Steve Metcalf, Dead Branch Consulting LLC
The Permian Basin began production in the 1920’s. With that production of hydrocarbons has come the production of a lot of water. In 2002 it was estimated that the production of water was 400 million gallons per day and that volume has increased steadily. In addition, to water production, many reservoirs have reached an age where the paraffin and asphaltene content of the produced crude has increased. Also, corrosive fluids production has increased, yielding deposits in tubulars. Results of these three situations have made formation damage a significant problem in the Permian Basin and thus causing lower production rates in many wells.
This paper addresses the formation damages created by the events described above as well as those resulting from drilling, cementing and other well operations. In addition, methods of dealing with the removal of these damage are presented.