SPE 164700

Rejuvenation of West Qarun Field

A. El-Behairy, M. Abdel-Nabi, Mahmoud Rizk, E. Abdel-Moneim, SPE, Sahara Oil and Gas (SOG)

Copyright 2013, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the North Africa Technical Conference & Exhibition held in Cairo, Egypt, 15–17 April 2013.

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
The West Qarun development concession is located in the Abu Gharadig basin of the Western Desert, approximately
200 km SW of Cairo City. The block comprises a gross area of 46.2 km2 and contains the producing West Qarun oil field.
Oil production commenced in October 1994 from four wells with initial production rate 1200 BOPD. The field showed
constant production for the last ten years before SOG acquired the concession at a level of ±500 BOPD. The cumulative oil
production amounted to 6 MMSTB of 40 deg API non-sulfurous, slightly low gas-oil-ratio paraffinic crude mainly from the
Abu Roash ‘G’ and Upper Bahariya reservoirs through fifteen wells.
SOG after acquiring the concession, in 2009, conducted 3D seismic survey in order to reveal the uncertainties concerning
field structure and its interpretation opened new chances by indicating higher OOIP and new promising locations for drilling.
The results of new drilled wells WQ-7, WQ-9, and WQ-10 proved the new interpretation and gave more confidence in the
resulted figures.
The Abu Roash “G” producing sands are characterized by formation tightness. So applying of hydraulic fracturing technique
to enhance the existing wells productivity showed excellent results. Also tight formations need large shut-in time to obtain
accurate pressure measurements. Therefore a pilot test was conducted to study the effect of shut-in time on the pressure
measurements which will be illustrated thereafter.
Based on the studies, a complete development plan was prepared and the application of the first stage resulted in increasing
the production five times (from 500 to 2500 BOPD) and tripling the proven remaining reserves as well (from 6.3 MMSTB to
19.5 MMSTB).
This paper will illustrate the approaches applied for the rejuvenation of West Qarun field and emphasizes the role of reservoir
characterization and reservoir management in maximizing the field value.
Introduction
Reservoir Management begins with exploration leading to discovery followed by appraisal of the reservoir,
development of the field under primary and secondary means, IOR and EOR, and finally to abandonment.
New discoveries of conventional oil fields are declining, while demand for oil is estimated to increase approximately 1.5%
per year. Development of mature oil fields has been, and will increasingly be, a focused subject. Most of the world’s oil
production comes from mature fields, and increasing production from these fields is a major concern for the E & P
companies.
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Maximizing the hydrocarbon recovery over the field life is the primary objective and the biggest challenge of any
organization. Seamless integration of the skill sets from all disciplines (Geophysics, Geologists, Petrophysists, Reservoir,
Production, Drilling, Completions, Facilities and Economists and the corresponding data sets can be a complex affair, but is
essential for the optimum field development planning
West Qarun Oil Field is situated some 200 km SW of the Capital City of Cairo (figure.1). The field has an areal extent of
46.2 km2 and is covered by a flat terrain with average surface elevation of about 200 m above mean sea level.

Figure 1:West Qarun Field Location Map Figure 2: West Qarun Field Location in Abu El Gharadig
Basin
The field is located in the eastern extension of Abu Gharadig basin of the Western Desert which lies at the north east corner
of the African plate and accounts for approximately 700,000 km2 of the Egyptian land area. It remains one of the most
prospective areas for oil exploration in Egypt and North Africa (figure.2) . High quality, petroleum systems are found in the
Jurassic and Cretaceous.
The primary productive horizons in the West Qarun concession are the Abu Roash and the Bahariya formations. The Abu
Roash ‘G’ is the primary reservoir intervals and is deposited between two massive shales. The Upper Bahariya formation
consists of very heterogeneous laminated sandstone and its sequence is characterized by fine grained lagoonal silty
sandstones, siltstones and mudstones within which there are series of laterally discontinuous sand bodies.
The field was discovered in 1988 by the WQ-1 well, testing oil in the Abu Roash G and Bahariya formations. Commercial oil
production started in October 1994 from 4 wells (WQ-1 to 4) with initial rate 1200 BOPD. Three other wells were
recommended and drilled based on the structure maps generated from the 2D seismic surveys. Two wells were drilled in in
2001: WQ-5 showed very low productivity and converted to injector later and the second well WQ-6 was dry well.
Another well WQ-8 was drilled in 2007. The well was proposed to be higher than the existing wells on the level of Abu
Roash “G” but the well encountered the reservoir much lower and showed relatively low productivity.
The results of these three wells didn’t encourage the previous operators to drill more wells as there were a lot of uncertainties
concerning the structure maps generated from the 2D seismic surveys in addition to the low productivity of the last drilled
wells. So the filed continued production at a sustained production level ± 500 BOPD for more than ten years.
Actually this stable production level indicated that either the oil in place is much higher than the calculated figure or there is a
strong aquifer support which meant the field could be under-estimated and has more potential. SOG believed that the
previous operators were underestimating the filed potential and the series of successful activities performed by SOG proved
that actually the field has more potential in terms of oil in place, reserves, and production.
SOG started by performing a 3D seismic survey to reveal the structure uncertainties. The 3D seismic interpretation
introduced a good description for the structure especially the areas that were not covered by 2D seismic lines and opened the
window for more drilling locations. Re-calculating the original oil place based on the new maps, resulted in more than 50%
increase compared to the previous calculated figures.
SPE 164700 3

Also as a part of reservoir management strategies, a study was performed on the well WQ-5 to investigate the effect of shut-
in time on the reservoir pressure values in such tight sand reservoirs. The results were used as a guide for material balance
calculations that matched the volumetric original oil in place calculated based on the new maps.
Hydraulic fracturing has been applied for the first time in West Qarun wells resulted in increasing the well productivity three
to four times. Based on this seismic interpretation, nine successful oil wells were drilled and confirmed the structure
interpretation.
The paper will introduce the series of activities performed by the operator in light with utilizing the suitable reservoir
management strategy to maximize the field production and reserves significantly.
Geological Description
Figure.3 shows the five play elements for any hydrocarbon system. This can be applied on West Qarun as follows:
Source Rock
The Jurassic Khatatba shale is considered to be the primary source for the oil encountered in the West Qarun
concession. The oil window is around 9000 to 12000ft subsea.

Figure 3: Play Elements & Hydrocarbon System

Reservoir Rock
The primary productive horizons in the West Qarun concession are the Bahariya and the Abu Roash formations. The
Upper Bahariya formation consists of laminated sandstone deposited in an upper shore face environment. The U. Bahariya is
very heterogeneous and sand development and connectivity show significant lateral variation.
The Abu Roash sandstone is laterally continuous and can be correlated across the West Qarun and nearby fields. It is worth to
be mentioned that both Abu Roash “G” and Upper Bahariya are characterized by formation tightness
Migration Path
Migration is considered from the Eastern potential Jurassic kitchens. The generation expulsion & migration had
been activated by Appolonia sedimentation during the Eocene age. Oil movements come to pass, through the Alam Bueib,
Kharita and Bahariya sand.
The migration process is ended, at the sealed traps, especially, the late Cretaceous structural traps where all factors and
timing are suitable for trapping.
Trapping and Sealing Mechanisms
In West Qarun area, the primary trapping mechanisms are tilted fault blocks and faulted anticlines. SOG has inferred
the potential for combination traps and stratigraphic traps.
4 SPE 164700

Figure 4: Trapping and Sealing Mechanism

Field Rejuvenation
Reservoir management means different things to different people, but essentially it is the way an operator chooses to
manage assets (10). Thakurl defined reservoir management as the “judicious use of available resources to maximize economic
recovery.” (4) Cole et al. specified that “resources “in the above definition include people, equipment, technology, and money
(9).
Other definitions, such as that offered by Wiggins and Startzman, view reservoir management as an “application of state-
of-the-art technology to a known reservoir system within a given management environment.”(8)
There a lot of definitions for reservoir management; however all definitions agreed that reservoir management is how to find
the optimum way to maximize oil recovery and consequently asset value by integrating all the available geological,
geophysical, engineering, and economic data and resources.
SOG started by geological and geophysical data gathering and study followed by a series of activities to maximize the oil
recovery from West Qarun field. Figure 5 summarizes the main activities performed by SOG since acquiring the concession
in 2009. The following section will discuss these activities and its impact on the field production and reserves

Figure 5: Summary of Activities performed by SOG in West Qarun Field

SPE 164700 5

Seismic Activities
The structural configuration of West Qarun Field previously was based on a fairly limited 2D seismic data. Three
surveys collectively comprise a total of 66 lines over the original concession. But all structure maps generated based on the
2D surveys had a lot of structural uncertainties
In 2009, SOG has acquired 3D seismic survey. The 3D seismic survey showed better coverage of area and fills the gap &
weakness in 2D seismic surveys ( figure.6) It also provide better image quality, more structural details and stratigraphic plays

Figure 6: 3D Seismic Survey Covering

Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracture stimulation is required for the economic development of low permeability reservoirs. This is
because a highly conductive fracture results in negative skin.
Propped Hydraulic Fracturing consists of pumping a viscous fluid at a sufficiently high pressure into the completion interval
so that a two winged, hydraulic fracture is formed. This fracture is then filled with a high conductivity, proppant which holds
the fracture open (maintains a high conductivity path to the wellbore) after the treatments finished.
The propped fracture can have a width between 5mm and 35mmand a length of 100m or more, depending on the design
technique employed and the size of the treatment.
Propped hydraulic fracturing is aimed at raising the well productivity by increasing the effective wellbore radius for wells
completed in low permeability carbonate or clastic formations (11)

The well production rate (Q) can be increased by:

 Increasing the formation flow capacity (k.h) {the fracture may increase the effective formation height (h) or connect
with a formation zone with a higher permeability (k)
 Bypassing flow effects that increase the skin (s) e.g. near wellbore formation damage
 Increasing the wellbore radius (rw) to an effective wellbore radius (r'w) where r'w is a function of the conductive
fracture length Lf
By reviewing West Qarun wells history, it was noticed that a lot of workover jobs were performed to enhance the wells
productivity as many re-perforation and acid jobs but all these jobs effect on productivity increase was limited.
6 SPE 164700

Hydraulic fracturing was never applied in West Qarun wells. SOG started with three hydraulic fracturing jobs with multiple
objectives. The first job was in well WQ-5, low structure well, to test the hydrocarbon extension. The well showed clean oil
after the frac. job and ensured the oil extension.
The second job was in well WQ-7 to test the productivity of Abu Roash “G” after hydraulic fracturing. The well showed
good results by increasing the oil production rate 200 BOPD to 500 BOPD (figure.7).
The third job was in well WQ-8, which was producing commingle from all reservoir intervals with high water cut. By
isolation the lower sand units and fracturing the upper sand unit, the well showed good rate of clean oil confirmed that
Middle Abu Roash “G” is producing clean oil without water (figure.8).
Also SOG has applied the new technology of channel fracturing. Channel fracturing is a hydraulic fracturing stimulation
technique that relies on the intermittent pumping of proppant-laden and proppant-free gelled fluid at a high frequency to
promote heterogeneous placement of proppant and generation of open channels throughout the proppant pack
The studies unveiled several distinctive benefits from the use of the technique such as reduction in the use of proppant by 40-
47% leading to the elimination of the occurrence of screen-outs during placement, improved frac fluid and polymer recovery
and increased initial and long-term production(12). This new technique has been applied for nine wells and showed good
results

Figure 7: WQ-7 Pre- and Post Fac. Production Performance

Figure 8: WQ-8 Pre- and Post Fac. Production Performance

SPE 164700 7

The above results that hydraulic fracturing was applied for all the new wells showed excellent results. For example,the well
WQ-11 showed 600 BOPD after hydraulic fracturing comared to 90 BPOD before hydraulic fracturing ( figure.9). Figure.10
shows a comaprison between the wells production before and after frac. Jobs.

Figure 9: WQ-11 Pre- and Post Fac. Production Performance

Figure 10: WQ Wells Production Before and After Frac. Jobs

8 SPE 164700

Pressure Surveillance
As mentioned before Abu Roash “G” and Upper Bahariya reservoirs in the Western Desert are characterized by
tightness and the nature of tight reservoirs make them need large shut-in time to reach stabilization and get correct static
reservoir pressure values.
This is the reason that some points which have low shut-in time, have low reservoir pressure values. Initial reservoir pressure
measured from the RFT is ±2850 psi at 6200 TVDSS reservoir datum. After that, most of pressure build-up tests and static
surveys were measure commingled
A selective well was considered as observation well. To confirm this phenomenon, the well was shut in and three successive
static surveys were conducted in (August, November, and December, 2010).
The reservoir pressure was measured 1600 psi before putting the well on production via sucker rod pump for four months.
The static pressure survey was measured in August, 2010 after four days shut-in indicated that the reservoir pressure is 580
psi which is the same pressure usually seen in the nearby wells. Continuing shut in the well for two months and measured the
pressure again, found 814 psi. After another one month shut in (3 months shut-in) a static survey was conducted again, found
the pressure 950 psi
It was noticed that the pressure is increasing significantly with more shut in time .A consolidated Horner plot was performed
for the three surveys gave a value of static reservoir pressure is 1400 psi @ 6200 TVDSS reservoir Datum

Figure 11: WQ Wells Pressure History

All the points of low shut in time, and so non representative static reservoir pressure, are neglected in material balance
calculations
Oil in Place and Reserves
Volumetric calculations are performed based on the 3D maps. For the most likely case, the total calculated oil in
place in Middle Abu Roash “G”, Lower Abu Roash “G”, and Upper Bahariya was 250 MMSTB.
For material balance calculations, the reservoir was divided into three compartments based on the studied reservoir pressure
performance and material balance model was generated.
SPE 164700 9

Material balance calculations were applied for the three compartments using “Schilthuis steady state” representing slight
aquifer support which can be observed in pressure and water cut performance
The three compartments have transmissibility factors representing the effect of facies change and heterogeneity among the
reservoir and this facies change is the reason behind the existence of different reservoir pressure regimes.
Geologically, AR/G reservoir is an elongated sand bar, had been deposited in a complex shore face environments and it is
expected to find lateral facies changes

Figure 12: WQ Material Balance Model

The model showed good pressure match (figure.13 and figure.14) and resulted in 240 MMSTB original oil in place which is
matching the volumetric calculations to a great extent

Figure 13: WQ Material Balance- History Matching-1

10 SPE 164700

Figure 14: WQ Material Balance- History Matching-2

Comparing with the previous calculations based on the 2D maps, the oil in place is greater with 90 MSTB (250 MMSTB
vs. 160 MMSTB) i.e. the incremental increase is 56 %. Regarding the proven reserves based on the new calculated oil in
place and after the series of successful activities increased from 7.5 to 25 MMSTB i.e. more than three times
Drilling Activities
Nine successful oil wells have been drilled since May, 2009 till Jan., 2013. All these wells encountered oil in Abu
Roash “G” formation and some Bahariya sand units (figure.15)

Figure 15: Structure Contour Map on Top Middle Abu Roash “G”
SPE 164700 11

In addition to the increase of field production (figure.16) , the new wells added a lot of beneficial technical values such as
development of new areas with high pressure near version pressure and areas of very high sand quality not encountered in the
old wells ( WQ -9,14,17, and 18) ( figure.15).
Furthermore four of the new wells were drilled adjacent to the main faults, based on the new maps, which confirmed the new
structure map interpretation (WQ-10, 11, 13and 15) (figure.15).
Also it is worth to be mentioned that the formation tops post drilling matching the seismic data with an accuracy of 10-20 ft.

Figure 16: West Qarun Field Production since start up

Summary and Conclusions

Reservoir management strategies aim to maximize the oil recovery and the asset value by selecting the suitable techniques
for field development in each phase. In West Qarun field, SOG has performed a series of activities aided to raise the field
production and reserves and consequently the field value. These activities can be summarized in

 Performing detailed geological studies to best understand the nature of the reservoir rock, source rock, migration,
sealing and trapping mechanisms.
 Performing 3D seismic survey which revealed the structure uncertainties and open new areas for drilling.
 Drilling ten successful oil wells discovering new undeveloped areas of high pressure and higher sand quality
 Applying hydraulic fracturing, including new techniques, to overcome the wells low productivity due to formation
tightness.
 Considering the need for large shut-in time to obtain accurate reservoir measurements can be used for material
balance calculations or even reservoir modeling
All these activities increased the field production five times and the proven reserves more than three times
12 SPE 164700

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the management of Sahara Oil & Gas, for permission to
publish and present this manuscript.

SI Metric Conversion Factors

MMscf x 2.831 685 E+04 = m3

D x 9.869 233 E-13 = m2
ft. x 3.048 E-01 = m
lb. x 4.535 924 E-01 = kg
BOPD x 1.840 131 E-6 = m3/s
ppa x 1.198 E+02 = kg/m3
psi x 6.894 757 E+00 = kPa

Nomenclature

A/R Abu Roash formation

BFPD barrels of fluid per day
BOPD barrels of oil per day
ft feet
MMbbls million barrels
Frac. Hydraulic fracturing
Q effective wellbore radius
S Skin Factor
K Permeability
Rw wellbore radius
Rw’ effective wellbore radius

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