UNCONVENTIONAL GAS WELLBORE CLEANOUT
Steve Metcalf, Rick McCurdy and Mike Brown, BJ Services Co.
Over 40% of natural gas production in the United States over the next 20 to 25 years is projected to come from "Unconventional Gas" sources. These consist of coal beds, shales and low permeability sandstones and carbonates. Unconventional gas producers are as susceptible to wellbore damage as conventional. Scales, formation fill and organic deposits are probable. Therefore cleanout of these wellbores is as critical to maintaining production. The problem is that loss of fluid on these reservoirs during such an operation can shut-down totally the gas production. Presented is an overview of "Unconventional Gas" sources, potential wellbore problems, the challenges to removal and solutions to the problems.