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Development of Judy Creek A Case Study

By A. D. BRADSHAW*
(14th Annual Techn-ical Meeting, P. di N.G. Divi-sion, and
65th Annual General Meeting, a.I.M., Edmonton, April, 1963)

ABSTRACT
This paper reviews engineering
expected in three to four weeks
time. It was necessary to stock-
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considerations associated with the pile equipment and prepare lease .UIVt" 10 • UU"

development of the Judy Creek Bea-
verhill Lake oil pool. The orderly
development of the pool was facili-
tated by early studies of drilling
and completion programmes, pro-
duction practices and reservoir prob-
lems. The reservoir study has serv-
ed as a basis for unitization and
pressure maintenance, which be-
came effective less than four years
after discovery.
INTRODUCTION
T HE Judy Creek Beaverhill Lake
oil pool was discovered by Im-
pl"!riol Oil Limited in February, 1959,
two years after the Home-Regent
discovery of Swan Hills, several
miles to the north. Judy Creek is lo-
cated about 100 miles northwest of
the city of Edmonton in the heavily
wooded Swan Hills area (Figure
1) . Other Beaverhill Lake reef
pools in the area are: Deer Moun-
tain, Swan Hills, Virginia Hills,
Judy Creek West, Carson Creek
North, Carson Creek (gas), Kaybob
and Snipe Lake. These pools all
produce from the Swan Hills memo
ber of the Beaverhill Lake forma-
tion of Middle Devonian age.
Judy Creek has provided an ex·
cellent proving ground for technical
advances during the past decade.
sites for the planned stepouts.
I·""'.('U'Q
........ '\
Within one month, 550 truck-loads o lCJolON10N
of material, inclUding five drilling ...... "IK it"."
rigs, Cat equipment, camps, mud, t
cement, tubular goods, diesel oil,
and gasoline, were assembled at the
prepared locations. In anticipation
of production, 24 miles of tempor-
ary pipeline were strung north from
ALBERTA
Judy Creek to join Federated Pipe-
line's main line north of the Free- INDEX MAP
man river. A base camp, with
radio conununications, was also es-
tablished. Later in the summer of Figure I.-Index Map.
1959, the route via Fort Assiniboine
was extended to Judy Creek as a Early wells used 10% -in. sUI'face
gravelled grade to provide year- casing and 7-in. production casing.
round access. In the interests o[ economy, the
hole size was reduced on subsequent
wells from a 9-in. diameter to 7%
DRILLING inches (surface hole, 121,4 inches).
Surface casing was reduced to 8%
Wells in Judy Creek range in inches and production casing: to 5%
depth from 8,500 to 9,000 feet. At
inches. Current completions em·
least 600 feet of surface casing is ploy 4%-in. and, in some inslances,
cemented and pressure tested to
2 1Ai -in. casing.
1,000 psi. The hole is then drilled
to total depth, with diamond coring Ear]y in the development of Judy
through the Beaverhill Lake forma- Creek, sevel'al drilling rigs were
tion in about half of the wells. No introduced to "Engineered Drilling
difficult drilling problems are en- Programmes" (1) [or improved elli-
countered. dency. These are simply pre-planned
o Inillol S1ep-oot T ~.~... =_
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-HINt·
SOUTH SWAN HILLS
i

The purpose of this paper is to re- S Dual Tubln.;le1i$ Compl-etlon 1-_+-_-+_---I:....-_+o::..-.2..0-P~~~

~-~~-~+-__f------I
view briefly some of the advanced 2 wo~, lojoe'o," I ,~

techniques that were applied in the

development of the pool. T
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INITIAL OPERATIONS UN IT OUTlI' E • • • t ....,.._•. p -._P'- i.

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Fig/o'e 2 is a detailed map of the
Judy Creek area. The discovery
. -._....
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4-
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well, 16-31-63-10, located on a Crown @ • @ • 0 •

drilling reservation, struck oil at a ~u; -',H I~'" Ch .... r v FI h "'\~::O-
~UDY CREE~
, ......._
depth of 8,600 feet. Immediate]y, an WEST'
.... AIRsunP l'-- ,
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exploratory effort was launched,
with six step outs begun simultane-
. . ...... . DISCQVl;iZY ~

• @
ously to help define the reservoir
extent. Four of the six were sub- 4- •

sequently abandoned; two found

Beaverhill Lake oil.
A t the time of discovery, access
• 4-
to Judy Creek consisted only of a
winter trail, with spring break-Up

JUDY CREEK SOUTH • -<- • 10

*Imperial Oil Limited, Edmon-
ton, Alberta. Figure 2.-The Judy Creek Area.
24 Journal of Canadian Petroleum
 ;:.~"..;~'~~",.~.t:~_,-:.-_..:.--_,_, _ :~.~";.
,
programmes designed to take con-
sistent advantage of all factprs
known to increase the over-all effi-
ciency of a drilling rig. They were
developed in two phases; the first
being con1:erned with the opti-
mum use of the rig's hydraulic
system; the second giving a
prescribed variable bit weight
and rotary speed programme.
During the first phase, four contract
rigs realized average savings of 272
days and four bits per well when
using optimum hydraulic program-
mes as compared to their previous
conventional drilling practices in
Judy Creek. The second phase was
:. introduced by an Imperial rig which
employing the complete Engineered
,.",' Drilling Programme averaged 23%
.~
days from spud·in to rig release
for its first eight wells. This was
H~ days better than the average
contract drilling rate at the time.
As a result of this pace-setting per-
formance, most contractors have
adopted the Engineered Drilling
Programme at least in part. Current-
ly, about 25 days are required from
the start of drilling operations to
completion of the casing cement job
and rig release. This is a reduction
of about 20 per cent in drilling time
as compared to earlier development
wells.
LoGGING
The logs generally run are the
Induction-Electrical (5FF-40 in early
wells and currently 6FF-40) togeth-
er with the gamma-caliper-sonic
combination. Other logs were run
during early development, but prov-
ed to be of comparatively little
value. Excellent porosity correla-
tions are obtained between sonic
logs and core analyses. These, in
conjunction with the induction log
conductivities, provide fairly reliable
o.l1
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·· ·· ·· ·"I~ :}- .. UNIT OUTLINE
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Figure 3.-The Original Lease Block, showing Satellite
and Central Batteries.
Technology, Spring, 1964, Colgory
_
saturation distribution data to guide
the selection of suitable completion
intervals and for use in reservoir
engineering studies. At the time of
com.pletion, a through-tubing neut-
ron log is run for correlation pur-
poses to provide perforating depth
control and an· accurate record of
the open interval.
COMPLETIONS
The wells are generally complet-
ed with 5%-in. or 4%-in. casing
set through the pay to some 50
feet below the field oil-water con·
tact at 5,270 feet subsea. The
casing is cemented to about 4,500
feet from surface (300 feet .above
the Viking formation) with 12 per
cent gel cement and 0.83 per cent
Kembreak retarder. A string of
2%-in, tubing is then run to bottom
~d the mud in the well is displaced
to crude oil. The tUbing is landed
30 feet above the highest expected
perforations. Generally, a 10- to
20-foot interval close to the top of
the pay section is perforated with
a through-tubing jet gun at a den-
sity of one shot per foot. Early
completions often flowed immedi-
ately after perforating but, with a
decline in reservoir pressure, it is
now usually necessary to stimulate
the wells with acid. Generally,
about 500 gallons of 15 per cent
hydrochloric acid pumped through
the perforations results in a strong
ftowing well.
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Almost as soon as oil was dis-
covered at Judy Creek, engineering
studies were underway to design
gathering and production facilities.
Imperial had been testing automatic
battery components and various
.1D WJir-L RU
r." JUDY CREEK
BHL
• IIHl Oll WEll
lJ SATUUTE. IAtTUY
-FLOWU:N$
T.63
• (:IENIIAL IlIAnUy
- - - (i..A.THER:ING LINE
--"'=~-"-~:'="-'-"""",,,~""-"'-------------"'"
Figure 4.-The Lithologic Zones at Judy Creek shown
degrees of over-all automation in
production facilities since 1954. De-
velopment at Judy Creek provided'
~~):~~!;::J
the first opportunity to incorporate
the optimum alllount of automatic
control equipment in field-wide pro- ~>.F:~; _
duction facilities. The design stu~
dies resulted in adopting a system
of satellite and central batteries f~.~;{-~<:; . -..
that may be classified as semi- .... , ',. ~
automatic.
The basic design was influenced
by regulations pertaining to lease-
block sizes and patterns and by the
assumption that ultimate develop-
ment would be on quarter-section
spacing. Figure 3 shows the satel-
lite and central battery serving the
original lease block. This illustrates
the basic design of eight wells or
two sections per satellite and four
satellites per central battery.
The satellite batteries provide
production and well test control on
an unattended basis. The satellite
control panel contains program-
ming, data recording and alarm
facilities. Production and test
schedules are controlled by time
clocks which, through' solenoids,
activate electro-pneumatic valves at • • A" ;~~~::~::> .~_.
.. _" ft. ~.:"
the manifold. A test programmer, "
in the form of a cam timer, selects
the wells to test in a fixed sequence.
In a normal sequence, one well is
tested per 24 hours. Oil and gas
test production data are recorded
on digital counters at the satellite
panel, with no test data transmitted
to the central battery.
After passing through a satellite
battery, all test and group prOduc-
tion is combined and flows through
the gathering system to a central
battery. The central battery pro-
vides group facilities for separating,
heating, treating (if neCessary),
uo JUDY CREEK· BHL
TO'
SCHEMATIC CROSS SECTION
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in Cross Section.
25 i .
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t :
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fer in communication with the 011

AVERAGE RESERVOIR PROPERTIES
Depth
Area
Reservoir Temperature
Discovery Pressure (datum -5,230 ft. ss) 3,497 psig
Saturation Pressure (datum -5,230 ft ss) 2,290 psig
Net Pay
Porosity
Permeability
Connate Water
Original Formation Volume Factor
a.I.p. per :J,4 Section
Total D.I.P. at Discovery
Gravity-st. oil
Viscosity at Reservoir Conditions
measurement and automatic cus-
tody transfer of the crude oil.
The design for a further refine-
ment of production facilities is now
being finalized. This is referred to
as the "field-gate system" and con-
sists, in essence, of two-phase
gathering system and only one cus-
tody transfer point to serve the
entire Judy Creek field. Satellite
testing will remain in effect for the
new system, but the central batter-
ies will be eliminated.
RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS
Production at Judy Creek is de-
rived from the Swan Hills member,
a reefal development of the Beaver·
hill Lake formation of Middle
Devonian age. The reef consists
mainly of organic and bioclastic
limestones with thicknesses of be·
tween 100 and 400 feet, as shown
in the schematic cross section of
Figure 4. The Swan Hills member
lies on anhydritic limy shales of the
TABLE I. zone or the relatively tight S·l aqui·
fer which is separated from the 011
8,700 feet zone by the dense S-2 zone (Figlt1'8
27,000 acres 4). Average reservoir properties
206°F
are summarized in Table J.
77 feet Regulations in effect at the time
9.0% of discovery prescribed 80-acre
50 md spacing. This was subsequently
16% changed to interim l60·acre spacing
1.413 res. bbllst. bbl in July, 1959. However, develop.
5.1 million stb
850 million sth ment proceeded on half-section
41 API 0 spacing to accelerate pool definition.
.37 cpo Evidence was obtained during the
18-month appraisal period to show
Elk Point. The structural trap is that efficient drainage would result
sealed by the overlying and flank. on quarter-section spacing. Pres-
ing argillaceous microcrystalline sure surveys indicated that uniform
lime-muds of Beaverhill Lake age. drainage occurred over areas much
larger than the nominal SO·acre
The reservoir is quite strati- pattern. In addition, initial comple·
fied, with properties varying trans-
a versely as well as vertically. Five
tion pressure measurements gave
positive evidence of horizontal com·
lithologic zones, which represent
munication and effective drainage.
successive periods of reef develop- Figure 5 is a plot of completion
ment, can be identified and serve
pressures for some of the first sixty
as a basis for reservoir description. wells, and it is seen that these
These have been designated the S-l,
pressures closely follow the declin-
S-2, S-3, S-4 and S-5 in ascending ing field average pressure. Conse-
order from the base of the Swan quently, permanent 16D-acre spacing
Hills member. The upper three was ordered for the Judy Creek
layers constitute the "reef build·up" field by the Conservation Board in
and show good porosity develop- February, 1961. Subsequent drill·
ment. The relatively tight S-l and ing on this pattern has resulted in
S-2 layers form the "reef platform" a total of 168 wells now drilled out
which blankets the entire Swan of an expected ultimate 170 wells
Hills area and dips to the southwest on quarter-section spacing.
at 40 feet per mile. Water is en-
countered at a relatively uniform In addition to horizontal com·
depth of 5,210 feet subsea. How- munication, it was essential to know
ever, no natural water drive energy if vertical communication would be
is provided by either the small aqui- effective, or if the several strata
would act as independent res(!rvoirs.

--... 1959 1960 For this purpose, a T-shaped pat-

-
3500
tern (shown on Figltre 21 of five
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locations was completed with dual
tubing strings cemented in place of
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casing so that independent pressure
w
2~ ~
30
3i 45 59
'"~
and production data could be obta;n·
ed from two lithologic zones at each
~- --- 29
3460

rf't location. Generally, one zone was

VI
40 ~2 w
normally produced while the second
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t.
,
T
-
II
'10

i
W~Jo\

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34111
43
51

~
3440 '"
o
zone was shut-in to obtain static
pressure data for the unproduced
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.
I
UNIT OUJUNE II
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50 >
""
zone. These completions have been

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15 .
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4 . ..
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54
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3420 ::::
w
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valuable in showing that, in general.
good pressure communication exists
[i,. '27' F~ •0 1
433644
.
. I' . 3400
between the upper three zones but
that portions of the S4 zone appear
to be isolated from the rest of the
reservoir. An attempt was made to
JUDY CREEK measure vertical pressure interfer-
ence by high rate tests, but results
were unreliable due to pressure
COMPLETION PRESSURE:S measurement limitations.

RECOVERY PREDICfIONS

Figure 5.-A Plot of Completion Pressures for Some of the First Sixty Reservoir studies show that nat-
Wells. ural depletion will be controlled by
26 Journal of Canadian Petroleum
 .rock and fluid expansion as the reo
servo~r pressure declines to the
field requirements for a successful unitization, which became effective
~~~l~#. .;'

saturation pressure of 2,290 psig.
Thereafter, it will be controlled by
an inefficient solutiori gas drive.
The total expected primary recovery
is 16 per cent" of the original oil in
place.
The fact that JUdy Creek is a
closed reservoir with no effective
water drive was recognized sh~rtly
after discovery. The rapid pressure
decline (0.75 psi per day) and the
prospect of a large early investment
in artificial lift facilities, as well as
future underproduction problems,
GOR penalties and low recovery,
prompted an immediate investiga.
-tion of the possibility of utilizing
the available water andlor natural
"
gas in the area for some form of
pressure maintenance or· artificial
displacement process.
These studies considered miscible
displacement by pattern and crestal
gas injection and waterflooding by
pattern and downdip flank injection.
The studies indicated a downdip
semi-peripheral water injection
scheme to be the most attractive.
flank waterfiood. To evaluate these
factors, a field pilot water injection
test (Figure 6) was commenced in
April, 1962. The injection well (12-
4-64-11) took water on vacuum at
rates exceeding 6,500 BID. By July,
after half a million barrels of water
had been injected, presure response
had been observed at fifteen pres-
sure observation wells in the im-
mediate vicinity. This was signifi·
cant in demonstrating inter-zone
communication, as water injection
into the S-4 and S-3 layers below
the oil-water contact affected the oil
zone pressure of wells completed in
the S-5 layer.
The pilot waterfiood scheme was
expanded in July, 1962, to evaluate
injeetivity along the southern flank
of the reef. The three injection
wells (4-18-63-10, 12-12-63-11 and 12-
9-63-11) took water on vacuum at
rates of from 4,000 to 7,000 BID.
Pressure surveys in September and
November showed the adjacent area
of fifteen quarter sections to be in
.good communication with the zone
of injection.
;~'/:::'~:<
on November 1, 1962.
At about the same mne, approval
for the pressure maintenance pro-
ject was obtained from the' Alberta
Oil and Gas Conservation Board.
FUll-scale injection commenced in
December, 1962, with Carson lake,
12 miles to the south, providing
injection water. Since the middle
of January, water injection .rates
have been maintained at between
3,000 and 7,500 BID per well at the
four injectors shown on Figure 6,
giving a total input in excess of
20,000 BID. Wellhead pressures
have averaged from 90 to 350 psig.
Initial response has been entirely
satisfactory and the ultimate suc-
cess of the project seems assured
~ ni·1~·:;'~ ~
CONCLPSIONS
All phases of development at
Judy Creek, from the improvement
of access routes and development
drilling to the design ~f production
facilities and pressure maintenance
operations, have benefited from the
application of up-to-date technology.
Engineered Drilling Programmes

~f~;:"
This scheme will realize maximum
gravity and sweep benefits. In addi- UNITIZATION AND PREsSURE have been credited' with reducing
tion, imbibition cross-flow is expect- MAINTENANCE drilling time by about 20 per cent.
ed to be an important factor in The pilot operations provided Similarly, optimum production effi-
improving waterflood performance. valuable data for finalizing the de- ciency is being achieved by field-wide ;... ~~ ~

Ultimate recovery is predicted to be

at least 45 per cent of the original
sign of the full-scale pressure main-
tenance scheme. With downdip,
application of semi-automatic con-
tro! systems using satellite batteries. ~:> ~~~; .
oil in place. semi.peripheral water injection, :The design and operation of the
there is bound to be considerable system was simplified initially due
" FIELD PILOT OPERATION inter-lease migration of fluids, lead- to consolidated lease ownership and,
Good water injectivity and pres· ing to inequities between operators. more recently, by unitization. Fut-
sure communication are essential This problem was sol~ed through ure modifications are planned to
,
provide a two-phase gathering and
"
R.ll R.10 W5M. JUDY CREEK - BHl field-gate system for even greater
operating efficiency.
'-f:"-~-J-_r--+---f---\.---+-- T 64
PILOT
Early reservoir studies considered
WATERFLOOD reservoir communication, drainage
UNIT OUTLINE
OPERATION problems and primary depletion per'
'. o formance. The low predicted re-
covery of 16 per cent prompted
pressure maintenance studies, lead- -. ~.

..' 8HL OIL WElL

ing to the design of a downdip,
semi-peripheral water injection
t~:'S:\~:~ .-: ~
.,, ;

Q INJECTION WElL system.

Field pilot water injection opera-
tions demonstrated the feasibility of
this scheme, and the full-scale oper-
ation was commenced in December
of 1962, less than four years after
~ the discovery date_ Ultimate recov-
'::"--"---I,;;-"I--..J--T.63 INITIAL PILOT AREA ery is predicted to be at least 45
per cent: of the original oil in place.
f"E'BJ
.,, o;..-r---+---l---+----1 PILOT EXPANSION AREA REFERENCE
i (1) Thompson, D. M., "Engineered
Drilling Programmes," CJ.M.- ,. ': ~:;.
A.I.M.E. Petroleum Engineering , ,~ ~ - ;.
Figure 6.-The Pilot Waterflood Operation at JUdy Creek, showing Section Meetings, Calgary &
" Location of Injection Wells. Edmonton, January 8/9, 1963.
Technology, Spring, 1964, Colgory 27
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