Abstract This document presents a new fracturing application carried out through pre-existing selective completions in non-stimulated water injection wells from the Casabe field in Colombia. The technique was created as part of the revitalization strategy of this mature field, to improve the injection performance. Selective water injection completions were implemented in the Casabe field in 2006 in order to address the low vertical efficiency of the injection, stemming from the high vertical heterogeneity of the formation, made of a large number of intercalated sands and shales, when using conventional, non-selective completion strings. In spite of the implementation of selective injection as mitigating measure, several reservoirs or sand layers were still not flooded by water, while these sands hold important remaining reserves of oil. The new stimulation technique focused on the further improvement of vertical sweep efficiency by fracturing those low water admission layers through the selective injection strings already installed in the wells. A pilot application was successfully carried out, proving the technique as a highly profitable, rig-less operation, which minimizes operating costs and risks. As a result of this novel fracturing application, the injection rates in the stimulated wells increased over seven times and vertical sweep improved between 70% and 100%. In comparison with conventional fracturing, the operating time with the new fracturing technique was reduced by 50%, resulting in cost savings approximately of 1MMUSD per well. This fracture technique has shown an 80% of success and it is intended to apply it widely in all preexisting and future injection wells completed selectively in the field. This world's first successful application is consistent with the permanent industry needs to implement technically sound and viable secondary recovery techniques or methodologies for increasing profitably oil production, and for boosting recovery factors, in a fluctuating oil price environment.
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Oil and Gas Production Techniques
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FuenteSPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference