Application of Autonomous Inflow Control Valve (AICV) in Reducing the Gas Production in Ultra-Light Oil Reservoir: Case Study

Abstract

This paper describes the deployment of Autonomous Inflow Control Valve (AICV) technology in an oil producing well affected by gas breakthrough, to reduce gas production and increase conformance. Based on the fluid properties, AICV differentiates the fluid flowing through it and can autonomously choke / shut off gas inflow from the high gas saturated zones, while allowing oil production from healthy oil-saturated zones. The subject oil producing well has open hole section of over 3200ft. A multidisciplinary data integration of well logs, production history, and subsurface geological description is considered for modelling and designing optimum AICV completion. The main objective is to restrict the gas breakthrough to a smaller compartment, allowing other compartments to produce at higher oil production. The AICV completion was run with a remote actuated shoe to enable fluid circulation from the end of downhole completion string while run-in-hole. AICV technology allows pro-active reservoir management. It shuts-off the gas at subsurface level autonomously, without any intervention. Due to the chocking effect, AICV allows sustain the well production within the reservoir management guidelines, with improved well availability and reducing the operating expenditures. This has an additional positive impact on the environment due to reduction of gas flaring as AICV is expected to reduce the gas production/GOR by 81% This paper discuss in detail how the AICV completion offered a technically attractive and cost-effective gas management and production optimization opportunity. Futures implementation of this solution will improve Miscible Water Alternating Gas (MWAG) injection efficiency and gas recycling in addition to reducing the carbon footprint per barrel of produced while sustaining production.