Output hike

Some of the activities envisaged by next March include plugging, perforation, and acidizing of oil and gas wells, which have already added about 83 tb/d to the company’s output. Furthermore, the drilling of 12 development wells would add 13.6 tb/d, and the workover of 47 wells would add another 65 tb/d to MOGPC’s production. The company has already seen its output capacity grow by 69 tb/d. Therefore, in a bid to meet production-level targets in the current calendar year, 27 drilling rigs have been installed, 10 of which would be drilling development wells, and the rest would be handling workover activities. Of course, thanks to proper repair work last calendar year, MOGPC met its production target at 129%. 

Due to its standing in Iran’s oil and gas production, MOGPC has the potential for attracting investment and development to boost output capacity. Here we review MOGPC reservoirs and associated activities.

Shadegan oil delivery

The Asmari reservoir of the Shadegan field contains high-quality light crude oil. It is among relatively young areas administered by MOGPC. Investment in the field would have a good yield. So far, 37 wells have been drilled in the field, 6 of which in the Bangestan reservoir are not producing.

Last calendar year, with the construction and completion of a new 10-inch pipeline stretching from Shadegan to Maroun 3 and from Maroun 3 to Maroun 4, the oil delivery capacity from this field has increased. In fact, with the completion of the pipeline, 6 Asmari wells with about 30 tb/d capacity have been reopened as there is now sufficient transmission capacity. Prior to carrying out these operations, there were three 8-inch and one 10-inch pipelines. But the new 10-inch pipeline has joined other pipelines to transmit oil from the Asmari reservoir to Maroun 3 and Maroun 4. There is a capacity to deliver up to 130 tb/d of oil.

The Shadegan field is currently producing 104 tb/d of oil, which would increase to 108.5 tb/d when the workover is finished on Well No. 21 of Shadegan. Furthermore, in order to maximize production from this reservoir, repair work is underway on another well, which would bring the production capacity of the Asmari reservoir to 112.5 tb/d.

The drilling of 3 new development wells is planned to be over in Shadegan by next March, which would enhance the field’s production capacity to 125 tb/d. Moreover, other activities like perforation, acidizing, and changing layers in viable wells would bring the Asmari reservoir’s production capacity in Shadegan to 130 tb/d.

Maroun Asmari reservoir, acceptable yield

The Asmari reservoir of the Maroun field is among the most sophisticated reservoirs in Iran. Production from the reservoir is faced with numerous challenges including water production, extra gas production, fluid contamination, casing collapse due to the Gachsaran high-pressure formation, and a sharp decline in downhole and formation pressure in some parts of the reservoir. By gas injection and using existing facilities and innovation in selective and widespread acidizing methods, production goes on from this reservoir; however, in order to develop this reservoir for more production, state-of-the-art technology is needed to complete wells. We hope that the gas injection station of this reservoir, which was recently closed for the replacement of pipes, would resume work by next March so that gas injection into this reservoir would help stabilize the reservoir pressure and facilitate persistent production and enhanced output.

Plugging, perforation, and acidizing, as well as the completion of some workover wells have brought the oil production capacity in Maroun’s Asmari reservoir to 321 tb/d.

Acidizing of Maroun Bangestan

The first problem coming to the fore with regard to the Bangestan reservoir of Maroun is asphaltene production which would create a big obstacle to the well, pipelines, processing installations, and finally production. Therefore, at least twice yearly, coiled tubing should be used with aromatic solutions to clean up asphaltene inside wells.

The next issue is the sharp decline in the formation pressure in Maroun’s Bangestan wells. In a bid to slow the decline in the formation pressure, we have acidized some wells and we plan to acidize more wells by the end of the current calendar year. These stimulating activities have slowed down the formation pressure decline and resulted in maximum production from most wells. Of course, based on what has already been done and in light of the great potential of this reservoir, we hope that production from this reservoir would improve.

Maroun Khami, highest pressure in Mideast

The Khami gas reservoir of Maroun is among the deepest and most pressured reservoirs in the Middle East. The reservoir pressure in the downhole formation is about 12,500 pam. The wellhead flow pressure and fluid temperature stand at 6,500 pam and 120 degrees Celsius. Two wells in the reservoir are producing about 40 mcf/d of gas and 6.2 tb/d of condensate. In light of the high pressure and temperature and big depth of these wells, the development of the reservoir for higher production would require major investment and special technology, which is on the agenda.   

Kupal Asmari awarded

So far, 48 wells have been drilled in the Asmari reservoir of the Kupal field, yielding 62.5 tb/d of light crude oil. The most critical challenges in this reservoir include the collapse of casings, pressure decline, and water production. Due to the lack of desalination installations and insufficient desalting capacity in the adjoining unit, pre-salt oil is delivered to the Maroun-1 production unit. In a bid to compensate for the reservoir pressure decline, 150 mcf/d of gas is injected into the gas cap of the reservoir which is planned to be awarded to a foreign investor for development.  

Kupal Bangestan up for grabs

The Bangestan reservoir of the Kupal field is another tight reservoir for production and development. 

Working on 14 wells of this reservoir is tough, costly, and boring because of asphaltene production. However, the difficulty of work has not stopped production, hoping that awarding this reservoir, along with the Asmari reservoir, to foreign investors, would guarantee persistent production.

Iran Petroleum