Inflow Control Device an Innovative Completion Solution From "Extended Wellbore to Extended Well Life Cycle"

Arfi, Saif Ali Al; Keshka, Ashraf Al-Saiid; Salem, Salem El-Abd; Al-Bakr, Salem; Al-Amiri, Abdulhameed A.; Barbary, Abdalla Youssef El; Elasmar, Magdi; Mohamed, Omar Y.

doi:10.2523/iptc-12486-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…There are two cases in Example 1. The significant differences between these two cases are that one has a higher permeability and longer wellbore (Case 1a) to represent the high flow rate condition (Al Arfi et al, 2008), and the other has moderate permeability and well length, representing general conditions. A fully penetrating wellbore is assumed in both cases to emphasize the benefits of using an inflow control device, and to separate the partial penetration effect.…”

Section: Example 1: Water Driving Casementioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Roles of Inflow-Control Devices in Optimizing Horizontal-Well Performance

Fernandes

Zhu

2009

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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Inflow Control Device, often referred to as equalizer, is a completion hardware that is deployed as a part of well completions aimed at distributing the inflow evenly. Even though the detail structures vary from one design to another, the principle for different inflow control devices is the same -restrict flow by creating additional pressure drop, and therefore balancing or equalizing wellbore pressure drop to achieve an evenly distributed flow profile along a horizontal well. With a more evenly distributed flow profile, one can reduce water or gas coning, sand production and solve other drawdown related production problems. In general, inflow control devices are not adjustable; once installed in the well, the location of the device and the relationship between rate and pressure drop are fixed. This makes the design of a well completion and inflow control devices extremely critical for production. Inflow control devices can be either beneficial or detrimental to production, strongly depending on the reservoir condition, well structure and completion design. Realizing that reservoir conditions will change during the life of a well, the impact of an inflow control device is a function of time. The inflow control devices sometimes can be overlooked if the design is only based on reservoir flow simulation.In this paper, we will investigate how and when an inflow control device should be used. An integrated analysis method of inflow (reservoir) and outflow (wellbore) is used to generate the flow profile of a horizontal well, and additional frictional pressure drop created by inflow control devices will be considered. Two conditions that result in production problems, wellbore pressure drop and breakthrough of unwanted fluids, will be addressed. The focus will be on when and how an inflow control device can optimize production. Examples at field conditions will be used to illustrate that it is critical to understand the reservoir conditions and wellbore dynamics together when designing a well completion with inflow control devices. Since uncertainty of reservoir condition always exists, backup plans and conservative designs are desirable. The observations from this study show that overdesigned inflow control devices will not just increase the cost of well completion, but also impact the well performance negatively.

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Section: Example 1: Water Driving Casementioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Roles of Inflow-Control Devices in Optimizing Horizontal-Well Performance

Fernandes

Zhu

2009

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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Identifying Well Completion Applications for Passive Inflow Control Devices

Garcia

Coronado

Gavioli

2009

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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The main horizontal well completion issues have been identified and addressed during the previous decades, resulting in wells with better performance, lower water production and higher recovery efficiencies. One of the most important issues has been inflow equalization, which is affected by reservoir heterogeneities and pressure losses in the completion (annulus and liner). Evaluations of the flow equalization, in sandstone and natural fracture reservoirs, along horizontal wells have shown the importance of this technique to improve reservoir management.Passive inflow control device (PICD) performance in producer and injector wells under different fluid properties (density and viscosity) and operational conditions will be presented to show the technical benefits of this technique as well as their improved recovery efficiencies when compared to non-PICD completions. The quantification of the benefits of this completion technique was performed using a fully integrated reservoir simulator where the PICD flow performance characteristic, well completion description (packers, blank pipe, gravel pack, annulus flow, etc.), and reservoir simulation are considered.Lessons learned and best practices regarding equipment selection and specification acquired during the last 10 years are summarized to define potential PICD applications in horizontal wells. Finally, the field experiences and numerical simulation results are analyzed to establish the best well completion strategy to fit specific reservoir conditions. SPE 124349 PICD Design CharacteristicsThe primary factor in maintaining a uniform influx is the ability of the device to resist erosion from fluid-borne particles that pass through the screen. Screens are not designed to prevent 100% blockage of all particles from the formation. During production, formation fines that are produced through the screen also pass through the PICD. These fines can and will erode a PICD over time if the fluid velocity is high enough and fines are in the flow stream. The rate of erosion will depend on the following factors: particle size, particle concentration, and fluid velocity. The first two factors are dependent on well conditions, while the third is dependent on PICD geometry and design.Currently, there are two major different types of PICD designs in the industry: orifice/nozzle-based (restrictive) and helical-channel/labyrinth pathway (frictional). They use two different methods to achieve a uniform inflow profile. The orifice-based PICD uses fluid constriction to generate a differential pressure across the device. This method essentially forces the fluid from a larger area down through small-diameter ports, creating a flow resistance. This overall change in pressure is what allows the PICD to function.The helical-channel ( Fig. 1) and labyrinth pathway PICDs, however, use surface friction to generate a similar pressure drop. The helical channel design is one or more flow channels that are wrapped around the basepipe of the screen. The labyrinth design uses a tortuous pathway to cre...

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The Evolution of the Role of Openhole Packers in Advanced Horizontal Completions: From Novel Technology to a Critical Key to Success

Gavioli

Vicario

2012

SPE Drilling &Amp; Completion

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Summary Openhole packers have been shown to be very effective in many different applications, including curing losses, controlling high-permeability zones and fractures, improving equalization in passive- and active-inflow-control-device (ICD) completions, and, most importantly, controlling water and gas production. The use of these tools has increased exponentially in the last few years and will continue to grow. This paper summarizes the most important findings and lessons learned about the role of zonal isolation in advanced horizontal completions. More than 12 years of experience using reservoir-optimized completions, including passive or active ICDs and openhole packers, in more than 1,000 wells and several tens of different fields around the world has led to the accumulation of best practices and rules of thumb. The approach for openhole packers has changed markedly with time, along with the industry learning about the importance of these tools in advanced horizontal completions. Important considerations have been generated to design horizontal completions under different fluid properties, reservoir uncertainties, and optimum operational considerations allowing for equalization of flow along the entire length of the horizontal section. These best practices came from extensive run history and lessons learned, and it has been found that openhole packers often play the most critical role for a completion's success. The availability of a wide range of new zonal-isolation tools makes it easier for operators to obtain the best and most-cost-effective solution for each application. Openhole packers for compartmentalization are key for success in many applications and offer benefits for inflow and annulus flow control. An extremely important consequence is the ability to control gas or water after breakthrough. This has been proved from analyzing a significant amount of production logs post-installation. Actual well-performance data and simulations will be shown to support the discussion and illustrate concepts and findings.

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Inflow Control Device an Innovative Completion Solution From "Extended Wellbore to Extended Well Life Cycle"

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Understanding the Roles of Inflow-Control Devices in Optimizing Horizontal-Well Performance

Understanding the Roles of Inflow-Control Devices in Optimizing Horizontal-Well Performance

Identifying Well Completion Applications for Passive Inflow Control Devices

The Evolution of the Role of Openhole Packers in Advanced Horizontal Completions: From Novel Technology to a Critical Key to Success

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