For over 40 years, a challenging gas reservoir offshore Abu Dhabi remained untapped, testing the limits of engineering ingenuity. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) changed that narrative by applying advanced fracturing technologies, including the debut of NANOMITE microproppants, to unlock the Pre-Khuff formation in the Ghasha concession. This breakthrough represents a milestone in offshore hydraulic fracturing and marks a new chapter in the UAE’s energy strategy.
Unlocking the Pre-Khuff Formation: A Technological Milestone
Discovered in 1979, the Pre-Khuff formation posed formidable challenges due to its depth (16,000 ft below the mudline), high temperatures (350°F+), and extreme pressure (10,000 psi+). Compounded by clay-rich sandstone with low porosity (12%) and permeability (0.01–1 mD), the reservoir defied decades of efforts to achieve commercial viability.
In 2023, ADNOC executed the first successful multistage hydraulic fracturing treatments offshore Abu Dhabi, achieving up to a tenfold increase in flow rates. This success came after 18 months of meticulous planning and marked the use of several groundbreaking technologies, including NANOMITE microproppants and pseudo-stable fracturing fluids.
Key Achievements of the Pre-Khuff Fracturing Campaign
- Record Offshore Fracture Pumping:
- Achieved ADNOC’s highest-ever offshore fracture pump rate of 50 barrels per minute.
- Efficient Proppant Placement:
- Pumped 150 tons of proppant per stage in under two hours, with no screenouts.
- Innovative Completion Design:
- Applied the deepest limited-entry completion techniques in the UAE.
- Advanced Fracturing Fluids:
- Introduced pseudo-stable fluids that manage extreme reservoir temperatures efficiently.
- NANOMITE Microproppant Debut:
- Utilized ceramic microproppants to improve proppant transport, leakoff control, and reservoir stimulation.
The Role of NANOMITE in Enhancing Fracture Conductivity
ADNOC’s use of NANOMITE microproppants was pivotal in overcoming the challenges posed by the Pre-Khuff formation. Unlike traditional silica-based microproppants that dissolve in high-temperature conditions, NANOMITE’s ceramic composition ensured stability. Pumped alongside 40/70 mesh sand, NANOMITE improved proppant distribution and helped bridge small fissures in the reservoir, enhancing its stimulated volume and production stability.
During two-week production tests, the wells demonstrated stable flow rates, and less than 0.1% of the resin-coated microproppants were recovered—indicating exceptional proppant performance and durability.
Revolutionizing Offshore Fracturing in the UAE
The success of the Pre-Khuff project has redefined offshore hydraulic fracturing for ADNOC and the UAE. By demonstrating the viability of advanced fracturing solutions like NANOMITE, the campaign has sparked interest across ADNOC’s asset groups and inspired confidence in unlocking other challenging formations.
“We’ve proven that even the most complex reservoirs can yield commercial results with the right technologies and expertise,” said Jasim Ali Alloghani, ADNOC’s subsurface manager for the Ghasha concession. This pioneering effort has set a precedent for future developments, positioning ADNOC as a leader in innovative offshore gas extraction.
The Road Ahead
The Pre-Khuff formation now stands as a testament to ADNOC’s commitment to innovation and persistence. With production from the Dalma, Hail, and Ghasha fields expected to contribute 1.5 billion cubic feet of sour gas per day by 2030, ADNOC’s success with the Pre-Khuff could serve as a blueprint for future breakthroughs in unconventional reservoirs worldwide.
This success story not only underscores the transformative impact of technologies like NANOMITE but also highlights the courage and vision required to redefine possibilities in the energy sector.
Read more about this win in the JPT article How ADNOC Opened the UAE’s Pre-Khuff Offshore Gas Play Using Advanced Fracturing Tech or in SPE-215706.
SPE 215706 First Implementation of Nano-Proppant Technology in Middle East by H. Buijs, R. Nuriakhmetov, A. Bulekbay, A. Alam, Taliwati Ao, Anil Singh, Alejandro Vazquez, M. Basioni, J. A. Alloghani, A. E. Al Hammadi, R. K. Al Kindi, F. M. Al Aryani, U. B. Bregar, A. M. Hassan, P. Saldungaray,Enrico Annovi
