Mapping Water Encroachment in Low Deviated Well in Real-Time, A Solution from LWD EM-Look Ahead Technology

Summary 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 to 60%. Due to long history of production and variable drawdown in the different part of the field, consequentially undulating current oil-water contact (COWC). In result, uncertainty of COWC in development wells drilling locations. UG field required a technology, which can give proactive approach while drilling to get ahead indication of approaching current oil water contact and geo-stop drilling to give optimum stand-off between the bit and the detected water contact (COWC). This innovative approach optimizes well performance through production’s improvement and well cost optimization. In this paper, it will discuss the innovative approach for detecting current oil-water contact with EM Look Ahead while drilling. The pre-job well study, designing the tool configuration, real time execution and the result will be discussed. COWC was first time registered by 63ft TVD ahead of the bit position while drilling by the EM look-ahead resistivity. This detection gives real time decision to place the well in optimum space to the current oil water contact.