The Evolution of Advanced Well Completions Results in Enhanced Well
Productivity and Recovery in Saudi Aramco's Offshore Fields

Al-Qudaihy, Dia; Al-Qahtani, Hassan B; Sunbul, Ahmed; Hembling, Drew; Salerno, Giovanni

doi:10.2523/103621-ms

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The bottom-up "trial and error" approach of evaluating multiple AFI designs has been used by previous workflows , Al-Qudaihy et al, 2006, Das et al, 2012. By contrast, our top-down approach is a fast workflow that uses the Average Annulus Pressure Difference Ratio (AAPDR) from a single reservoir simulation of an "ideal" AFI completion to design an AFI configuration with a realistic number of AFI devices.…”

Section: Novel Workflow To Optimise Afi Configuration: Number and Plamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, AFI quickly became an integral component of ICD completions once their use was extended to heterogeneous reservoirs (Al-Qudaihy et al, 2006, Henriksen et al, 2005. The significance of AFI in ensuring the success of ICD completions was addressed by , Henriksen et al, 2006, McIntyre et al, 2006, Sunbul et al, 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…b. Separating the completion into compartments of significantly different reservoir properties based on the near-wellbore permeability profile and/or other log data (Al-Qudaihy et al, 2006, Ratterman et al, 2005, Halvorsen et al, 2012. These analyses did not provide a quantitative cut-off, but used engineering judgement to determine AFI placement, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel Workflow to Optimise Annular Flow Isolation in Advanced Wells

2014

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Advanced well completion with multiple, downhole flow control devices such as Inflow Control Devices (ICDs), are a proven and effective solution to mitigate water/gas breakthrough and coning problems in horizontal and multilateral wells. An important parameter adversely affectinthe ICD completion's performance is the annular flow. Such annular flow can be minimised or eliminated by segmenting the wellbore into a number of compartments by installing Annular Flow Isolation (AFI). Installation of sufficient AFI at the optimum locations is a key step in achieving the desired well performance. This number of AFI devices is itself constrained by both costs and risks associated with installing the completion string in a long wellbore of complex geometry. Previous AFI design workflows were based on either a single well parameter or a static well-reservoir model that do not consider the total lifetime benefits of the technology. A new AFI design methodology that accounts for the well's lifetime performance has been developed to ensure optimal AFI design in terms of the location and number of AFI installed along the length of the completion.This novel workflow is based on the concept of, to a degree, mimicking the inflow performance of an "ideal" completion (i.e. the completion where AFI is installed between every 12 m completion joint) with a reduced, realistic number of AFIs. The great advantage of this workflow to optimise the AFI design is that it is based on the well's lifetime production performance while at the same time limiting the computation to a single reservoir simulation run for each number of AFIs. The workflow achieves this by ranking the AFI locations based on a criterion related to the annular pressures. A significant recovery increase can be achieved for wells designed with this new workflow when compared to previously proposed AFI design protocols. The learnings from this study can thus be employed by well engineers to optimally design advanced well completions.

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Section: Novel Workflow To Optimise Afi Configuration: Number and Plamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel Workflow to Optimise Annular Flow Isolation in Advanced Wells

2014

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“…Different forms of annular isolation are available in the industry at this stage, including: Inflatable or Mechanical External Casing Packers (ECPs), Swell Packers (SPs), Constrictors and Expandable Packers. Many of the reported ICD applications included one of these packer types 17,19,20,22 . The Z-253 well was completed in Zuluf Field, offshore Saudi Arabia, utilized four Mechanical ECPs in conjunction with single strength channel-type ICD to segment a 2200 ft-long wellbore 14,15 .…”

Section: 2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Inflow Control Devices: Application and Value Quantification of a Developing Technology

Alkhelaiwi¹,

Davies²

2007

Proceedings of International Oil Conference and Exhibition in Mexico

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fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractHorizontal and multilateral completions are a proven, superior development option compared to conventional solutions in many reservoir situations. However, they are still susceptible to coning toward the heel of the well despite their maximizing of reservoir contact. This is due to frictional pressure drop and/or permeability variations along the well. Annular flow, leading to severe erosion "hot-spots" and plugging of screens is another challenge. Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) were proposed as a solution to these difficulties in the early '90s. ICDs have recently gained popularity and are being increasingly applied to a wider range of field types. Their efficacy to control the well inflow profile has been confirmed by a variety of field monitoring techniques. An ICD is a choking device installed as part of the sandface completion hardware. It aims to balance the horizontal well's inflow profile and minimize the annular flow at the cost of a limited, extra pressure drop. Fractured and more heterogeneous formations require, in addition, the installation of annular isolation. The new technologies of Swell Packers and Constrictors can provide this annular isolation in an operationally simple manner. This paper describes the history of ICD development with an emphasis on the designs available and their areas of application. These technical criteria will be illustrated using published field examples. The ICD's flexibility will be shown by its integration with other conventional and advanced production technologies e.g. Stand-Alone-Screens, annular isolation, artificial lift, gravel packs and intelligent completions in both horizontal and multilateral wells. It will be shown how the value of such well-construction options can be quantified using commercially available, modelling simulators. Simple, but reliable, guidelines on how to model the performance of ICDs over the well's life will be provided. This technique can thus be used as part of the value quantification process for both the evaluation of completion options and for their detailed design.

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“…The use of ICD systems to effectively manage nonuniform inflow profile has been described in past publications [1][2][3][4] . In this paper, ICDs were used to control nonuniform pressure profile.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Horizontal Well Performance in Nonuniform Pressure Environments Using Passive Inflow Control Devices

Krinis¹,

Hembling²,

Al-Dawood³

et al. 2009

Proceedings of Offshore Technology Conference

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Passive Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) are used to enhance performance of horizontal wells in unfavorable environments, such as nonuniform permeability and/or pressure along horizontal sections. This is the first attempt at using ICDs to manage inflow along horizontal wells with substantial reservoir pressure differential. This paper presents how passive ICD completion technology is used to optimize well productivity and reduce water production in a well with significant reservoir pressure differential across the horizontal section. Prior to running the ICDs, this horizontal carbonate well exhibited a nonuniform production profile, cross-flow, and high water production resulting in reduced well performance.A production log of the initial (open hole) completion confirmed downward cross-flow of fluids from heel to toe and production contribution from only the first 10% of the horizontal section. Following the installation of the ICD system, water production was greatly reduced and oil rate doubled indicating significant improvement of the well performance. A second PLT survey showed contribution from the entire horizontal section and elimination of the cross-flow.The key factor in the success of this project was the ICD system design derived from numerous wellbore hydraulic simulations, determining the appropriate number of ICD units and compartments.

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The Evolution of Advanced Well Completions Results in Enhanced Well Productivity and Recovery in Saudi Aramco's Offshore Fields

Abstract: TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Novel Workflow to Optimise Annular Flow Isolation in Advanced Wells

Novel Workflow to Optimise Annular Flow Isolation in Advanced Wells

Inflow Control Devices: Application and Value Quantification of a Developing Technology

Optimizing Horizontal Well Performance in Nonuniform Pressure Environments Using Passive Inflow Control Devices

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