Optimizing production from existing wells:

Traditionally, the oil industry has not invested as much energy in improving the environment as in optimizing recovery rates. Jørgen Hallundbæk explains how Welltec’s technology combines the best of the two worlds by helping to increase the industry’s efficiency and production levels while also providing outstanding environmental benefits.

Economic viability

At Welltec we create intelligent approaches to well management according to a demand for high flexibility. With a flexible completion structure, operators are provided with a solution that allows for continuous adjustments while leveling out upfront investments. Smart well management is thus motivated by a desire to optimize recovery rates, add value to the management of wells and ultimately eliminate interventions. By stitching all accessible data together, operators get a better view of the reservoir, which presents them with a better way of managing their field and investments.

Welltec contributes to this technological development by designing services that are compatible with this completion structure and at the same time provide increased oil recovery. We have a highly flexible tool portfolio, ensuring that our services can be configured to fit specific situations and also re-configured on the job site. Our approach to risk management is not to limit the yield, only the exposure to risks.

Rig-less intervention practically leaves no footprint

Welltec’s technology helps the industry reduce emissions and environmental risks across the entire supply chain in several ways. First, we assist the industry to optimize and increase the use of deviated wells including horizontal and extended reach wells. With the possibility to drill wells horizontally off a single vertical well, fewer surface penetrations are required. In this way, we contribute to the reduction of environmental impacts, particularly in offshore settings and in environmentally sensitive locations.

Second, our services eliminate the need for all the heavy equipment needed by conventional intervention methods while also reducing the required number of people on board. As a consequence of our light equipment, we cause less fuel consumption, emissions and discharge during transportation and operation. A significant feature of Welltec’s services is keyhole surgery; by applying large amounts of precision-controlled force in small parts of the well, Welltec’s services are truly reliable and significantly more effective than conventional approaches that require heavy equipment.

Furthermore, our technology is remote-controlled because instead of heavy surface equipment, we have moved the intelligence into the tools and down hole. Welltec’s services thus maximize production from existing wells and also contribute to the oil and gas industry’s objective of rigless intervention. A further benefit of rigless interventions is the considerable reduction of fuel consumption, CO2, particulates, NOx and SOx emissions.

Third, Welltec’s services are valuable in operations seeking to reduce or prevent produced water in maturing wells. Efficient water management rapidly increases oil recovery from maturing reservoirs and extends their economic lives. Controlling water influx also offers many additional environmental benefits.

Case study – water management

In a well in the North Sea producing since 1995, PLT measurements showed there was an internal leakage in tubing. A previously installed straddle was retrieved and the well temporarily plugged in 2006. Eager to get production flowing, the operator decided to use the Well Tractor and Well Stroker to isolate lower sliding side door with a 26 foot long straddle and to isolate hole in tubing above lower straddle with 72 foot straddle. As a result, water cut was reduced from 85 percent to 5 percent, gas to oil ratio was reduced from 2000 to 200, while quantity of oil was boosted from 100 to 900 Sm3/d.

Technology for the future

At Welltec we will keep on developing more tools to optimize wireline drilling and work towards a completely rigless environment. This will comply with the constant demand by the industry to optimize production, and Welltec is perfectly positioned to deliver the required technology across the breadth of well types and environments. Our solutions enhance the long-term health of the reservoir and expose wells to fewer risks, which we believe are the way of the future.

Key points

Welltec’s services provide:
Optimization of mature reservoirs.
Enhanced oil recovery.
Added value to existing fields.
Flexibility completion structure.
Leveling out of upfront investments.
Possibility to perform rigless interventions.
Excellent water management.
Reliable solutions.
Supreme environmental benefits.
Reduced CO2, NOx and SOx emissions.
Streamlining of the entire supply chain.

Welltec, Well Stroker and Well Tractor are registered trademarks.

Jørgen Hallundbæk

Jørgen Hallundbæk is CEO of Welltec. He graduated from the Technical University of Denmark with honours in 1987. During his studies, he developed the conceptual idea for the Well Tractor technology and founded Welltec in 1994 based on this radical technology.