Flow-Biased Inflow Control Device Enhances Injection Rates While Still Maintaining Desired Production Resistance

Abstract

Inflow control devices (ICDs) address uneven inflow along horizontals laterals. Heterogeneities in reservoir permeability and/or completion frictional effects are often cited as reasons behind uneven flow profiles along these wells. The configuration of the ICDs is designed to uniformly distribute flow along the lateral. Recently, demand for ICDs in injection applications has risen, leading to design initiatives on the part of operators and service companies that attempt to address more rigorous conditions (i.e., pressure and temperature in acidizing, SAGD, cyclic steam stimulation). In carbonate reservoirs it is imperative to stimulate wells to enhance productivity and bypass possible induced damage during the drilling and completion phase (SPE 171750MS). The problem with current passive ICDs is that they restrict flow equally in the injection and production direction. Given the emphasis to reduce operational expenditures, rig time could drastically be reduced if the ICDs allowed a larger volume of flow to pass through during injection. This enables reduction in the operational time tied to intermittent acidizing cycles. The design discussed in this paper demonstrates the flow bias phenomenon for fluids flowing in the injection mode. Typically, to achieve this preferred flow a shifting sleeve would have to be activated, which requires an extra trip and introduces operational risk. In addition, the device was designed to withstand said cycles during acidizing while maintaining expected performance during the production phase. As such, the design was tested per an operator's detailed program, which required the device to maintain a certain level of durability and performance throughout the well life.