SPE-175230-MS

First Acid Fracturing Unlocks the Production Potential of Tight Tuba

Carbonate Reservoir, North Kuwait
A. AL-Hassan, E. Anthony, and S. Abd El-Aziz, Kuwait Oil Company; M. Abdel-Basset, A. Mokhtar,
and B. Sheikh, Schlumberger

Copyright 2015, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Kuwait Oil & Gas Show and Conference held in Mishref, Kuwait, 11–14 October 2015.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
Upcoming Reservoirs in North Kuwait will play significant role for meeting NK’s strategic production
target. Recent full field study of Sabryia Tuba carbonate reservoir makes it the largest Oil in-Place of the
Upcoming Reservoirs in NK. Sabriyah Tuba, though discovered in the 60’s, is still relatively under
exploited presently with only 13 active wells with very low total production rate compared to other
reservoirs. High reservoir heterogeneity, tightness and poor fluid properties necessitate the application of
new stimulation technology targeting good frac conductivity and deep penetration for effective produc-
tivity and recovery enhancement. With efforts of a multidisciplinary team, new acid frac fluid, diverter
and high leak off control technologies have been designed and executed successfully in two stages
covering multiple reservoir layers for the first time in Tuba.
Tuba is tight multilayer limestone reservoir. Owing to the low reservoir transmissibility, even low
average well production assisted by Artificial Lift causes near-wellbore (not regional) rapid decline in
pressure. Full-scale commercial exploitation of the Tuba reservoir therefore requires advanced technol-
ogies for productivity enhancement. The well under study is vertical, drilled in 2012 and completed in
Upper and Lower Tuba with conventional matrix acid stimulation which had a very steep post-treatment
decline rate. It was selected for first application of acid fracturing due to its excellent reservoir
development in higher structure position with high initial pressure and medium oil quality, but low
production rate. The job was designed to implement a 3-stage acid frac. The first stage was successfully
executed. The second and third stages were combined into one stage due to the vertical communication
between all 4 Upper Tuba layers during the data fracture treatment. Many technical and operational
challenges were faced and properly handled through integrated communication between different partic-
ipating teams with lessons learned are to be considered in next designs and executions.
Post acid Frac, a production log (PLT) was recorded and showed greater contribution from the Upper
Tuba intervals. The well has been monitored closely where stabilization was observed in short time period
represented in stabilized Pump Intake pressure and production rate that has been tripled post stimulation
with an estimated reservoir productivity improvement of about ~3 folds from nodal analysis.
The positive result of first acid frac reinforces the action plan to proceed with such stimulation
technology.
2 SPE-175230-MS

It is expected that the oil gain potential will be significantly more in horizontal completions. Therefore,
acid frac stimulation for 2 Horizontal Tuba’s wells is under study. The success of such application will
formulate the drilling, completion and stimulation development strategy for the entire Tuba reservoir
including early stimulation to improve initial productivity that will contribute significantly to the NK
production target.
This paper describes the design, implementation and production impact of an advanced fiber based acid
fracturing treatment that was successfully executed across the cased-hole of a pilot vertical well that is
shaping the production enhancement strategy for Sabriya’s Tuba tight reservoir in North Kuwait field. The
paper also focuses on the acid fracturing technique that delivers hydraulic acid fractures with deep,
infinitely conductive channel compared to conventional acid stimulation techniques previously employed
and their immense impact on production.

Introduction
The Sabriya field is located in the North of Kuwait and comprises of heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs
from the Lower Cretaceous period with low to moderate permeability.
Substantial hydrocarbon resources are in place with a high degree of reservoir rock and fluid
heterogeneity are accumulated in Sabriyah Tuba reservoir. It represents a carbonate ramp with different
lithofacies association from more proximal depositional setting to more distal environments, while the
northern area of the field is represented by deeper facies, the reservoir quality shows comparable porosity
and permeability trends. The porous and permeable aggradtional and progradational carbonate of Upper
and Lower Tuba, respectively, constitute these lithologies of the main oil accumulations where reservoir
quality is strongly controlled by structure, primary depositional fabrics, as well as extensive dissolution
process. The Tuba limestone reservoir has been clearly defined into three distinct units – the Lower Tuba,
Middle Tuba and the Upper Tuba. Upper and Lower Tuba hold the maximum oil in place whereas Middle
Tuba is a poor reservoir and it is expected to act as a vertical barrier between Upper and Lower Tuba.
A major portion of the reservoir is developed by drilling vertical wells to access these tight pay zones.
However, variable reservoir quality and poor fluid properties (11-23 degree API) necessitate the appli-
cation of new stimulation technology. Sabriyah Tuba, though discovered in the 60’s, is still relatively
under-exploited presently with only 13 active wells producing a total of few thousand bbls oil per day (⬎
5000 BOPD). Owing to the low reservoir transmissibility, even average well production of few hundreds
BOPD (100 – 300 BOPD) causes a near-wellbore, and not regional, rapid decline in pressure. Despite high
initial reservoir pressures, all producers require Artificial Lift (ESP/PCP) for sustained production.
Full-scale commercial exploitation of the Tuba reservoir therefore requires advanced technologies to
increase rates and recoveries.
To achieve the objective of enhancing the production from Sabriya’s Tuba tight carbonate reservoir,
an effective hydraulic acid fracturing treatment technique needed to be employed. The successful
implementation of this technique involved several design and operational intricacies at different stages of
the project and across multidisciplinary teams (drilling, completions, geology, reservoir and petroleum
engineering) and the stimulation vendor team involved with hydraulic fracture and surface equipment
design. An advanced fiber-based acid fracturing treatment was selected for the first candidate well.
Well SA-XX was drilled as Tuba vertical well and completed in 2012. It is located in higher structural
position with high pressure and has medium oil quality (21 API). The Upper and Lower Tuba were
perforated and stimulated with conventional matrix acid stimulation. The well started at high flow rate
with fast decline to about 150 BOPD. This well was identified as first pilot candidate to test the acid
fracturing stimulation potential in Tuba Carbonates using fiber-based acid fracturing technology, with a
clear focus on finding solutions to increase the well productivity.
SPE-175230-MS 3

The job was designed to implement the staged Acid Fracturing Stimulation technique in Lower and
Upper Tuba, respectively, as three stages but ended with two stages due to communication observed
during the data fracturing between the planned top 2 stages that have been treated as one stage.
After the successful implementation of acid fracturing stimulation technique in well SA-XX, there had
been an increase in the well’s post stimulation initial production by 5 folds then stabilized at 3 folds of
production increase. This successful testing result has demonstrated the high acid fracturing stimulation
potential of Tuba reservoir for improving its productivity and unlocking its potential (triple the production
rate enhancement).
Therefore, acid fracturing was deemed as an effective stimulation technique for Sabriya Tuba tight
carbonate wells and considered as key in the forward reservoir development plan.

Hydraulic Fracturing in Carbonates

Hydraulic fracturing has been, and will remain, one of the primary engineering tools for improving well
productivity. This is achieved by [1]:
● Placing a conductive channel through near wellbore damage, bypassing this crucial zone
● Extending the channel to a significant depth into the reservoir to further increase productivity
● Placing the channel such that fluid flow in the reservoir is altered
Acid fracturing is a stimulation technique for oil and gas fields with the aim of increasing the
production from a well. An acid is pumped at a pressure above the parting pressure of the rock such that
the formation is hydraulically fractured. The acid reacts within the fracture to create a differentially etched
surface that will maintain a conductive pathway between the reservoir and the wellbore. Carbonate
reservoirs are good candidates for acid fracturing since strong acids such as hydrochloric acid react easily
with carbonate [2].
Hence, the primary goal of creating a mechanically stable propped fracture (sandstones) or the etching
of the fracture-face with acid (carbontes) is to provide high flow capacity conduit to deliver the
hydrocarbons to the wellbore with the maximum possible rate and the lowest pressure drop across the
reservoir. Enhanced production of hydrocarbon is often analyzed as the outcome of balance between the
deliverability from the reservoir to the fracture which in turn is related to the fracture half-length xf. The
effective fracture half-length and the deliverability of hydrocarbon from the reservoir to the fracture to the
wellbore is thus in turn associated with the fracture conductivity kfw. Low to medium permeability
reservoirs require a highly conductive channel to aid in the flow of hydrocarbons to the wellbore; therefore
in this instance a fracture must be condcutive enough to ensure adequate production rates. Hydraulic
fracturing technique is therefore very relevant to both both carbonate and sandstone reservoirs in Kuwait
to enhance the production from marginal reservoirs.
Acid fracturing is best applied to carbonate reservoirs; the principal difference with a proppant channel
fracturing is that acid fracturing consists of acid etching the face of the hydraulically created fracture.
Conductivity is created by non-uniform etching and channeling due to viscous fingering. Reaction occurs
between the acid and the formation allowing acid to penetrate deeper into the fracture before becoming
spent along the fracture half length. Several factors are taken into account when designing an acid
fracturing treatment. Of these, primary concern is the penetration distance which the acid will have along
the fracture length. The pad fluid is used to create the geometry of the desired dimensions and followed
by acid injection to etch the fracture walls thereby creating an infinitely conductive path. When the acid
contacts the walls of the fracture, the reaction between the acid and the carbonate rock is instantaneous
and increases with higher formation temperatures. Thus, the fracturing treatment must be designed to
achieve a fracture of significant width and providing minimal leak-off. Factors such as fracture width,
injection rate and viscosity of acid including the temperature of the formation, all will play a significant
role in the penetration of acid into the fracture. Acid is instantaneously reacted with the carbonate rock
4 SPE-175230-MS

when in contact with the fracture face, thus leading to creation of some worm holes enhancing the leak-off
within the fracture therefore leading to the fracture towards closure. Thus the viscosity and the leak-off
properties of the pad should be controlled to allow maximum fracture geometry prior to the acid touching
the rock.

Emulsified Acid in Acid-fracturing Design

Many considerations need to be accounted for when designing acid fracturing treatments. Of the many key
factors related to acid fracturing success, of primary importance is acid penetration distance along the
fracture face. PAD fluid pumped prior to the acid is used to create the required fracture geometry; which
will then be followed by the acid stage for an effective etching of the geometry created by the PAD. When
acid contacts the walls of the fracture face, the reaction is almost instantaneous. As such, treatment fluids
are designed to create a fracture of significant width, minimal leakoff and sufficient penetration. In
addition, as the concentration of hydrochloric acid strength is increase, fracture penetration distance will
inherently increase as well [4].
Thus to accommodate, width creation, minimal fluid leak-off and sufficient acid penetration; emulsi-
fied acid has been pumped as the main acid system. Emulsified Acid is a viscous, highly retarded,
concentrated acid system designed for use in acid fracturing. Emulsified acid is an oil external emulsion
formed with a hydrochloric acid-to-oil ratio, stabilized with an emulsifier. Emulsified acid is the most
efficient retarded acid system in the industry providing the longest achieved half-length. The emulsion
retards the acid reaction rate of the hydrochloric acid by approximately 13-fold providing the acid the
chance to penetrate deeper into the fracuture created by the PAD fluid.

Fiber based Diversion in Acid-fracturing Design

Permeability and spurt loss are two key parameters that affect acid fracturing treatment and if not properly
controlled, they will lead to unwanted loss of acidic fluid near the wellbore leading majority of the acid
to spend along that region of the fracture face. Fiber diverting agents are pumped in order to provide
superior diversion by generating a barrier to flow in the perforations where the effect on overall skin is
the greatest. Injection of fiber-based diverting agents controls spurt losses and therefore allows acidizing
fluids to penetrate deeper into the reservoir and coherently allow diversion along the zone of interest
vertically to cover the entire interval for superior coverage while performing the acid fracturing treatment.
Spurt loss is a function of the heterogeneity of the formation, generally not well characterized during the
job design. Injection of these fibers at lower rates when the diverter stage is nearing the perforations tends
to lower the spurt losses thus allowing diversion of the fracturing fluids. As the fiber-based diverting
agents react with the carbonate rock, there is an increased viscosity development and temporary clogging
of the wormholes within the fracture face in addition to temporary plugging of the perforations leading
to an optimum placement of acid fracturing treatment across the entire pay zone.

Fiber-based Diversion Technology

Fiber-based diversion technology combines viscoelastic diverting acid and degradable fibers. It is
designed to temporarily control leak-off of acidizing fluids into the natural fractures and wormholes in
carbonates from acidizing of the rock face. The fibers with the aid of viscoelastic diverting acid promotes
bridging in these natural or enhanced higher permeable paths in addition to continuous buildup of
viscosity as acid is spent. The fibers within the technology create a network of fibrous bridges across the
fissures or dominant wormholes causing flow restrictions. This leads to an increase in diversion efficiency
when compared to ones from just chemical self-diverting systems in natural fractures where viscous
leak-off control methods alone are typically not as effective. After the treatment, the chemical system is
cleaned up with the presence of hydrocarbons and the fibers are dissolved.
SPE-175230-MS 5

Candidate Selection
Well SA-XX was drilled as vertical well and completed in 2012 by perforating the Upper and Lower Tuba
and stimulating with conventional matrix acid stimulation. The matrix acid stimulation had a very steep
post-treatment decline rate. Well SA-XX was, therefore, selected for first application of Tuba acid
fracturing due to its high initial reservoir pressure, excellent reservoir development, but low stabilized
production rates. The well is located in higher structural position with high pressure and has medium oil
quality (21 API) and static reservoir pressure above bubble point. Therefore, the well was selected as pilot
candidate to test the acid frac stimulation potential in Tuba due to its relatively medium pressure level and
representing the average Tuba reservoir properties and layers of all other wells in place.
Well SA-XX History
The well is structurally located on the higher position close to a major fault ~820 ft with an estimated
average static pressure ranging from 2600 – 2800 psi in varying layers and an attributed oil quality of 21
API. The well had been completed in 2012 as a single vertical producer with an artificial lift and had been
perforated in multiple intervals covering Upper and Lower Tuba carbonates as shown in Fig. 1. The PVT
data were taken from a nearby offset well (~660 ft) within perforations depth level. PVT shows that well
still producing above bubble point pressure.

Figure 1—Well SA-XX Openhole log

Stimulation Production Forecast Sensitivities

Conservative Nodal Analysis was used to estimate the stimulation potential for productivity improvement
and production gain. The well’s production, pressure data, PVT, estimated permeabilities from log
interpretation, etc were used to build a single wellbore model. The initial wellbore model was built on
most recent stable production date of ~ 150 BLPD and zero WC. The prestimulation production history
is shown in Fig.2. The static reservoir pressure and flowing bottom-hole pressure were estimated using
static fluid shoot accostic surveys during a build up period of ~10days and flowing fluid shoot accostic
surveys respectively as shown in Fig.3. These measured data yielded static pressure of ~2600 Psia and
6 SPE-175230-MS

flowing bottomhole pressure of ~ 950 Psia (reservoir drawdown ~1750 Psi) which inturn yilded estimated
Productivity Index of ~ 0.1 bpd/psi.

Figure 2—Well SA-XX Pre-stimulation Production History Pressure Data

Figure 3—Well SA-XX Pressure Data

The initial single wellbore model has been built using Vogel IPR calibrated and matched with results
as shown in Fig.4. Then, Darcy multilayer IPR has been built reference to Vogel IPR and used to estimate
the individual layers reservoir parameters (mainly K perm) to be used as input for stimulation forecast per
each layer as shown in Fig.5. The multilayer acid frac nodal analysis sensitivities using the estimated
fracture length and fracture conductivity from stimulation design simulation by layer tabulated in Fig.6
with senitizing on frac permeability (50 – 200 D) have shown estimated improvement of 2 – 2.5 folds of
productivity and production increase as shown in Fig.6. The multilayer estimated individual stimulation
contribution is shown in Fig.7.
SPE-175230-MS 7

Figure 4 —Well SA-XX Initial Wellbore Model

Figure 5—Multilayer Darcy IPR matched model

8 SPE-175230-MS

Figure 6 —Stimulation Forecast Sensitivities

Figure 7—Multilayer Stimulation Forecast Sensitivities

Findings and conclusion from Nodal Analysis:

● Very low productivity of current Upper Tuba perforated intervals (Est. PI ⫽ 0.11 bpd/psi)
● Acid fracturing would improve reservoir inflow/productivity by 2 – 2.5 times the current estimated
reservoir potential with following expected results:
ⴰ Est. Oil Rate ⫽ ~2.5 times of pre-stimulation rate at same BHFP 950 psig & WC zero%.
ⴰ Estimated average Productivity Index (PI) ⫽ 0.275 bpd/psi (~ 3 folds improvement)

Fracturing Design Considerations

Considering the high reservoir hetrogenity represented in multiple zones with different KH and varying
stress barriers along the vertical carbonate section, thus to place an effective fiber based acid fracturing
treatment, following was considered:
SPE-175230-MS 9

● Longer effective fracture half length is needed ⫹/⫺300 ft.

● Strong diversion technique required to cover long perforated intervals.
● Strong leak off control to account for the high KH zones & the low Pr.
● Job should be done in 3 Stages (Bottom, Middle then Top segmented layers) starting from bottom
up with using mechanical bridge plug to isolate each stage.
● Pre and post temperature survey to be run to evaluate effective acid divertion and covering
multiple reservoir layers included in the same treatement stage.
● Production logging survey to be run to evaluate inflow contribution profile of treated intervals.

Fiber Based Acid Fracturing Treatment Job Execution

The job was initialy designed to implement a 3-Stage Acid Frac targeting; 1st stage in Lower Tuba
(TL60), 2nd stage in Upper Tuba (TU10) and 3rd stage in Upper Tuba (TU30, TU50, and TU70). The first
stage of lower Tuba (TL60) was successfully executed but second and third stages were combined into
one stage due to the observed vertical communication between all 4 Upper Tuba layers during the data
fracturing.

Stage #1 (Lower Tuba)

With the deployment of Fiber based acid fracturing stimulation in the bottom stage, the simulated results
yielded the following estimated fracture parameters (Table 1). The treatment characteristic (pressure and
rate) plots are illustrated in Fig.8 & Fig.9.

Table 1—Acid Fracture Treatment (Lower Tuba)

Parameters Value UOM

Average Etched Width 0.220 in

Average Conductivity 130568 md.ft.
Etched Fracture Half-Length 245.5 ft.
Fracture height 80.1 ft.

Figure 8 —Stage #1 Lower Tuba: SA-XX Fiber based acid fracturing treatment Plot
10 SPE-175230-MS

Figure 9 —Lower Tuba: Treatment Net Pressure Plot

The fracturing treatment is initiated by the pumping of mutual solvent into the formation to aid in
enhancing the rock wettability for the acidizing fluids to react with the rock face in addition to breaking
the PAD fluids while flowing back. As the acid is reacted with the fracture face, there’s a decline trend
of the bottom-hole pressure. This is an indication of the fracture tend to proceed towards closure.
With the aid of fiber laden diverters, where fibers not only enhance the fluid leak-off in the fracture
but also diverts the fracturing fluid to cover the zone of interest indicated by the rise in bottom-hole
pressure. The treatment had been subjected to 6 cycles of PAD, acid & diverter to maximize on zonal
coverage.
Net pressure plot demonstrated a positive slope for the main fracturing treatment, illustrating fluid
efficiency and the containment of the treatment for the duration of the acif fracturing treatment and lateral
propagation of the fluid across the fracture face.
Nolte Smith Plot Fig.10 demonstrated a positive slope for the main fracturing treatment, illustrating the
addition of fibers were sufficient to increase fluid efficiency to allow for much less leak-off into the
formation therefore allowing PNET to be at a positive value for the duration of the acid fracturing
treatment.

Figure 10 —Stage #1 Lower Tuba: Nolte Smith Plot of 1st stage treatment
SPE-175230-MS 11

The non-corrosive fluids provide a positive net slope with an overall indication of a lateral extension
which is being aided by the fibers being pumped in the PAD to control the leak-off of fluids into fractures
or fissures or leading to unwanted height growth.
The first half of the net pressure plot Fig.11 indicates the respective build-up of slope across the ¼ of
the treatment where PAD is being pumped providing lateral extension of the fracture.

Figure 11—Stage #1 Lower Tuba: Nolte Smith Plot 1st & 2nd half sections

The second half of the Nolte Smith Plot (Figure_10, b), where Acidizing fluids entered the formation
and created a chemical reaction with the formation indicated below does not follow the above rules of
Fracture Geometry creation but instead is a resultant of the following:
● Negative slope on Nolte: Indication of acid etching the rock leading to a decline in Net Pressure
and creation of possible wormholes and aiding in higher leak-off of fluids. Therefore, no lateral
penetration.
● Zero Slope on Nolte: Indication of some leak-off control causing some penetration of acid laterally
into the fracture rather than being spent in the near wellbore region. Not the best but still better
then negative slope.
● Positive Slope on Nolte: Indication of an increased Net Pressure leading to an effective leak-off
control allowing fracture to remain open and fluid propagation laterally.
Thus it is very important to allow for a positive slope with PAD fluids to allow for a PKN fracture
behavior and consistent increase in Nolte slope after acid has been introduced into the formation to allow
for the acidizing fluids to penetrate as deep as possible into the fracture. This is also aided by the
emulsified acid being used with a retarded reaction allowing further extension and leading to more of the
fracture face being etched.

Stage #2 (Upper Tuba)

With the deployment of Fiber based acid fracturing stimulation in the bottom stage, the simulated results
yielded the following estimated fracture parameters (Table 2). The treatment characteristic (pressure and
rate) plots are illustrated in Fig.12 & Fig.13.
12 SPE-175230-MS

Table 2—Acid Frature Treatment (Upper Tuba)

Parameters Value UOM

Average Etched Width 0.748 in

Average Conductivity 1653951 md.ft.
Etched Fracture Half-Length 192.8 ft.
Fracture height 98.1 ft.

Figure 12—Stage #2 Upper Tuba Fiber based acid fracturing treatment Plot

Figure 13—Stage #2 Upper Tuba Fiber based acid fracturing treatment Net Pressure Plot

Similar to the treatment performed in the Lower Tuba section of well SA-XX, the treatment was
pumped with fiber-laden diverter and emulsified acid system to enhance the lateral coverage of the
SPE-175230-MS 13

fracture. The treatment has been subjected to 11 cycles of PAD, acid and diverter to maximize the zonal
coverage.
Nolte Smith Plot demonstrated a positive slope, illustrating the addition of fibers providing leak-off
control to allow for a lateral propagation of Fracture.
Further confirmation of fracture containment is illustrated in Fig.14 by the positive growth in the net
pressure slope for the duration of the fracture treatment.

Figure 14 —Stage #2 Upper Tuba Main Fracturing Treatment Nolte Plot

With the 3 sets of perforations, which were already open, it was essential to have appropriate diversion
along the open sets of perforations for the acid fracturing treatment to cover the multiple heterogeneous
carbonate zones.One way to estimate the height coverage is the use of temperature logs pre & post data
fracturing treatment and post main fracturing treatment. With the 3 respective trends of the temperature
profile along the well with multiple perforaitons, fracture height can be quantified. With the aid of
temperature log, post fracturing analysis illustrated effective coverage of the fracturing fluid along the
multiple sets of perforations with an ideal treatment design pumped to enhance production as shown in
Fig.15.
14 SPE-175230-MS

Figure 15—Stage #2 Pre and Post Treatment Temprature surveys

SA-XX Production Logging (PLT) Interpretation

After the successful implementation of fiber laden acid fracturing treatment, production logging (PLT)
had been conducted across the multiple sets of perforations to allocate the production enhancement post
successful fiber laden acid fracturing treatment. The production logging was performed under shut-in and
flowing conditions where the main objectives were to highlight the following:
● Determine the flow profile/production distribution.
● Determine the water entry zones.
● Identify cross flow profile.
PLT was recorded at the end of an extended ESP function-test at 1500 bpd, WC⫽20% showing a
greater contribution from the Upper Tuba intervals.
SPE-175230-MS 15

● In addition, to the oil gain across the treatment, PLT highlighted the production distribution across
the sets of perforations. Based on spinner, temperature and density sensors under flowing
conditions, the results of the interpretation can be summarized as shown in Fig.16.

Figure 16 —PLT Inflow Profile @ 00ⴙ28 choke

● Main treatment water production (70%) is coming from the lower part of Interval_1.
● Main hydrocarbon production (32%) is coming from the upper part of Interval_3.
● For the remaining contribution, please refer to (Table 3).

Table 3—PLT Results

Parameters Interval(ft) Temperature(oF) Pressure(psi) Water Rate(%) Oil Rate(%) Perforations

Inflow #1 6831’ – 6843’ 154.7 1586.7 0.0 16.0 Interval #4

Inflow #2 6852’ – 6846’ 155.1 1598.4 0.0 32.0 Interval #3
Inflow #3 6868.7’ – 6882’ 155.5 1606.3 0.0 24.0
Inflow #4 6892’ – 6938’ 155.8 1616.0 0.0 15.0 Interval #2
Inflow #5 7000’ – 7011’ 156.2 1656.7 30.0 11.0 Interval #1
Inflow #6 7015.5’ – 7035’ 155.8 1678.3 70.0 3.0
Totals 100.0 100.0

* *Downhole rates are converted to surface (S.C.) using supplied PVT data.
**Pressure and temperature are calculated directly from the calculation zones taken just above the inflow zones.

Production Trend and Estimated Frac Geometry from Nodal Analyses

Initial decline of both production and downhole flowing pressure was observed during the first 3 weeks
of production post stimulation to a flow rate equal to about 4 times of pre-stimulation rate. Then, both
16 SPE-175230-MS

production rate and downhole flowing pressure represented in flowing pump intake pressure had
stabilized after ~ 2 months Fig.17 with ~3 folds of oil production increase (at zero WC) over the pre fiber
laden acid fracturing treatment. The slope trend of cumulative oil production also confirms the improve-
ment of oil production as shown in Fig.18.

Figure 17—Post Stimulation Production & Flowing Downhole Pressure

Figure 18 —Pre & Post Stimulation Production & Cum Oil History

Nodal analysis was re-run to evaluate the stimulation treatment in terms of stimulation ratio using post
treatment stabilized production and downhole pressure data. The same initial forecasting multilayer
wellbore model was used using same simulated fracture geometry of estimated frac half length and width
per individual layer Fig.19 and sensitizing on frac permeability at same static reservoir pressure. The
initial high flow rate of 4 folds increase was matched with frac permeability of 800D and the stabilized
flow rate of 3 folds increase was matched with frac permeability of 200D as shown in Fig.20. The
observed decline in productivity after 2 months of post stimulation production from 4 folds to 3 folds of
production increase could be either either due to typical conductivity loss or due to local depletion in
SPE-175230-MS 17

reservoir pressure as majoprity of Tuba producers experience local depletion due to the general bad
conductivity across the reservoir. Therefore, sensitivity on reservoir pressure depletion was run and the
stabilized rate was matched with a pressure depletion of ~20% less than the pressure at stimulation date.

Figure 19 —Post Stimulation Reservoir potential

Figure 20 —Post Stimulation Reservoir potential – Reservoir Pressure depletion vs. partial frac closure

Typically the value added in acidized fractures is analyzed through the stimulation ratio, which is the
ratio of the productivity in the stimulated case to the one for the un-stimulated case. The stimulation ratio
has commonly been used in all kinds of stimulation techniques to quantify the addional benefit to each
job. There are several drawbacks with the stimulation ratio as an indicator as it does not provide a tangible
understanding of the incremental recovery that can be expected from the well, and more over fractures
cannot be equaly compared by their stimulation ratio from field to field as reservoir properties change [3].
However, stimulation ratio was used to evaluate the success of this treatment, which indicated a
stimulation ratio of ~3.0 according to the stabilized rates and pressure.
18 SPE-175230-MS

Job Challenges
Proper risk mitigation measures should be considered during design and job preparation phase in order to
mitigate possible challenges during execution phase to ensure achieving the treatment target. The main
challenges faced during well SA-XX Stage Fracture Job were as follows:
1. Fracture re-design: after running the results of data fracturing treatment and obtaining all necessary
fluid / formation parameters, the simulator was used again to confirm fluid quantity and quality.
For SA-XX; fibers had been introduced with PAD fluid to control leak off.
2. Operation: good preparation of required materials and logistics management are required to
facilitate the operation flowstream.
3. Emulsified acid which is basically using diesel to create an oil-external emulsion, so enough diesel
volumes need to be available on location.
4. Communication among all participating teams is important for the treatment success.
Conclusion
1. The post treatment production evaluation showed 3 folds of increase.
2. The positive result of first fiber laden acid fracturing treatment in Tuba reinforces the action plan
to proceed with this stimulation technology for ths field.
3. Using fiber-based diverter and emulsified acid fluid technologies were keys for achieving good
leak-off control and maximizing fracture etching half length.
4. Data fracturing treatment is an essential step to evaluate initial design and guide redesign (if
required) to ensure effective and successful stimulation treatment especially at early stages of
stimulation application for new reservoirs.
5. Fiber laden acid fracturing stimulation can be considered as paradigm shift to unlock the potential
and maximize the production from Sabriya Tuba tight carbonate reservoir. Hence, this fracturing
technology has been deemed as a key element for future development plan of this reservoir.
6. It is expected that the Oil Gain potential will be significantly more in horizontal completions.

Acknowledgment
Authors would like to acknowledge the support of Kuwait Oil Company and Schlumberger to grant the
team this opportunity to share their knowledge.

Refrences
1 M. B. Smith, NSI Technologies, Inc.; J. W. Shlyapobersky,† Shell E&P Technology Co., (Basics
of Hydraulic Fracturing).
2 M. S. NEWMAN, M. M. RAHMAN & M. PAVLOUDIS; Importance of Fracture Geometry and
Conductivity in Improving Efficiency of Acid Fracturing in Carbonates (CIPC 2009).
3 M.S. Newman, Chevron Australia Pty. Ltd, M. M. Rahman, SPE, the university of Adelaide; A
New Effecincy Criterion for Acid Fracturing in Carbonate Reservoirs (SPE 122630)
4 Field Application of Emulsified Acid-Based System to Stimulate Deep, Sour Gas Reservoirs in
Saudi Arabia H.A. Nasr-El-Din, J.R. Solares, , S.H. Al-Mutairi, M.D. Mahoney (SPE 71693)
5 An Overview of Current Acid Fracturing Technology With Recent Implications for Emulsified
Acids Yan Li and R.B. Sullivan; Jean de Rozieres; G.L. Gaz,; and J.J. Hinkel (SPE 26581)
6 S. Abd El-Aziz, W. Bryant, Ch.Vemparala, S. Al-Rasheedi, SPE, Kuwait Oil Company, Reser-
voir Characterization and 3D Static Model in Tight Carbonate, Open Up Reserves, Tuba
Reservoir Sabiriyah Field, North Kuwait, (SPE,13IPTC-P-774-IPTC )