Reviving Production from Bypassed Oil in Deep Gulf of Suez Reservoirs, Case Study from GUPCO

Abstract This case study presents a success story of a new oil well in a mature field re-accessing and developing Nubia-M1 member in GS172-Block of the Gulf of Suez (GOS) based on the concept of segregation and water coning after it was shut in for more than 16 years. An extensive, multi-discipline study was conducted in 2019 on the GS172 block in the GOS, targeting Nubia reservoir, the study aim was to fine tune the location of a new well that will be sidetracked from an old well after failure to work-over that old well in 2016. Furthermore, the team studied water movement in the deeper member Nubia M1 utilizing analytical approaches to understand fluid movement within the reservoir to identify areas of bypassed oil. The analytical work suggested a potential for bypassed oil accumulation in Nubia M1 member after it has been isolated in all wells. The study proved that the increase in water cut in Nubia M1 in many wells resulted from water coning rather than Oil Water Contact (OWC) rise. Besides, the high vertical permeability along with more than 16 years of shut-in there was an assurance of the segregation concept. The study also revealed a new location slightly up-dip from the old well to develop the remaining reserves in Nubia TZ member as the primary target of the new well. The original well was planned to restore production from Nubia TZ member after failure to work-over the old well to maximize oil production from the field. The modified plan was to deepen the well to Nubia-M1 member even if an OWC was seen in the TZ or MN members to prove that there was remaining bypassed oil in the M1 member in the old well. The well was drilled and penetrated the deeper Nubia-M1 successfully and proved the bypassed oil from the OHL and started production from the M1 with 1500 bopd. Another success story in the GOS that highlights the teams’ amazing collaboration and dedication. It is a motivational case study that highlights the team's extraordinary ability to hunt the opportunities to maximize oil from a mature brownfield in the GOS by the Reestablishment of the production from bypassed oil accumulation in deep reservoirs.