ESPs and Intelligent Completions

Abstract

The value of intelligent well completions combined with ESPs comes from the capability to restrict or exclude production from specific zones experiencing water or gas breakthrough. This technology may be applied to horizontal wells, multilateral wells, wells that produce from commingled reservoirs, or wells that exploit layered, compartmentalized, or heterogeneous reservoirs. The control of production and water and/or gas breakthrough permits more efficient operation of the downhole pump, and improves ultimate hydrocarbon recovery. This paper presents the benefits of synergy, technologies available, and the issues that must be considered when combining intelligent wells with ESPs. A theoretical example is presented that illustrates the economic benefits of combining the two technologies, and it is followed by an offshore case history that puts theory to practice. Introduction Intelligent well completion technology enables the oil and gas operator to actively monitor and selectively modify the zones from which hydrocarbons are produced, while on-stream and without intervention. As such, intelligent well completions are a powerful complementary technology to the evolving capabilities of electric submersible pump (ESP) artificial lift. Zonal flow control is made possible through remotely controlled hydraulic, electric, or electro-hydraulically actuated inflow control valves in conjunction with purpose-built feed-through isolation and production packers. Permanently installed instrumentation that includes pressure, temperature and flow gauges can monitor the condition and contribution from each segregated zone and can transmit this data to the petroleum professional in real time. This instrumentation can be based on electronic or fibre-optic technologies. Application of ESP artificial lift to intelligent well completions requires special considerations, including the capability to disengage from the intelligent well completion downhole to change pumps while maintaining well control and minimizing formation damage through shut-in at the sand-face. Hydraulic wet-connects allow the downhole completion equipment to be re-integrated with the intelligent well control system at surface once the ESP is back in place. Objectives of Intelligent Well Flow Control An intelligent well completion is a system capable of collecting, transmitting and analysing completion, production, and reservoir data, and taking action to better control well and production processes. The value of the intelligent well technologies comes from their capability to actively modify the well zonal completions and performance through flow control, and to monitor the response and performance of the zones through real time downhole data acquisition, thereby maximising the value of the asset. The oil and gas industry has only begun to scratch the surface when it comes to realizing the potential of intelligent well technology to contribute to efficiency and productivity. Beyond the attraction of interventionless completions in the high cost arena of subsea and deep water wells, intelligent well technology can deliver improved hydrocarbon production and reserve recovery with fewer wells. Intelligent well technology can improve the efficiency of water floods and gas floods in heterogeneous or multi-layered reservoirs when applied to injection wells, production wells, or both. The production and reservoir data acquired with downhole sensors can improve the understanding of reservoir behaviour, and assist in the appropriate selection of in-fill drill locations and well designs. Intelligent well technology can enable a single well to do the job of several wells, whether through controlled commingling of zones, monitoring and control of multiple laterals, or even allowing the well to take on multiple simultaneous functions - injection well, observation well or production well.

Role of Artificial Lift in Wells With a Downhole, Flow Control Completion

“…Related procedures and equipment are available for gas lifted wells with I-completions (Cedeno and Ortiz, 2007, Vasper, 2008, Iyamu et al, 2008, Stephenson et al, 2010. (Konopczynski et al, 2002) describe how an ICV reduces the water cut and the liquid production while increasing the oil production rate. The ESP lowered the flowing, bottom hole pressure while the electrical frequency had been set to avoid the bubble point being reached.…”