Horizontal Infill Well with AICDs Improves Production in Mature Field - A Case Study

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to compare the performance of three horizontal infill wells in a mature field, of which one is completed with autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs). The analytic results are based on the comparison of oil production rates; water cut development and water-oil ratio plots of the wells. All the wells in this study are producing from the same homogeneous sandstone reservoir. Two of the horizontal infill wells are targeting attic oil in an area with low risk of gas production of which one of these wells is completed with slotted liners and the other with AICDs. Both are artificially lifted with high rate electrical submersible pumps (ESPs). The third horizontal well was placed in an area with higher gas saturation, where a completion with casing, cementation and perforation was used. The performance of the horizontal wells is compared against each other. The use of active geo-steering successfully supported the well placement into the "sweet spot" of the reservoir due to real-time well path adjustments. It was found that the AICDs choke back a high amount of fluid and keep the water cut at a stable plateau level. This observation underlines the key benefit of using AICDs as when comparing to the other producing wells without AICDs, the water cut is steadily increasing. Therefore the use of AICDs is a real option for horizontal well completion. This paper will be useful to those who are in a phase of early well planning, e.g. in a field (re-)development project and have to select the best well concept (e.g. slotted liner vs. AICDs). AICDs have proven their value even in a super-mature oil field by improving production. Further advantages and challenges during operation are discussed in this paper.