Case Study: ADNOC Offshore predicts and mitigates reservoir compaction with SLB geomechanics laboratory services

ADNOC Offshore Conducts Rock Mechanics Tests to Predict Compaction Effects and Guide Depletion

ADNOC Offshore, the offshore arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, needed rock mechanics data to understand pore collapse and compaction risk as mature stacked reservoirs were depleted by as much as 5,000 psi over 20 years. The challenge was to predict whether long-term depletion and pressure maintenance plans could trigger permeability loss, fines generation, subsidence, wellbore instability, and other integrity issues.

SLB’s Schlumberger Reservoir Laboratory in Abu Dhabi performed a comprehensive rock mechanics test program using uniaxial-strain compression, triaxial compression, hydrostatic, and constant stress-path tests on representative reservoir samples. The results showed that rocks with more than 26% porosity were prone to accelerated compaction before planned abandonment pressure, while rocks with less than 22% porosity did not show accelerated compaction even after 5,000 psi depletion. SLB’s findings gave ADNOC Offshore the data to adjust depletion and pressure maintenance plans to reduce compaction risk and protect production.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)