Formation Damage Considerations in Unconventional Reservoirs
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PRESENTER: Brent Warren
Technical Manager
DATE: Thursday, May 8th, 2008
TIME:12:00 AM
(Cocktails at 11:30)
PLACE:
Fairmont Palliser Hotel
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Abstract:
Production of oil and gas was once dominated by extraction of that resource from traditional sandstone and carbonate rocks. Formation damage mechanisms, for the most part, were understood in these reservoirs. Mechanisms such as solids plugging, internal fines/clay migration, water block, etc. have been well studied. In general terms, a good description of the reservoir rock properties and an understanding of the fluid properties would give a geologist a reasonably accurate indication of potential damage mechanisms.
Over the past decade, unconventional reservoirs such as oil sands, coals and shales have become important sources of hydrocarbons. These rocks do not follow traditional classifications. Oil sands feature high viscosity oils in extremely high permeabilities in a loosely consolidated matrix. Coals have unusual surface chemistry and shales are dominated by there extremely tight permeabilities. While some traditional damage mechanisms do still occur in these types of reservoir rocks, other mechanisms are of importance.
This talk will focus on the damage mechanisms of Unconventional Reservoirs and their importance to drilling, completion, stimulation and production. Recommendations to drilling programs will be made where appropriate.
Biography:
Brent Warren has been in the Oil and Gas business for 23 years. He has spent time with various service and exploration companies, primarily focused on drilling fluids and the enhancement of hydrocarbon recovery. He has been with Q’Max Solutions for the past 12 years, serving as the Technical Manager for both Western Canada and the corporate arm of the company.
Brent’s primary focus over his tenure has been in drilling fluid development for applications such as heavy oil sands, high pressured/high temperature wells, specialized formation damage prevention systems, coal-bed methane wells. His expertise has taken him throughout North America, Europe, Mexico and South America.
