SPE 147903
Developing Oil in Monobore Well Completion Using Permanent Coil Tubing Gas
Lift Application
Ari Taufiq Kramadibrata, SPE, Sumaryanto, SPE, Pahala Panjaitan, SPE; VICO Indonesia
Copyright 2011, Society of Petroleum Engineers
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 20–22 September 2011.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
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Abstract
VICO Indonesia has operated the Sanga-Sanga PSC in
East Kalimantan, Indonesia, since 1968. More than 750
development wells have been drilled to date in the
complex Mahakam Delta in East Kalimantan. The mature
reservoirs are predominantly gas, extremely depleted and
have an average recovery factor of about 70%. To
optimize the development cost VICO changed the
completion from multi string and multi packers to
monobore in 1997 and furthermore to dual monobore in
2005. VICO has also focus to optimize oil production and
recovery. The current oil recovery factor is relatively
modest and needing further detail study and optimization.
A multi-disciplinary team was performed to further
evaluate oil potential in all VICO fields including review
of historical performance, geology and development
opportunities. These reservoirs were also evaluated using
material balance to understand the initial volumes in place,
the drive mechanism and the opportunity to maximize
production and oil recovery through the existing wells.
One of the challenges in maximizing oil recovery is
artificial lift system in monobore completion. VICO has
evaluated and selected gas lift as optimum artificial lift
method. There are two possibilities to gas lift oil wells (1)
using a side pocket mandrel in the conventional dual string
completion and (2) inject gas lift through coil tubing in the
monobore completion.
The paper describes innovative gas lift system in
monobore completion where gas lift mandrels were not
pre-installed. This technique has been implemented, by
running 1.5" coil tubing into a well through a special
tubing hanger attached to the top of the Christmas tree.
This technique allows gas lift to an oil reservoir in
monobore well completion without requiring rig for
recompletion. This application is known as “Permanent
Coil Tubing Gas Lift” or PCTGL. This technique has been
implemented in “MUT-X” well that was not capable to
flow naturally, and then PCTGL was installed to resume
oil production. The well was flowing 600 BOPD initially
and now is continue flowing at 350 BOPD.
In summary, PCTGL is a proven favorable and simple
method for artificial lift application in monobore
completion to maximize oil production and recovery.
Furthermore, this technique has helped VICO in
synergizing gas and oil development to maximize value of
the assets.
Introduction
VICO Indonesia is a Production Sharing Contractor
operated in Sanga-sanga Block East Kalimantan since
1968 (Fig. 1). Currently, there are 4 fields operated by
VICO: Badak, Semberah, Nilam and Mutiara. Current
overall production is 400 MMscfd and 15000 bbl liquid
(oil and condensate).
Two major fields producing oil are Mutiara and Nilam.
Mutiara contribute 8500 bopd from 16 active strings while
Nilam contributes 1700 bopd from 12 strings.
Mutiara Field is located southern of Sanga-sanga block.
Mutiara covers 125 km2 and several wells are commingled
into single trunk line through which the gas or oil flow can
be transported into compressor or oil separator then flow
to nearest gathering area or central plant. As a hilly
topography, the field has “fish bone” surface facilities
type. Geologically, oil deposits are usually found in G, F
and E Sands at depth approximately 1500 – 6000 feet.
Meanwhile, Nilam field covers up 85 km2 area. Due to its
swampy terrain and overstretched area, Nilam has 5
Satellites. Each Satellite has test separator and compressor
to update test and transport gas to Central Plant. Oil
deposits are usually found in D and E Sands at depth
approximately 8000 – 11000 feet. Much of oil properties
are light oil with API 32 – 35.
2 SPE 147903
Completion Types
As a solution in completing multi-layer reservoirs and to
optimize well performance and reserve recovery, VICO
Indonesia utilizes two major types of completion:
conventional well and monobore well.
Conventional Wells
As former completion method in VICO Indonesia, the well
is completed as a single or a single selective; dual or dual
selective completion. This conventional well typically
utilizes production tubing of diameter 2-3/8”, 2-7/8” or 3-
1/2”. Within one casing, two production tubing systems
may be installed, namely the Upper (Short String) and the
Lower (Long String).
The system has flexibility to obtain production from
potential zones. Also, if in fact the zone turns out to
contain oil, a Side Pocket Mandrel (SPM) can be placed to
inject gas lift that would assist in raising hydrocarbon
liquids within the well when flow to the surface cannot be
maintained anymore using its own natural pressure. The
work-over rig might be required to access the other
potential zone or to repair tubing if any leaks or
obstruction.
Monobore Wells
A Monobore well is most common well completion type
recently, that uses a single or dual production casing or
tubing cemented up to surface. Most applications use a
production casing with a diameter of 3-1/2” and 4-1/2”.
The philosophy of Monobore well is to obtain an extreme
under balanced condition during the initial perforation;
easy and simple to access other potential zones without
using rig (or called rigless operation) and also has
flexibility to balance between reserves recovery from low
rate permeability reservoir and optimize rate from shallow
depth if the well is completed as dual – monobore
completion. In other side, this completion type is not best
fit for oil development as no mandrel to house the gas lift
valve in monobore well. Thus, it is impossible to inject gas
lift gas.
Permanent Coil Tubing Gas Lift (PCTGL)
A multi-disciplinary team was performed to further
evaluate oil potential in all VICO fields including review
of historical performance, geology and development
opportunities. These reservoirs were also evaluated using
material balance to understand the initial volumes in place,
the drive mechanism and the opportunity to maximize
production and oil recovery through the existing wells.
One of challenging in performing gas lift in monobore is
that there is no gas lift valve or side pocket mandrel
available which we can introduce gas lift gas into the
production tubing. Monobore has no annulus to transport
gas downwards. Utilizing coil tubing inserted into
monobore well (called PTGL) is applied to deliver gas lift
into the bottom hole. PCTGL is a coil tubing with
diameter 1.5 inch and has a nozzle and a check valve at the
end of its tail, then hang it above X-mast tree. The gas is
injected into the swab valve and produces the string
through the annulus between tubing and coil inserted, then
pass the wing valve.
Fig. 2 shows the Bottom Hole Assembly of PCTGL
application. It consists of nozzle, centralizer, check valves,
nipple, and Coil Tubing (CT) connector. The nozzle has
total area 0.5 in2. The check valve is required to prevent
back flow from annulus into coil tubing. A nipple is placed
above check valves where a special tool called Dart (Fig.
3) can be inserted to pull PCTGL in case we want to
retrieve it later.
The surface configuration of PCTGL is shown in Fig. 4.
The estimated cost of a full PCTGL installation ranges
from USD 45,000 to USD 60,000 depending on the length
of coil tubing required (i.e depth for injection). This
includes the cost of the coil tubing, the BHA and the coil
tubing hanger. Additonal cost of USD 25,000 is required
for installing surface gas lift skid and USD 15,000 for the
well intervention to permanently install the PCTGL. This
compares very favourably with any workover operation
option required to install a gas lift completion., which in
the case of VICO could range between USD 1,000,000 to
USD 1,500,000.
VICO’s Case History
NLM-X is a dual monobore completion, one string
produced gas and other produced oil. The oil zone flowed
naturally, then it was ceased to flow. The well is an ideal
PCTGL candidate because of its distinctive rate history
and completion. The Long String was initially 3900 bopd,
0 bwpd, and 4 MMscfd associated gas from Reservoir-A.
Water-cut has increased up to 17% within 5 days
production before it died. A static gradient survey shows
column of oil from depth 0 to 12000 feet. Considering the
reserves of Reservoir-A, well completion type and
availability of the artificial lift technology, it is concluded
that installing a permanent coil tubing gas lift (PCTGL) is
a good option and economical solution. Coil tubing was
run into depth at 5600 feet and injection gas lift pressure
at 1800 psig. The well completion is shown on Fig. 5. Gas
lift line is installed to swab valve as depicted in Fig. 6.
NLM-X was successfully reactivated by PCTGL and
initial test was 800 bopd, 1610 bwpd, 0.3 MMscfd of
associated gas by injecting 0.9 MMscfd gas lift gas.
Success story in Nilam field inspires the same technique
for Mutiara field. MUT-X is also 3.5” dual bore well.
Short String is accessing Reservoir-E1 and Reservoir E-2.
Initially, the string produced 1500 bopd and 0% WC. After
2 years, water cut had increased 50% and the production
halted. Then, PCTGL is applied with injection point at
1500 feet and injection pressure at 450 psig, the well was
resumed flowing at rate of 400-600 bopd.
3 SPE 147903
The more detailed reservoir properties of NLM-X and
MUT-X can be seen on Table 1.
The reactivation step to resume the well back on
production was very simple. Once the PCGTL installed
and connected to 2” gas lift line, the reactivation was
performed as follows:
1. Keep open wing valve and open well to burn pit.
2. Inject PCTGL with designed gas lift pressure or kick-
off and lifting the well using nitrogen if not enough
gas lift pressure.
3. Clean-up the well and put on production system.
4. Test the well and optimize well performance by
adjusting gas injection pressure.
Summary
PCTGL is a proven favorable and simple method for
artificial lift application in monobore well completion. It
helps to solve and optimize oil development in monobore
completion, in order to maximize oil reserve recovery and
enhance the asset value.
VICO plans to continue expand this application by
installing 20 PCTGL this year, both in 3.5” and 4.5”
monobore completion.
Acknowledgements
We would like thank Pak Bambang Ismanto, Mr. Bill
Turnbull and Mr. Eder Lizcano from VICO Indonesia for
encouraging us presenting this paper.
References
1. Arianto, MA; Susatyo Y; Srisantoso; Sumaryanto.
2006. New Completion Solution for Multi Layer Gas
Field: A Case History. SPE 100991, Asia-Pasific Oil
and Gas Conference and Exhibition.
2. Beggs, Dale. 1991. Optimization using Nodal
Analysis. OGCI and Petroskills Publications.
3. Brown, Kermit E. 1984. The Technology of Artificial
Lift Method, Vol. 4. Petroleum Publishing Co
4. Brown, K. E., and Lea. F. 1985. Nodal System
Analysis of Oil and Gas Wells. JPT 1751.
4 SPE 147903

TABLE 1-RESERVOIR PROPERTIES AND WELL DATA

NLM-X MUT-X
Completion Type 3.5 inch monobore
Reservoir Properties
Reservoir Pressure (psi) 2900 1041
Zone Depth (feet) 9100 2652
Porosity (fraction) 0.21 0.28
Permeability (md) 294 880
Water Cut (%) 88 60
Average Skin Factor 8 10
Coil Tubing Gas Lift
Injection Depth (feet) 5600 1500
Outer Diametre (inch) 1.5 1.5
Injection Pressure (psig) 1700 470
Initial Rate (bopd) 800 600
FTHP (psig) 180 90

Fig. 1-VICO Indonesia (Sanga-Sanga PSC)

5 SPE 147903

Coil Tubing
Connector

Nipple

Check
Valve

Centralizer

Nozzle

Fig. 2-Typical BHA of PCTGL Fig. 3-Dart to be landed inside nipple to pull PCTGL

Fig. 4-Surface Configuration of PCTGL. Solid Block Tree supports Tee-Spool (A) and CT hanger (B). The coil tubing
is gripped by Donut (C) and CT Slip (D).
6 SPE 147903

(a) (b)
Fig. 5-NLM-X (a) and MUT-X (b) Completion Diagram

Fig. 6- NLM-X Wellhead Picture