Successful Water Control Operation with High Expansion Plug in an Extended Reach Horizontal Well

Water control operations are crucial in maximizing the productivity and efficiency of oil wells. Higher water cut poses a risk to sustain production for a mature oilfield. As oil companies deploy extensive water flood techniques to increase oil production a lot more water is being produced as well. This excess water, if not managed properly, can lead to significant operational challenges and increased costs. When water is associated with oil, it is termed as good water since it cannot be ignored or stopped. However, with aggressive water flooding, especially in horizontal wells, when compartments are watered out, it becomes critical to plan shutting off the unwanted water. This is essential to improve the lift capacity of the well, as it directly impacts the well's productivity. Handling water at the surface is also an expensive and complex process. The excess water impacts the volume of crude to be transported through the oil lines. Separating water and disposing of it requires a complex process of separation and dedicated water disposal wells, which adds to the capital expenditure to handle the water at the surface. Various water shut-off techniques have been developed over the years to cut down unwanted water production. However, shutting off excessive produced water can be difficult, particularly in Extreme Reach Drilled (ERD) wells.