Method and system of analyzing wells of a mature field

Abstract

Analyzing wells of mature field. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: gathering data about a group of wells; determining a condition of each well; creating an initial prioritization; creating a secondary prioritization based on at least one criteria provided by the client and the initial prioritization; analyzing at least some of the wells selected based on priority of each well in the secondary prioritization; interfacing with a service providing entity; providing to the client a first recommendation regarding corrective action, the first recommendation without regard to the service providing entity's availability to perform services; providing to the client a second recommendation regarding corrective action, the second recommendation taking into account the service providing entity's availability of crews and equipment; and performing at least one corrective action on at least one well, the performing based from the first or second recommendations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 gathering data about a group of wells within a field of wells of a client;   determining a condition of each well in the group of wells;   creating an initial prioritization of the group of wells based on a corrective action for each well of the group of wells;   creating a secondary prioritization of the group of wells based on at least one criteria provided by the client and the initial prioritization;   analyzing at least some of the wells of the group of wells, the wells analyzed are selected based on priority of each well in the secondary prioritization;   interfacing with a service providing entity;   providing to the client a first recommendation regarding corrective action for at least some of the wells of the group of wells, the first recommendation without regard to the service providing entity's availability to perform services;   providing to the client a second recommendation regarding corrective action for at least some of the wells, the second recommendation taking into account the service providing entity's availability of crews and equipment; and   performing at least one corrective action on at least one well from the group of wells, the performing based from the first or second recommendations.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein gathering data further comprises gathering at least one selected from the group consisting of: well schematics; well histories; downhole pressures; surface pressures; production data; previously run well logs; natural gamma logs; gamma-gamma logs; neutron-gamma logs; and electrical resistivity logs. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a condition of each well in the group of wells further comprises determining for each well at least one selected from the group consisting of: the presence of mechanical issues affecting production; the suitability of artificial lift; and the presence of bypassed zones. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a condition further comprises running a well logging operation in at least some of the wells of the group of wells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the initial prioritization further comprises segregating wells from the group of wells based on at least one selected from the group consisting of: whether the corrective action requires a work over rig; whether the corrective action involves artificial lift; whether the corrective action involves perforating a new production zone within a casing; whether the corrective action involves plugging the well; and whether the corrective action involves production enhancement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the secondary prioritization further comprises creating the secondary prioritization having at least two categories selected from the group consisting of: high priority wells; low priority wells; and wells to be plugged and abandoned. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein analyzing at least some of the wells further comprises performing, regarding at least one well, at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 an analysis of a return on investment for capital expenditures to perform a corrective action; 
 an analysis of financial performance regarding operating expenditures in relation to expected future performance; 
 an analysis as to bypassed zones for new perforations; 
 an analysis as to production issues downhole; 
 an analysis as to production issues within the tubing; 
 an analysis as to production issues at the surface; and 
 an analysis as to reservoir issues affecting production. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein interfacing with a service providing entity further comprises interfacing with the client regarding availability of crews and equipment to perform corrective action, the crews and equipment controlled by the client. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein interfacing with a service providing entity further comprises interfacing with a third party regarding availability of crews and equipment to perform corrective action, the crews and equipment controlled by the third party. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein interfacing further comprises interfacing with a service providing division of the legal entity performing the analyzing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing to the client the first recommendation further comprises providing the client an indication of return-on-investment regarding each corrective action. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing to the client a second recommendation further comprises providing a ranking of proposed corrective actions to be taken within at least two predetermined time frames. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein providing a ranking of proposed corrective actions further comprises providing rankings for correction actions to be performed in 1-3 months, 4-6 months, and 6 months and beyond. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein performing at least one corrective action further comprises performing, on at least one well of the group of wells, at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 plugging for abandonment; 
 fracturing at least one zone. 
 acidizing at least one production zone; 
 resolving a downhole mechanical issue affecting hydrocarbon flow; 
 resolving a surface mechanical issue affecting hydrocarbon flow; 
 installing artificial lift equipment; 
 installing surface tanks; and 
 perforating a casing to create a new production zone. 
 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor;   an interface device coupled to the processor;   wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 gather data about a group of wells within a field of wells owned by a client; 
 create an initial prioritization of the group of wells based on a corrective action for each well of the group of wells; 
 receive at least one predetermined criteria from a client; 
 create a secondary prioritization of the group of wells based on the at least one criteria and the initial prioritization; 
 communicate with a service providing entity to determine future availability of crews and equipment to perform corrective actions; 
 provide to the interface device a recommendation regarding corrective action for at least some of the wells of the group of wells, the first recommendation without regard to the service providing entity's availability; and 
 provide to the interface device a second recommendation regarding corrective action for at least some of the wells, the second recommendation taking into account the service providing entity's availability of crews and equipment. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor gathers data, the program causes the processor to gather data being at least one selected from the group consisting of: well production history; well downhole pressure trends; well surface pressure trends; well production data; and well log data. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein, prior to creating the initial prioritization, the program further causes the processor to receive an indication of a corrective action for each well of the group of wells. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein, prior to creating the initial prioritization, the program further causes the processor to determine a corrective action for each well of the group of wells. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor creates the initial prioritization, the program causes the processor to segregate wells from the group of wells based on at least one selected from the group consisting of: whether the corrective action requires a work over rig; whether the corrective action involves artificial lift; whether the corrective action requires perforating a new production zone within a casing; and whether the corrective action requires plugging the well. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor creates the secondary prioritization, the program further causes the processor to create the secondary prioritization having at least two categories selected from the group consisting of: high priority wells; low priority wells; and wells to be plugged and abandoned. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor communicates with the service providing entity, the program further causes the processor to communicate with the client regarding availability of crews and equipment to perform corrective action, the crews and equipment controlled by the client. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor communicates with the with the service providing entity, the program further causes the processor to communicate with a third party regarding availability of crews and equipment to perform corrective action, the crews and equipment controlled by the third party. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor provides the first recommendation, the program causes the processor to provide an indication of return-on-investment regarding each correct action. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor provides the second recommendation, the program causes the processor to provide a ranking of proposed corrective actions to be taken within at least two predetermined time frames.