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2014 Update – After 9 years running an MxL System Philippe Labat recently reported the well is still averaging double initial production!

2006 Update

Initial production of 60 bbl/d declined at 1% per day to 2bbl/d. Well was re-entered in 1999 various treatments were tried, with limited success, except heating which showed a constant production rate. A resistance heater installed in 2002 increased production to slightly more than 13bbl /day for about a year until it burned out. In September 2005 the MxL Induction Heater was installed which increased production to 18 bbl/day within 60 days. Normally there are temperature fluctuations at the tool sensors, in response to flow changes. In this installation the fluctuations were absent which indicated the tool was not across the perforations. A second characteristic, a gradual increase in casing temperature as the reservoir warms up, was also missing.

A tubing leak halted production in late May of 2006 and the tool elevation was reviewed and compared to old logs so adjustments could be made during the workover. When the tool was re-installed the ESP cable was 4.1 m too short which confirmed our suspicions that the tool was originally above the reservoir. Since the heated portion of the tool is only 5.2m long the original installation heated about a meter of the zone.

The gradual increase in reservoir temperature, with the same power output, is indicative of heat accumulating in the reservoir. As the near wellbore temperature rises oil mobility improves, wax melts out improving permeability and production increases.

Bottom hole pressure is approaching the 850 kPa that was typical before the workover.

Philippe Labat 2005

2011 – Upgrade of MxL System.

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