Abstract:

More than a decade has passed since the introduction of the third-generation (pumping) formation testing tools. Representative formation samples and pressures are now possible even in the toughest environmental conditions. These successes come as a result of numerous trials, failures, and learnings. The learnings include how to manipulate the available technology downhole and at surface to overcome adverse conditions. This lecture will review the best practices, tricks of the trade, and the state of the art techniques that we have employed to avoid failures and to successfully assess reservoir fluid properties in the early stages of a discovery. Some of the challenges that will be discussed include successful sampling of low, under-saturated hydrocarbon accumulations, as well as how to sample low condensate gas ratio (CGR) and other near-critical fluids. These measures help insure proper fluid input to system selection and development options.

The lecture will also discuss common problems that relate to pressure gradient interpretation and its major effects on discovery volumes. The effects of wettability and supercharging on pressure points and how to avoid them will be discussed. A new method of pressure acquisition will be proposed to avoid these pitfalls. It can possibly detect inaccuracies in assessing fluid contacts from pressure gradients. Finally, alterations of the PVT samples due to common mishandling practices will be pointed out. The critical value of formation sampling and testing to formation evaluation will be demonstrated. Formation testing has come a long way in the last decade.

Biography:

Mohamed Hashem is currently the regional technology manager for the Middle East, Caspian, and South East Asia and Shell’s principal technical expert for formation testing and sampling. Mohamed earned his BSME degree from Ain-Shams University in Cairo, Egypt in 1980; an MSPE degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in 1987; and a DE degree in 1990 in petroleum engineering from Stanford University. Mohamed joined Shell in 1990, and worked on shelf and deepwater Gulf of Mexico exploration and production projects including Shell’s flagship Auger project. For the last 10 years, Mohamed worked on global Shell projects. Before 1990, he worked for Schlumberger and was lecturer at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Based in Paris, Netherlands, Mohamed is currently seconded in North Caspian Oil Co. as subsurface technology manager, also he is Shell’s principal technical expert on formation testing and sampling. This is the highest technical level achievable in Shell short of a chief scientist. Throughout his career, he has worked on major projects in the Far and Middle East, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Americas.