Larger-scale water shut-off workovers as preventive measures against future water coning in wells introduced from drilling

UDK: 622.276.7:622.245.43

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2026-4-58-64

Key words: larger-scale water shut-off workovers, preventive water inflow limitation, underlying water, water coning, gelant compositions, horizontal isolating hydro-screen, infill well, wells introduced from drilling

Authors: M.G. Kubrak (ZN BV LLC, RF, Moscow); R.V. Sapelchenko (RUSVIETPETRO JV LLC, RF, Moscow); Pham Hak Dat (RUSVIETPETRO JV LLC, RF, Moscow); A.N. Stepanov (ZN BV LLC, RF, Moscow); O.N. Zoshchenko (RUSVIETPETRO JV LLC, RF, Moscow); D.M. Ponomarenko (RUSVIETPETRO JV LLC, RF, Moscow); S.Yu. Kopshev (ZN STC LLC, RF, Moscow); А.А. Kozhemyakin (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow); G.V. Sansiev (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow)

The article discusses the large-scale water shut-off workovers technology adaptation specifically for infill drilling wells, addressing the issue of bottom water coning in massive carbonate oil reservoirs. The core principle of the technology involves forming a gel barrier to restrict the influx of underlying water, thereby reducing premature water breakthrough in producers. The safe distance for packer placement during injection must be at least 8 meters along the wellbore taking into account the requirements for the technology of work. In 2023-2025, an optimized preventive large-scale water shut-off workovers program was implemented, successfully creating in-reservoir hydro-screen where the minimum distance between injection perforations and production intervals was only 4,5 meters. From 2020 to 2025, 50 operations were carried out at RUSVIETPETRO JV LLC fields, yielding over 465 tons of incremental oil. The article presents criteria for selecting candidate wells, methodology details, and a case study from the West-Khosedayuskoe field. The effectiveness of large-scale water shut-off workovers with traditional low-volume water shut-off workovers is compared. It is noted that large-scale water shut-off workovers not only enhances production and reduces water cut on individual wells but also increases recoverable reserves at the field scale, making it a promising comprehensive solution for developing massive carbonate reservoirs with active underlying aquifers.

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