Cost-Effective Development of Shallow and Poorer Quality Gas Reservoir in Mature Field

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Abdulhadi ◽  
Hani Mohd Said ◽  
Ahmad Uzair Zubbir ◽  
Evelyn Ling ◽  
Mohamed Azlin Mohd Nasir ◽  
...  

Abstract The Cement Packer approach has been successfully implemented to pursue and monetize minor gas reservoirs of poorer quality. Due to its critical role in power supply to meet the nation's needs, license to operate gas fields oftentimes come with contractual obligations to deliver a certain threshold of gas capacity. The cement packer method is a cheaper alternative to workovers that enables operators to build gas capacity by monetizing minor gas reservoirs at lower cost. Group 1 reservoirs are the shallowest hydrocarbon bearing sand with poorer reservoir quality and relatively thin reservoirs. The behind-casing-opportunities in Minor Group-1 reservoirs previously required a relatively costly pull-tubing rig workover to monetize the reservoir. Opportunities in two wells were optimized from pull –tubing rig workovers to a non-rig program by implementing Cement Packer applications. The tubing was punched to create tubing-casing communication and cement was subsequently pumped through the tubing and into the casing. The hardened cement then acted as a barrier to satisfy operating guidelines. The reservoir was then additionally perforated, flow tested and successfully monetized at a lower cost. Tubing and casing integrity tests prior to well entry demonstrated good tubing and casing integrity. This is critical to ensure that cement will only flow into the casing where the tubing was punched. Once the cement hardened, pressure test from the tubing and from the casing indicated that the cement has effectively isolated both tubulars. Subsequent Cement Bond Log and Ultrasonic Imaging Tool showed fair to good cement above the target perforation depth. These data supported the fact that the cement packer was solid and the reservoir was ready for additional perforation. Taking into account the reservoir quality, it was decided to perforate the reservoir twice with the biggest gun available to ensure the lowest skin possible. Post perforation, there was a sharp increase in the tubing pressure indicating pressure influx from the reservoir. Despite that, casing pressure remained low, confirming no communication and thus the success of the cement packer.The well was later able to unload naturally due to its high reservoir pressure, confirming the producibility of the reservoirs and unlocking similar opportunities in other wells. Additionally, the cement packer approach delivered tremendous cost savings between $6 – 8 mil per well. Besides confirming the reservoirs' producibility,the success also unlocked additional shallow gas behind casing opportunities in the area.This method will now be the first-choice option to monetize any hydrocarbon resources in reservoirs located above the top packer.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Al-Kadem ◽  
Mohammad Gomaa ◽  
Karam Al Yateem ◽  
Abdulmonam Al Maghlouth

Abstract The Cement Packer approach has been successfully implemented to pursue and monetize minor gas reservoirs of poorer quality. Due to its critical role in power supply to meet the nation's needs, license to operate gas fields oftentimes come with contractual obligations to deliver a certain threshold of gas capacity. The cement packer method is a cheaper alternative to workovers that enables operators to build gas capacity by monetizing minor gas reservoirs at lower cost. Group 1 reservoirs are the shallowest hydrocarbon bearing sand with poorer reservoir quality and relatively thin reservoirs. The behind-casing-opportunities in Minor Group-1 reservoirs previously required a relatively costly pull-tubing rig workover to monetize the reservoir. Opportunities in two wells were optimized from pull –tubing rig workovers to a non-rig program by implementing Cement Packer applications. The tubing was punched to create tubing-casing communication and cement was subsequently pumped through the tubing and into the casing. The hardened cement then acted as a barrier to satisfy operating guidelines. The reservoir was then additionally perforated, flow tested and successfully monetized at a lower cost. Tubing and casing integrity tests prior to well entry demonstrated good tubing and casing integrity. This is critical to ensure that cement will only flow into the casing where the tubing was punched. Once the cement hardened, pressure test from the tubing and from the casing indicated that the cement has effectively isolated both tubulars. Subsequent Cement Bond Log and Ultrasonic Imaging Tool showed fair to good cement above the target perforation depth. These data supported the fact that the cement packer was solid and the reservoir was ready for additional perforation. Taking into account the reservoir quality, it was decided to perforate the reservoir twice with the biggest gun available to ensure the lowest skin possible. Post perforation, there was a sharp increase in the tubing pressure indicating pressure influx from the reservoir. Despite that, casing pressure remained low, confirming no communication and thus the success of the cement packer.The well was later able to unload naturally due to its high reservoir pressure, confirming the producibility of the reservoirs and unlocking similar opportunities in other wells. Additionally, the cement packer approach delivered tremendous cost savings between $6 – 8 mil per well. Besides confirming the reservoirs' producibility,the success also unlocked additional shallow gas behind casing opportunities in the area.This method will now be the first-choice option to monetize any hydrocarbon resources in reservoirs located above the top packer.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Abdulhadi ◽  
Evelyn Ling ◽  
Ahmad Uzair Zubbir ◽  
Hani Mohd Said ◽  
Rohani Elias ◽  
...  

Abstract The Cement Packer approach has been successfully implemented in ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Malaysia Inc. (EMEPMI) to further develop minor gas reservoirs. The reservoir of interest is of relatively poor quality and has not been tested, thus making conventional development potentially not cost effective. Several viable approaches were identified and assessed to appraise and develop the reservoir. The cement packer method, which requires relatively minimal investment was then selected as being the most suitable in pursuing these behind casing opportunities. Group 1 sands in Field A are the shallowest hydrocarbon reservoirs which are relatively thin and have low porosity and permeability. The existing completions are currently producing from deeper reservoirs, with the top packer located below the Group 1 sands. Developing the opportunities behind casing in these sands using the conventional pull tubing workover approach may be cost prohibitive. The cement packer approach, where the tubing was punched to create tubing-casing communication and cement was subsequently pumped through the tubing and into the casing, was identified as one of the potential cost effective solution. The hardened cement then acts as a barrier to satisfy operating guidelines. The reservoir was then additionally perforated, flow tested and successfully monetized. Prior to well entry, tubing and casing integrity tests were performed to confirm the integrity. This step is critical to ensure that cement will only flow into the casing where the tubing was punched. Once the cement is hardened, pressure test from the tubing and from the casing indicated the cement has effectively isolated both tubulars. Subsequent Cement Bond Log and Ultrasonic Imaging Tool also displayed nearly 120m of fair to good cement above the target perforation depth. These data served as basis and proof that the cement packer was solid and the reservoir was ready for additional perforation. Taking into account the relatively poor reservoir quality, it was decided to perforate the reservoir twice with the biggest gun available to increase the probability of maximum reservoir contact while minimizing skin. Post perforation, a sharp increase in the tubing pressure was observed, indicating pressure influx from the reservoir. The casing pressure however, remained low, confirming no tubing-casing communication and thus the success of the cement packer. The well was later able to unload naturally from the high reservoir pressure. The work program also managed to confirm the producibility of the reservoirs. This successful approach has opened up potential application to similar stranded reservoirs behind casing.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (03) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Toulon ◽  
Elyane Frere ◽  
Claude Bachmeyer ◽  
Nathalie Candia ◽  
Philippe Blanche ◽  
...  

SummaryThrombin clotting time (TCT) and reptilase clotting time (RCT) were found significantly prolonged in a series of 72 HIV-infected patients drawn for routine coagulation testing. Both TCT and RCT were highly significantly correlated with albumin (r = -0.64, and r = -0.73 respectively, p<0.0001). TCT and RCT were significantly higher (p<0.0001) in a series of 30 other HIV-infected patients selected on their albumin level below 30.0 g/l (group l) than in 30 HIV-infected patients with albumin level above 40.0 g/l or in 30 HIV-negative controls; the two latter groups were not different. In vitro supplementation of plasma from group 1 patients with purified human albumin up to 45.0 g/l (final concentration) lead to a dramatic shortening effect on both TCT and RCT, which reached normal values. The TCT and RCT of the purified fibrinogen solutions (2.0 g/l final concentration) were not different in the three groups, and normal polymerization curves were obtained in all cases. This further ruled out the presence of any dysfibrinogenemia in the plasma from group 1 patients. Using purified proteins, highly significant correlations were demonstrated between the albumin concentration and the prolongations of both TCT and RCT, which were of the same magnitude order than those found in the patients plasma. These results suggest that hypo-albuminemia is responsible for the acquired fibrin polymerization defect reported in HIV-infected patients. The pathophysiological implication of the low albumin levels was suggested by the finding of decreased albumin levels (associated with prolonged TCT and RCT) in a small series of the eight HIV-infected patients who developed thrombotic complications.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (09) ◽  
pp. 507-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Skuse ◽  
Mark Windebank ◽  
Tafadzwa Motsi ◽  
Guillaume Tellier

When pulp and minerals are co-processed in aqueous suspension, the mineral acts as a grinding aid, facilitating the cost-effective production of fibrils. Furthermore, this processing allows the utilization of robust industrial milling equipment. There are 40000 dry metric tons of mineral/microfbrillated (MFC) cellulose composite production capacity in operation across three continents. These mineral/MFC products have been cleared by the FDA for use as a dry and wet strength agent in coated and uncoated food contact paper and paperboard applications. We have previously reported that use of these mineral/MFC composite materials in fiber-based applications allows generally improved wet and dry mechanical properties with concomitant opportunities for cost savings, property improvements, or grade developments and that the materials can be prepared using a range of fibers and minerals. Here, we: (1) report the development of new products that offer improved performance, (2) compare the performance of these new materials with that of a range of other nanocellulosic material types, (3) illustrate the performance of these new materials in reinforcement (paper and board) and viscosification applications, and (4) discuss product form requirements for different applications.


2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G Koch

Current estimates of obesity costs ignore the impact of future weight loss and gain, and may either over or underestimate economic consequences of weight loss. In light of this, I construct static and dynamic measures of medical costs associated with body mass index (BMI), to be balanced against the cost of one-time interventions. This study finds that ignoring the implications of weight loss and gain over time overstates the medical-cost savings of such interventions by an order of magnitude. When the relationship between spending and age is allowed to vary, weight-loss attempts appear to be cost-effective starting and ending with middle age. Some interventions recently proven to decrease weight may also be cost-effective.


2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Quercia ◽  
Ronald Abrahams ◽  
C. Michael White ◽  
John D'Avella ◽  
Mary Campbell

A pharmacy-managed anemia program included distribution and clinical components, with the goal of making epoetin alpha therapy for hemodialysis patients more cost-effective. The Pharmacy Department prepared epoetin alpha doses for patients in unit-dose syringes, utilizing and documenting vial overfill. Pharmacists dosed epoetin alpha and iron (oral and intravenous) per protocol for new and established patients. Baseline data were obtained in 1994, one year prior to implementation of the program, and were re-evaluated in 1995 and 1998. Cost avoidance from utilization of epoetin alpha vial overfill in 1995 and 1998 was $83,560 and $91,148 respectively. In 1995 and 1998, cost avoidance from pharmacy management of anemia was $191,159 and $203,985 respectively. The total cost avoidance from 1995 through 1998 was estimated at $1,018,638. The number of patients with hematocrits under 31% decreased from 32% in 1994 to 21% and 14% in 1995 and 1998 respectively. We conclude that a pharmacy-managed anemia program for hemodialysis patients results in significant cost savings and better achievement of target hematocrits.


Author(s):  
Allan Matthews ◽  
Adrian Leyland

Over the past twenty years or so, there have been major steps forward both in the understanding of tribological mechanisms and in the development of new coating and treatment techniques to better “engineer” surfaces to achieve reductions in wear and friction. Particularly in the coatings tribology field, improved techniques and theories which enable us to study and understand the mechanisms occurring at the “nano”, “micro” and “macro” scale have allowed considerable progress to be made in (for example) understanding contact mechanisms and the influence of “third bodies” [1–5]. Over the same period, we have seen the emergence of the discipline which we now call “Surface Engineering”, by which, ideally, a bulk material (the ‘substrate’) and a coating are combined in a way that provides a cost-effective performance enhancement of which neither would be capable without the presence of the other. It is probably fair to say that the emergence and recognition of Surface Engineering as a field in its own right has been driven largely by the availability of “plasma”-based coating and treatment processes, which can provide surface properties which were previously unachievable. In particular, plasma-assisted (PA) physical vapour deposition (PVD) techniques, allowing wear-resistant ceramic thin films such as titanium nitride (TiN) to be deposited on a wide range of industrial tooling, gave a step-change in industrial productivity and manufactured product quality, and caught the attention of engineers due to the remarkable cost savings and performance improvements obtained. Subsequently, so-called 2nd- and 3rd-generation ceramic coatings (with multilayered or nanocomposite structures) have recently been developed [6–9], to further extend tool performance — the objective typically being to increase coating hardness further, or extend hardness capabilities to higher temperatures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregg S. Pettis ◽  
Aheli S. Mukerji

Vibrio vulnificus populates coastal waters around the world, where it exists freely or becomes concentrated in filter feeding mollusks. It also causes rapid and life-threatening sepsis and wound infections in humans. Of its many virulence factors, it is the V. vulnificus capsule, composed of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), that plays a critical role in evasion of the host innate immune system by conferring antiphagocytic ability and resistance to complement-mediated killing. CPS may also provoke a portion of the host inflammatory cytokine response to this bacterium. CPS production is biochemically and genetically diverse among strains of V. vulnificus, and the carbohydrate diversity of CPS is likely affected by horizontal gene transfer events that result in new combinations of biosynthetic genes. Phase variation between virulent encapsulated opaque colonial variants and attenuated translucent colonial variants, which have little or no CPS, is a common phenotype among strains of this species. One mechanism for generating acapsular variants likely involves homologous recombination between repeat sequences flanking the wzb phosphatase gene within the Group 1 CPS biosynthetic and transport operon. A considerable number of environmental, genetic, and regulatory factors have now been identified that affect CPS gene expression and CPS production in this pathogen.


Biostatistics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dane R Van Domelen ◽  
Emily M Mitchell ◽  
Neil J Perkins ◽  
Enrique F Schisterman ◽  
Amita K Manatunga ◽  
...  

SUMMARYMeasuring a biomarker in pooled samples from multiple cases or controls can lead to cost-effective estimation of a covariate-adjusted odds ratio, particularly for expensive assays. But pooled measurements may be affected by assay-related measurement error (ME) and/or pooling-related processing error (PE), which can induce bias if ignored. Building on recently developed methods for a normal biomarker subject to additive errors, we present two related estimators for a right-skewed biomarker subject to multiplicative errors: one based on logistic regression and the other based on a Gamma discriminant function model. Applied to a reproductive health dataset with a right-skewed cytokine measured in pools of size 1 and 2, both methods suggest no association with spontaneous abortion. The fitted models indicate little ME but fairly severe PE, the latter of which is much too large to ignore. Simulations mimicking these data with a non-unity odds ratio confirm validity of the estimators and illustrate how PE can detract from pooling-related gains in statistical efficiency. These methods address a key issue associated with the homogeneous pools study design and should facilitate valid odds ratio estimation at a lower cost in a wide range of scenarios.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000561
Author(s):  
Ving Fai Chan ◽  
Fatma Omar ◽  
Elodie Yard ◽  
Eden Mashayo ◽  
Damaris Mulewa ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo review and compare the cost-effectiveness of the integrated model (IM) and vertical model (VM) of school eye health programme in Zanzibar.Methods and analysisThis 6-month implementation research was conducted in four districts in Zanzibar. Nine and ten schools were recruited into the IM and VM, respectively. In the VM, teachers conducted eye health screening and education only while these eye health components were added to the existing school feeding programme (IM). The number of children aged 6–13 years old screened and identified was collected monthly. A review of project account records was conducted with 19 key informants. The actual costs were calculated for each cost categories, and costs per child screened and cost per child identified were compared between the two models.ResultsScreening coverage was 96% and 90% in the IM and VM with 297 children (69.5%) from the IM and 130 children (30.5%) from VM failed eye health screening. The 6-month eye health screening cost for VM and IM was US$6 728 and US$7 355. The cost per child screened for IM and VM was US$1.23 and US$1.31, and the cost per child identified was US$24.76 and US$51.75, respectively.ConclusionBoth models achieved high coverage of eye health screening with the IM being a more cost-effective school eye health delivery screening compared with VM with great opportunities for cost savings.


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