SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference

Abstract HFTO, standing for High-Frequency Torsional Oscillations, is a vibration phenomenon that occurs during challenging drilling environments, especially for Unconventional Operations, affecting tool reliability and operational performance, thus, increasing costs and time. The primary objective is to mitigate these HFTO thru the application of a novel bit design process, tailored to specific …

Abstract Carbonate reservoirs often exhibit fractures with high permeability but limited storage capacity, alongside karst conduits with distinct flow dynamics and significant storage, which create heterogeneity across multiple scales. Conventional dual-porosity simulators cannot fully capture these interactions, particularly in karstified systems, because of the entirely different capillary forc…

Abstract The operation of electric submersible pumping (ESP) systems in heavy‑oil fields faces highly severe conditions, characterized by elevated viscosity, temperatures above 250 °F, and the presence of free gas. In this context, the rotary gas separator (RGS) has proven to be a robust technological alternative to improve gas‑handling efficiency and ESP reliability. This work expands on a previ…

Marine biological invasions have been increasingly documented in coastal and offshore environments worldwide (Ruiz et al., 1997), with coastal regions being particularly vulnerable to the establishment of non-indigenous species (Grosholz, 2002). Anthropogenic transport mechanisms, especially maritime activities, have facilitated the transoceanic dispersal of marine organisms, resulting in the est…

Abstract The Akacías Field in Ecopetrol's CPO09 Block produces extra heavy crude under high viscosity and high TDH conditions that impose significant mechanical and hydraulic stresses on conventional ESP systems. These operating constraints—combined with the requirement to maintain low flowing bottomhole pressure (PWF) to preserve reservoir management strategy—often force traditional pumps to ope…

Abstract Simulating multiphase flow in petroleum reservoirs is computationally expensive. This paper presents a physics-informed framework for building efficient and stable surrogate models for two-phase flow by reformulating the governing equations into a quadratic descriptor system. This structure enables an Operator Inference (OpInf) approach to directly learn the system's physical parameters …

Relative permeability curves are fundamental inputs for reservoir simulation and enhanced oil recovery design. Steady-state and unsteady state multi-phase corefloodings are two methods to obtain these curves (Andersen et al., 2019). Although the capillary end effect (CEE) is a prominent issue in coreflooding experiments, discontinuity in narrow pore size distribution to open space exists during c…

Abstract This paper presents advanced solids-management technologies designed to increase the service life of electric submersible pumping (ESP) systems by reducing failures and/or unplanned shutdowns caused by pump shaft sticking (Johnson et al., 2022; González and Guanacas, 2017). As a result, these technologies contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and the environmental impact associ…

Abstract The wells in the field under study exhibit high deferred production due to recurrent failures in their Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) systems, whose replacement using workover rigs involves high operational costs and extended intervention times. The objective of this study is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of a new technology that enables ESP replacement without the …

Abstract Salt exhibits time-dependent behavior when subjected to deviatoric stresses. This paper explores how salt creep rates influence casing collapse with mud channels in the cement sheath. This study investigates how variations in halite steady-state creep rate, modeled exclusively through a double-mechanism creep law, influence long-term thermomechanical casing deformation in partially cemen…

Abstract Tubing to annulus communication is a common integrity failure in mature wells and remains one of the most difficult to diagnose using conventional evaluation methods particularly in cases where intermittent, low rate, or pressure dependent flow paths evade traditional logging. This paper demonstrates an integrated workflow combining fiber optic analysis to transform a complex integrity c…

Abstract This work aims to present the results of a conceptual study of a Normally Unattended FPSO. The search for solutions that enable the operation of a typically unattended production unit, thereby reducing the amount of exposure to risk, has two main fronts: the pursuit of solutions that enhance the integrity and reliability of the unit and the replacement of human intervention with devices …

Abstract In an industry first, high-frequency measurements of in-situ cutter forces and bit dynamics have been captured across diverse applications. These data reveal unprecedented details of how cutter forces vary with formation properties and drilling system dynamics, offering new insights to optimize bit design and drilling performance. In this paper, we present data from a diamond cutting ele…

Abstract CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) operations are increasingly recognized as viable carbon storage projects in the push toward net-zero emissions. Optimizing these projects requires balancing oil production with secure CO2 storage, especially as new incentives (e.g. 45Q tax credits) reward stored CO2. This study integrates a pore-space-aware CO2 storage optimization model with dynamic m…

Abstract The objective of this work is to introduce a robust algorithmic tool for predicting the future performance of multi-sector oil reservoirs under formation-damage conditions using material balance principles. The proposed approach aims to improve the reliability of performance forecasting by estimating key reservoir parameters such as original oil in place (OOIP), aquifer strength, gas-cap…

Abstract This paper presents the development, implementation, and field validation of a Data-Driven Model Predictive Control (DDMPC) system aimed at optimizing the production of subsea wells equipped with Electrical Submersible Pumping (ESP). The central objective is to maximize oil flow rate while maintaining safe operation within a complex window of dynamic constraints, which include limits on …

Abstract In planning and drilling Geopark's exploratory wells, we faced a host of challenges: complex geology, torque and drag limits, pump placement needs, rig constraints, and critical casing depth decisions. Drawing from three years of campaign data, we pursued steady BHA improvements and refined operational tactics. These efforts cut hole tortuosity and drilling times, while closed-loop autom…

Abstract This paper aims to analyze the success rate and operational practices of single-stage liner cementing in oil wells. The scope includes evaluating historical data, identifying the need for practice revisions, and reinforcing recommendations for liner cementing, considering well integrity and operational challenges. A comprehensive evaluation of the success rate and operational methodologi…

Abstract This paper presents an integrated evaluation of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in a complex carbonate reservoir using the miscible water- alternating-gas (WAG) method, focusing on the interplay between analytical models, compositional simulation, and equation of state (EoS) upscaling. The reservoir under study is a heterogeneous pre-salt carbonate containing low-viscosity volatile oil with …

Abstract Reliable forecasting of operational parameters is essential for proactive decision making and integrity management in mature offshore wells. Monitoring signals such as pressure, temperature, and flow rate provide valuable information about well behavior but are often affected by noise, irregular sampling, and abrupt operational transitions, which limit the effectiveness of conventional f…