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

Abstract

This paper will describe a new production technology system that enabled focusing on achieving performance objectives in addition to finding and fixing production problems. Inflow Control Device (ICD) is a new completion system that will optimize production, delay water progress, eliminate / minimize annular flow, and ensure a uniform inflow along the horizontal wellbore at the cost of a minute pressure drop. The non-uniform production profile across the horizontal hole especially in the highly heterogeneous and fractured reservoirs can result in premature water production, bypassed oil and lower ultimate recovery. The problem was identified through production logging of several horizontal wells, which indicated a non-uniform production profile across the horizontal holes. The successful implementation of this technology was achieved by the use of an integrated approach to select the appropriate technology and method for addressing the problem. A business case was developed at which all key factors comprised a successful completion strategy in both drilling of a new well and work-over of an existing well. Among these key factors the development of multidisciplinary team; matching a good intervention candidate well with the appropriate technology; properly designing the well segmentation and execution of the design with rigorous quality control. A case history will be presented where this new production technology, has resulted in significant Net Present Value (NPV), and improved production via an extended well-life cycle. The ICD Equalizer system was installed in one new and an existing well with the aim to evaluate the viability of the technique. Both installations were successful and the preliminary surface testing results of the wells performance on different rates indicated a niform production profile across the horizontal hole and a drop in the existing well water cut (from 7% to traces). Although the new well has penetrated fractures as expected, the well did not show water production since installation (Febrauary 2007) till the time of writing this paper. With field-scale implementation, the economic analysis revealed an improved NPV and an incremental recovery factor increase about 1%. Introduction Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its group of companies are considering adapting new technologies to ensure that strategic resources are optimally explored, developed and produced during the life cycle of their oil fields. Horizontal well technology has become an established method of drilling conventional wells due to their improved recovery efficiency, reservoir drainage and delayed undesirable fluids (water & gas). The realistic best-case production strategy is to produce as much oil as possible before the well waters out by increasing recovery through robust fields' development plans. However, non-uniform production profile across the horizontal hole especially in the highly heterogeneous and fractured reservoirs can result in premature water production casuing bypassed oil, lower ultimate recovery and therefore decrease in profitability. The technique of controlling the flow and establishing uniform production by allowing low- and high-permeability intervals to contribute to flow was found to be the optimum option for highly fractured reservoir compared with the existing barefoot completion. Mechanical and chemical water shut-off techniques were also investigated, but both techniques were inefficient in the highly fractured reservoirs. Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations-ADCO, decided to pioneer the introduction of the EqualizerTM in one of its fields through developing a business case investigating the available technologies in the market. A systematic scientific approach to identify the best potential candidates ensured a successful pilot application for the inflow control device (ICD) technology for the first time in UAE.