First Integrated Completion Operations Successfully Deployed in the UAE Shilaif Unconventional Oil Reservoir

This paper presents the first successful execution of fully integrated completion operations in the Shilaif Unconventional Oil Reservoir, located in the southern-west region of Abu Dhabi, UAE across the Ghurab, Huwaila and Falaha fields. The Shilaif cretaceous formation is a low-permeability, high-pressure oil reservoir composed of tight carbonates with a mixture of in-situ and migrated oil. This project integrates hydraulic fracturing, wireline plug-and-perf, and coiled tubing services under a unified execution strategy. The objective is to demonstrate how this approach enhanced operational efficiency, reduced non-productive time, and enabled scalable, cost-effective development in a geologically complex unconventional reservoir. The approach integrates split-stream hydraulic fracturing with real-time monitoring, optimized plug-and-perf techniques, and coiled tubing post-frac plug milling operations. Customized fracturing strategies and equipment configurations were field-tested to ensure effective proppant transport and placement. Wireline operations were streamlined to enhance pump-down efficiency. Coiled tubing operations followed with a sequenced milling strategy introducing a high-performance milling BHA and optimized schedules for effective plug cuttings and debris removal. Continuous operational diagnostics enabled dynamic stage-by-stage decision-making, ensuring synchronized performance across all service lines. The integrated execution achieved a 56% reduction in total completion time per well, with wireline pump-down operations improving by 33% due to faster tool deployment and retrieval achieving a 98% tool success rate and reduced cycle times. Hydraulic fracturing operations set a regional record by pumping the highest number of frac stages in a single day in the UAE by deploying optimized pumping schedules and fluids rheology. Coiled tubing milling operations successfully milled out all frac plugs in record time, with a 59% reduction in valve-to-valve operation duration compared to offset wells. The enhanced milling performance was attributed to optimized BHA design, fluid hydraulics, and real-time adjustments. These combined efficiencies unlocked the operational feasibility of shifting from 3,000-ft lateral single-well exploration locations to a pad-based field development appraisal of 4–5 wells per location. The integrated model proved critical for de-risking the unconventional UAE assets, accelerating well delivery, and maximizing reservoir contact. This paper delivers a first-of-its-kind field example of integrating hydraulic fracturing, wireline plug-and-perf, and coiled tubing milling operations within a reservoir-centric single operational framework in the UAE. It provides new insights into real-time coordination across service lines, the strategic use of high-performance tools for reliable pump-down operations, and the scalable benefits of transitioning to multi-well pad development. These findings contribute to the evolving playbook for unconventional field development in the Middle East.