Improving reservoir understanding

In a market downturn we are faced with tighter margins and a reduction in projects, both in scope and size. Budgets are squeezed to weather the commodity storm; but the need for technological progress remains critical.

The oil and gas industry has always been underpinned by the need for innovation and advancement in order to maximise the performance of assets, optimise developmental costs, and to secure viability for the future. With this in mind, we must ask - do we really understand our reservoirs?

Uncertainties always exist within an asset - whether in reservoir boundaries, permeability variance, or near wellbore completion efficiency - therefore, it’s vital to understand these uncertainties in order to continue with an efficient and profitable production life.

It is with this challenge in mind, that Expro works to provide specialist reservoir evaluation services during exploration, appraisal and early-stage field development. From initial E&A well and interference testing, sample acquisition and analysis, through to data interpretation and modelling, Expro’s products and services ensure assets have the capability to produce at maximum capacity in a safe, efficient and controlled manner.

Remote downhole monitoring of pressure and temperature is one such example. Expro’s Cableless Telemetry System (CaTSTM) is experiencing market uptake to reduce reservoir uncertainty throughout the well lifecycle. By instrumenting a well with CaTS gauges, an electromagnetic-based telemetry technology, observations of interference with adjacent producing or injecting assets can be made. The data is transmitted wirelessly by the system to surface, allowing reservoir connectivity and compartmentalisation to be better understood within the field.

The same system can also be used to monitor the long-term pressure build-up within an abandoned well beyond a drill stem test. The gathered data is used to optimise field development plans by determining connected volumes or any reservoir flow barriers, ensuring that an asset can be produced efficiently and profitably.

Using this technology, it is possible to turn an otherwise abandoned well into a high-value, long-term monitoring asset. So before the green light is given to your next project, make sure critical information from your reservoirs is understood to optimise field development costs and ultimately, performance.