom software program that operators can use to evaluate testing alternatives for specific wells.

Keith Millheim, Principal Investigator
Thomas E. Williams, Project Administrator
Mats Rosengren, Lead Systems Engineer
Charles Yemington, Lead Equipment Engineer
Nautilus International LLC

Additional Information:

Final Project Report [PDF-8.02MB]