
 Free gas along with heavy oil production affects the progressive cavity pump (PCP) performance. This necessitates the strategy to perforate away from the free gas zone. To be able to do this, it requires an integrated approach to evaluate and map the spread of the free gas accumulation in the field. The paper shall present how this resulted in improved well performance with less free gas interference.
 The methodology included the understanding of the production data, sub-surface geology and petrophysics; reservoir heterogeneity and free gas presence from wireline logs, core data and isotope analysis of gas collected during mud-logging and creation of maps and cross-sections showing both vertical and aerial spread of free gas accumulation. This was then integrated with existing production and well management practices, along with numerical simulation results. Such in-depth analysis helps to bring significant changes in well completion strategy and is a vital contribution to the WRFM strategy.
 Unlike in conventional fields where depth is more and buoyancy pressures are large, gas can easily displace oil to accumulate in structural highs, in shallow heavy oil fields, free gas accumulation is a result of combination of structural and stratigraphic entrapment process. Vertical migration and lateral migration of gas is likely restricted by non-reservoir facies. As a result a consistent gas-oil contact (GOC) may not be present across large distances. Gas oil contact separates heavy oil by possible structural spill point and lithological boundary, dipping from south to north. Structurally higher areas are prone to localized gas accumulation. The completion stand-off from the gas base has a direct correlation with gas production. So the well management and production practice is to increase the stand-off from gas base to top perforations in future wells and to perform gas shut-off job in current wells to avoid free gas production.
 The novelty of the current approach is that it will proactively help in completion strategy to reduce future free gas production, subsequent loss in natural reservoir energy and maintain the oil production target.

Integrated Approach for Evaluation of Free Gas Distribution Assists in Improved Well Management Practices in a Northern Kuwait Heavy Oil Field


 ""A challenge only becomes an obstacle when you bow to it — Ray A. Davis". The development of heavy oil resources at North Kuwait Fields is an important strategic project for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC). With the target of reaching 4 million barrels per day (MBPD) production capacity by the year 2020, KOC is expected to produce 900,000 BPD of heavy oil by the year 2020. However, while cruising towards this ambitious target, KOC is also facing some unique HSE challenges - risk of exposure to high concentration of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) especially in the Heavy Oil Fields. The objective of this paper is to present KOC's strategies in the management of H2S in heavy oil drilling and processing activities.
 Various controls including access control, mandatory H2S Awareness and Escape training courses for personnel, provision of fixed and portable H2S detectors, facility alarms, emergency planning, PPEs including respiratory protective equipment, work permits etc. are strictly implemented across the Facilities. All personnel working in heavy oil Facilities are trained for emergency to ensure that they react to protect themselves (and others) in the event of an H2S release incident.
 This paper introduces some practical strategies adopted in KOC to handle H2S hazards, which have contributed in effective management of the associated risks in "sour gas handling in heavy oil drilling and process plants". It is expected that this paper will initiate further consideration and new measures/ways to enhance H2S risk management and thereby significantly reduce the occurrence of losses to personnel, environment, asset and reputation. From our experience, we feel that the effectiveness of the overall H2S risk management can be ensured by establishing a structured system consisting of proper identification of the hazards, assessment of risk, identification of control measures to contain the risks at ALARP level and dissemination of information amongst the workforce.

Doing the Right Things…Taking Risk Management to the Next Level: Managing H 2 S Risks in Heavy Oil Facilities in Kuwait Oil Company


 Achieving excellent HSE performance is one of the main objectives of any industry, especially by High Hazard or Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) industries. Considering various national and global market demands, Oil & Gas industry must be ready to embark on challenging scenarios. To ensure such challenges are successfully addressed, the role of business partners (Business Partners) is very much vital and important as many projects are to be executed to achieve the set objects/targets safely.
 In many organizations, HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) or HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment) has been considered as one of the strategic objectives. In order to achieve such objectives, moving together with Business Partners (Contractors) bring lot of importance. In addition, this makes organizations to uphold a safe work environment at the work sites that demands and expects collaboration and support from the Business Partners who are on board as well as who will be on board with the respective organizations.
 Considering the dynamic challenges, achieving and sustaining excellent HSE performance is very essential, specifically in High or Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) industries such as Oil & Gas. Such industry who is having Business Partners from various countries, having multi-nationals as work force gives challenge to ensure Organization's HSE expectations are understood and implemented.

Enhancing Safety Culture through Changing the Mindset : Business Partners' HSE Performance: Practical Evaluation, Benchmarking & Path to Improvement

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Doing the Right Things…Taking Risk Management to the Next Level: Managing H 2 S Risks in Heavy Oil Facilities in Kuwait Oil Company

Enhancing Safety Culture through Changing the Mindset : Business Partners' HSE Performance: Practical Evaluation, Benchmarking & Path to Improvement