Publications

Total E&P Indonesie (TEPI) have significant wells that are operated in the production cycling mode called as shut-in build-up or SIBU. Currently, more than 40% of 1200 Tunu wells are SIBU wells. Having been implemented since 3 years ago, SIBU has been proven as the easiest and the cheapest way to optimize recovery from the weak gas wells. Two major constrains are identified in producing SIBU wells, first is how to identifying when the well is reached its maximum pressure to flow and second is the rapid decline phenomena of production. Current operation practice is relying on routine wellhead shut in pressure (WHSIP) visual check by production operator, where wells will be opened manually when it reached a certain WHSIP to produce (normally 80 barg), and will be putting back it to the close position after no flow. This practice is very time consuming considering the number of wells that are scattered around Mahakam Delta. Hence, a simple modification way has been applied by relocating existing pressure transmitter to the kill line and by adding auto close logic at PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) to the wing valve which allow it to close when existing flow transmitter reaches its cut off setting rate. The modifications had been successfully implemented on a pilot well, TN-Ax126 at Tunu Field, giving : a very promising results and a very successful wells revival (5 wells to POP), all monitoring and auto-close logic modification working properly, and the WHSIP always returned to 105 barg after SIBU. Total cumulative of gas produced is 1.1 MMSCF and is continuously counting for the next revival cycle. Modification cost (of USD 3650) can be negligible compare to the amount of gas recovered. Moreover, this simple modification is took only 1 day site work to implemented by using internal maintenance resource. Taking some experiences of this pilot scale, the modification is expected to be industrialized to the other SIBU wells. First scale up phase will be focused on 28 wells with good revival history. Using simple technology, minor modification, emphasizing existing installation and with a cheap cost, it is expected to reduce up to 40% operator manhours for WHSIP checking. On top of that, the semi automatic design has already proven way to increase the hydrocarbon recovery at the nearly end of life of the gas wells.