The Oil Drum

67 comments on The life of an oil reservoir

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

yashko on August 15, 2006 - 1:41pm

Query: If the horizontal wells are all producing at 100% oil and shut down when the water reaches them, and the vertical wells have some water cut, what does it tell us that Ghawar has a 37% (fill in your number) water cut? Do the Saudis average one 100% oil horizontal well with three 50% oil vertical wells, say, to get the water cut figure? Do they drop out the horizontal wells that have shut off due to contact with water?

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

memmel on August 15, 2006 - 5:51pm

To follow and restate my main question whats the recovery on secondary in field drilling or maintence wells ?

And I have the same questions as the post I'm replying too.
What happens when horizontal wells water out. I've read that if its a multi branch well they will shutoff watered out branches I guess if its not they can put some sort of plug or sleeve in place that covers the offending section but still has a hole in the middle for oil flow.

In general can someone really expand on what happens in older fields using todays recovery methods.

All I know is they drill a lot more wells but it does not stop the decline.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.