This paper presents an overview of the challenges encountered within the Wafra Oilfield during an unscheduled and prolonged shutdown along with the chemical treatment solutions that were developed for the preservation of the downhole casing, tubing and pump assemblies left in place.

Challenges included the evaluation and selection of the most suitable chemical treatment and monitoring methodologies to be implemented for reducing damage posed by increased corrosive stagnant conditions which were more severe than experienced during normal operations.

The possible short and long term duration of the shutdown period also needed to be taken into careful consideration along with downhole completion and artificial lift systems before implementing the preferred treatment and monitoring programs. A well designed preservation treatment program should be suitable for preventing both short term and long term deterioration of downhole equipment so production wells can be reactivated without incurring high rig workover and replacement costs.

The degradation and preservation of surface facilities beyond the production wellheads have not been addressed in this paper.

Subject
Preservation, Corrosion failures, Water, Reservoirs, Tubing, Fluids, Corrosion inhibitors, Oilfields, Produced water, Brines, Pitting, Corrosion coupons, Oil
Keywords:
Production Wells, Downhole Corrosion, Stagnant Conditions, Chemical Treatment, Short Term and Long Term Preservation
© 2017 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2017
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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