Case History: A Decade of Experience Using Intelligent Completions for Production Optimization and Water Shut-Off in Multilateral Wells in the World's Largest Oilfield

Abstract

Following the success of the first installed intelligent completion system in Saudi Arabia in 2004, over 260 Intelligent Completion systems have been installed in a majority of Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) Multilateral (ML) wells. These intelligent completion systems have been successfully installed in openhole, expandable liners, expandable sand screen, Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) wells and also integrated with Electric Submersible Pumps (ESP). This technology has led enhanced oil recovery while reducing water production to surface. Water handling cost at surface is reduced by producing less water to surface and also shutting off downhole water production completely. This paper covers some of the case histories of over ten (10) years of design, planning, installation, testing and optimization of intelligent completion systems in Multilateral (ML) Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) wells within Saudi Arabia. Production optimization practices and enhancement of production life in carbonate multilateral wells in the world's largest oilfield are also documented. Case histories highlighting how water production was remotely choked back, shut-off and production optimized from identified lateral without any intervention in the well are reviewed. Advantages of intelligent completion technology for multilateral wells and the review of the downhole choke customization process that included design flow area after modelling well data for different flow rates and differential pressures are detailed. This is in addition to the integration of the surface control system to the production supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system which provided real-time downhole pressure and temperature data and remote control of downhole flow control valves during the life cycle of the well. This paper also discusses a closed-loop approach which led to efficient real time production optimization. Performance review of how intelligent completion systems provide selective lateral control, delay water breakthrough, control water production, shut off wet lateral, reduce opex, optimize production, enhance recovery and reduce safety risks thereby minimizing future interventions are documented.