Downhole heater systems - using electric cable - is an emerging technology which has been applied to maintain adequate conditions of flow while producing oil in extreme conditions of temperature and more recently in HO and EHO wells, by reducing the viscosity of the oil in the well and near wellbore, enhancing its productivity. The first DHH systems, in horizontal wells, were installed in Huyapari field in the OB, where two wells were converted into this technology.
The results obtained in the productivity of the wells were notorious and increases in the oil production rate of up to 20 % were obtained. A rise in the temperature profile of up to 60°F, along the horizontal section of the well, caused the reduction of the oil viscosity, leading to a reduction in the pressure losses in this section due to friction. All these factors helped to increase in the intake pressure at the progressive cavity pump (PCP) of up to 17% and reduce the torque in 50% in one of the cases. Operational practices observed in a neighbour field, where this technology was applied in 2010, helped to identify factors to be optimised in Huyapari field and recommendations were mad.
The economic evaluation yielded positive indicators for the application of this technology, and showed the impact of the investment and oil production rate, in this assessment.