Restoring Production in HPHT Sour New Fields Wells Through Integrated Coiled Tubing Cleanout and Acid Stimulation: West Kuwait Field Results
Abstract
West Kuwait's new development fields represent one of the most technically challenging production environments in the region, characterized by high pressures, high temperatures, and corrosive conditions with elevated concentrations of H2S and CO2. Despite these harsh conditions, these reservoirs contain significant oil potential. However, production is frequently restricted by severe asphaltene deposition and organic solids accumulation within the wellbore and near-wellbore region, leading to rapid productivity decline. Without timely intervention, these deposits severely limit flow capacity, making immediate and effective cleanout and stimulation essential to restore and sustain hydrocarbon production. A targeted well intervention strategy combining coiled tubing (CT) cleanout and acid stimulation was implemented in both cased-hole and open-hole environments. Wellbore samples were collected and subjected to detailed laboratory solubility testing to identify the most effective cleaning fluid systems for asphaltene and organic solid removal. Based on these results, a customized treatment design was developed for each well. The operations were executed following strict procedural controls, followed by high-rate, high-pressure acid stimulation treatments applied to enhance near-wellbore conductivity and improve hydrocarbon flow capacity. Despite the harsh environment, this integrated approach delivered a total oil gain of 5,768.8 BOPD, comprising both sustained and incremental production, confirming the technical and economic effectiveness of the intervention strategy. The study presents a field-proven, scalable workflow for restoring and enhancing production in HPHT, sour New Fields wells through integrated CT cleanout and acid stimulation. The success of this methodology has driven its adoption beyond West Kuwait, with other assets and fields already implementing the same laboratory-driven fluid selection and execution philosophy to address similar asphaltene and flow-restriction challenges. The approach provides operators with a practical blueprint for unlocking trapped reserves in harsh, high-risk environments where conventional intervention methods have limited effectiveness.