An operator in Nigeria needed to increase oil production from a vertical well drilled in a sandstone reservoir onshore Nigeria. SAS Production Services provided our microemulsion SAS Breaker 162SC chemistry to completely restore the near-wellbore to its original permeability and increase production. 

The Problem

The well was drilled and put into production in 1993. Oil base mud was used for the drilling of the reservoir section and the well was completed with a screen inside the casing. The oil production rate had continuously declined over the years to 250 bbl/d, and total production (oil and water) declined to 180 bbl/d. The operator was looking for a solution to increase the well production and productivity index.

The SAS Solution

The SAS Breaker 162SC was deployed with coil tubing into the short string and the coil was run in to about 100 ft above the perforation. It was not run to the perforation depth to avoid getting the coil stuck from wrapping around the long string. The chemical blend was semi-bullheaded down into the reservoir section and allowed to soak for the desired period.

It restored the near-wellbore permeability by completely removing the near wellbore damage and water-wetting the sand grains. 

After the soak period, the well was opened and production increased by 476%, from 250 Bopd to 1,440 Bopd. 

To Sum Up...

• Increased well production from 250 Bopd to 1,440 Bopd on the same choke size. This represents 476% increase (or 5.76 times the pre-treatment rate).

• Total production increased from 280 bbl/d to 1,440 bbl/d (zero water cut).

• Productivity of 1,440 Bopd was measured at a separate pressure of 330psi whereas LP tank at the customers facility is at 65psi. Flow rate into the LP tank of 65psi is estimated to be more than 3,000 bbl/d.

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