Clean-up and Flowback – The Art of Well Start-up, Clean-up and Flowback.
From Deep-Water to Unconventional

Speaker

Bertrand Theuveny is the Technical Director for Production and Testing Services at SLB (Schlumberger), with more than 40 years of experience in well testing, reservoir evaluation, multiphase flow measurement, production optimization, and digital oilfield technologies. He has held technical and leadership positions worldwide and has been instrumental in the development and deployment of numerous testing and production technologies. An SPE member since 1982, Bertrand has authored over 100 technical publications and is named on multiple patents. He currently leads global technology and domain development initiatives focused on dynamic reservoir evaluation, production surveillance, emissions reduction, and autonomous operations.

Talk Description

Dive into the often-overlooked phase that can make or break well performance: clean-up and flowback. This session explores why every well relies on carefully managed start-up operations, and why these processes are far more complex than they appear. From handling unpredictable multiphase flows and solids to balancing operational speed with reservoir integrity, the presentation uncovers the technical and operational challenges the industry faces in real time. Through field examples, advanced monitoring techniques, and evolving technologies, discover how fluid behavior, equipment design, and decision-making intertwine. Expect practical insights, surprising constraints, and a fresh perspective on a critical stage that quietly shapes production outcomes.

Agenda:

• 15:30 — Doors open

• 16:00 - 16:15 — SPE France activities overview

• 16:15 - 17:30 — Presentation

• 18:00 - 20:00 — Networking

What you will leave with (our promise):

• A clear understanding of why clean-up and flowback decide well performance, and why these start-up operations are harder to control than they look.

• Practical methods for reading multiphase flow and solids in real time, and for balancing flow-back speed against reservoir integrity.

• Field-tested insight into how fluid behavior, equipment design, and operational decisions interact, with examples you can apply to your own operations.

Network outcome

Join us after the talk for an informal networking session. A great opportunity to continue the conversation, exchange ideas with peers, and connect with fellow professionals over drinks and snacks. 

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