Autonomous ICD Installation Success in Ecuador Heavy Oil: A Case Study

Abstract

New technology has been called upon in Ecuador to help increase reserves and optimize the management of fluid in several reservoirs. Autonomous Inflow Control Devices (AICD) have provided increased oil production and decreased water production with installations in the Ginta field. When compared to neighboring wells completed with stand-alone screen technology and producing the same total liquid, the AICD installation initially produced more oil with a lower water cut percentage. Over several months, the water cut in the AICD installation eventually reached a similar level to that of offset completions; however, allowed significant more oil recovery prior to reaching that point. The heavy oil in these fields is approximately 60cP in viscosity. The wells are still in the evaluation phase; however, early data is of interest.Due to its autonomous sensing functionality, fluid viscosity dictates the path the produced fluid will take through the AICD. Higher viscosity oil takes a relatively non-restrictive path whereas low viscosity water is sent on a tortuous path causing a decrease in flow rate through that particular tool. A well completed with a system of AICDs and oil swelling packers for annular isolation restricts zones with high water ratios which in turn stimulates neighboring oil zones.This paper presents oil production data over time for two AICD heavy oil installations in Ecuador and compares the data to that from neighboring wells in the field. The benefit of AICD technology for reservoir management and production optimization will be discussed.

Design and Numerical Simulation Study of a Novel AICD for Water Control and Gas Production in Gas Wells

“…Fripp et al 35 modeled the fluid diode AICD, introduced its working principle, and compared the simulated data with the measured data through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Additionally, single-phase laboratory testing has been documented for fluid diode AICDs in papers SPE 160165, 36 SPE167379, 37 SPE170993, 38 SPE 166285, 39 and SPE180303, 40 three case histories have been documented for fluid diode AICDs in paper SPE 166495, 41 Shahreyar et al 42 and SPE 200255, 43 the use of fluid diode AICDs in both heavy and light oil fields were documented in the papers SPE 184094 44 and SPE 183863. 45 In addition to the abovementioned fluid diode AICD, there are many other types of channel-type AICD, such as a new adaptable inflow control devices designed by Zeng et al, 46 , 47 which guide flow through a Y-diverter and restricts water flow through a disk limiter.…”