Real-Time EM Look-Ahead Resistivity for Mapping of Oil/Water Contact While Drilling at Low Deviated Well, New Perspective for Mature Oil Fields Development: A Case Study Of Umm Gudair Field, Kuwait

Abstract

The Umm Gudair (UG) Field is a carbonate reservoir of West Kuwait with more than 57 years of production history. The average water cut of the field reached closed to 60 percent due to a long history of production and regulating drawdown in a different part of the field, consequentially undulating the current oil/water contact (COWC). As a result, there is high uncertainty of the current oil/water contact (COWC) that impacts the drilling strategy in the field. The typical approach used to develop the field in the lower part of carbonate is to drill deviated wells to original oil/water contact (OOWC) to know the saturation profile and later cement back up to above the high-water saturation zone and then perforate with standoff. This method has not shown encouraging results, and a high water cut presence remains. An innovative solution is required with a technology that can give a proactive approach while drilling to indicate approaching current oil/water contact and geo-stop drilling to give optimal standoff between the bit and the detected water contact (COWC). Recent development of electromagnetic (EM) look-ahead resistivity technology was considered and first implemented in the Umm Gudair (UG) Field. It is an electromagnetic-based signal that can detect the resistivity features ahead of the bit while drilling and enables proactive decisions to reduce drilling and geological or reservoir risks related to the well placement challenges.