Passive Inflow Control Device (ICDs) Aplication in Horizontal Wells Completions in Rubiales Area, Heavy Oil Reservoir

Gomez, Max; Anaya, A. Florez; Araujo, Ysidro; Moreno, Wilson Parra; Bolaños, V.; Landaeta, Libia

doi:10.2118/171040-ms

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…Although horizontal well with large reservoir contact can reduce water coning/cresting in light oils. Water coning/cresting problem resulted from adverse mobility ratio remains by using horizontal well to develop offshore heavy oil underlain by a large aquifer (Brooks et al 2010;Berg 2011;Gomez et al 2014;Berg et al 2013;Plaza et al 2014). A large portion of reserves are recovered at high water cut with low oil recovery, as significant oil is bypassed due to early water breakthrough (Jayasekera and Goodyear 2000; Brooks et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Oil Recovery in Offshore Heavy Oil Underlain by Large Aquifer

2016

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Many offshore heavy oil reservoirs underlain by large aquifer are developed through cold production method: horizontal wells, with water coning/cresting being a major concern. Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) are often used to delay the water breakthrough by balancing the well inflow along the well section. However, ICDs have difficulties to mitigate the water coning/cresting after water breakthrough, leading to water bypass oil, premature well abandonment and low oil recovery. In this study, we propose the use of a dual completion technology, Bilateral Water Sink (BWS), assisted with ICDs to mitigate water coning/cresting in high water cut wells, therefore improving oil recovery for offshore heavy oil underlain by large aquifer.To investigate the reservoir performance under this new production technique, a series of experiments were conducted in a scaled Hele-Shaw model, similar to a cross-section of horizontal wells. Identical flow behavior at each cross-section perpendicular to the well axis were assumed. The experiments resemble to the situation in which the ICDs have been successfully implemented to provide a uniform flow along the entire well section. The oil recovery, water cut and reservoir pressure were measured in each runs to quantify the effects of BWS wells on water coning/cresting mitigation and improving oil recovery.The experimental results show that while ICDs mitigate the non-uniform production profile along the horizontal well section, BWS wells mitigate the water coning/cresting by dynamically modifying the pressure distribution in the reservoir. Experimental results also verify that the previously derived theoretical rates in BWS can efficiently suppress the water coning/cresting after water breakthrough. The quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate that BWS could reduce the water cut from over 95% in high water cut horizontal wells to less than 40 % and improve the heavy oil recovery about 4-6 times compared with that of conventional horizontal wells.Those findings provide a new insight into offshore heavy oil production mechanism. Because of BWS's ability of converting an original bottom water drive system to a more effective edge water drive system, low water cut and high oil recovery can be achieved by utilizing the reservoir energy without using of heat.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Oil Recovery in Offshore Heavy Oil Underlain by Large Aquifer

2016

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Enhanced Oil Recovery of Heavy Oil in Reservoirs With Bottom Aquifer

Delamaide¹,

Moreno²

2015

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Oil production in presence of a bottom aquifer is one of the most challenging issues in reservoir engineering. In most cases water coning happens very quickly and the influx of water restricts oil production and limits recovery. The problem is even more difficult when the oil is heavy because the viscosity contrast is large. In some cases horizontal wells may be used to improve the situation but when reservoirs are thin and the oil is viscous even horizontal wells are of limited use. This paper presents the challenges and potential solutions for Enhanced Oil Recovery in heavy oil reservoirs with bottom aquifer. Existing literature is reviewed for field cases of EOR experience with bottom aquifer for chemical as well as thermal processes (SAGD, steam injection as well as In Situ Combustion). In the case of chemical EOR the chemicals may be lost to the aquifer; for thermal recovery the bottom water can act as a heat sink and affect and steam oil ratio. Some in-situ combustion projects have been successful in such settings but in every case the outcome is the same: the economics of the project can be affected. The paper contains some previously unpublished data of polymer injection in a heavy oil pool with some limited bottom aquifer; for the most part it is a review of the existing literature which may prove useful to practicing engineers who are faced with the issue of developing heavy oil resources in the presence of bottom aquifer.

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Autonomous Inflow Control Devices (AICD): Application in Horizontal Wells Completions in Rubiales Area, Heavy Oil Reservoir

Gualdrón

Anaya

Araujo

et al. 2015

Day 2 Wed, September 16, 2015

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Rubiales and Quifa fields are major heavy oilfields (oil gravity ranges from 11.3 to 14.4°API) in Colombia with a current oil production of more than 264 MSTB and an oil viscosity range from 370 to 730 cP. Horizontal well technology used to drill through unconsolidated sandstones with an active and strong aquifer, under primary depletion, has been used to develop this field. Since 2006, 1,019 horizontal producer wells have been completed using slotted liners (conventional completion) because of the low cost and effectiveness in controlling the coarse-grained sand formation and low fines production.The high water production rate from the beginning of the operation in the horizontal wells is the primary problem in these fields because of the high cost of produced water treatment and other factors. In formations in which high permeability, high oil viscosity, and strong aquifers are combined, early water influx can result. Water production is predictably associated with the oil production; however, one of the major challenges is to delay the water production for as long as possible. Currently, a large number of wells are closed in that have reached economic limits, primarily caused by high water cuts.An autonomous inflow control device (AICD) was placed in each screen joint to balance the production influx profile across the entire lateral length and to compensate for the permeability variation and therefore the productivity of each zone.In late 2012, a new technology project was designed and implemented as a pilot to help address the described issues in horizontal wells. AICDs would be used to maintain equilibrium of produced fluids along the horizontal section of the well, ultimately delaying water coning. After the first pilot is completed, a technical analysis could be conducted, based on the results obtained, and, if possible, the AICD technology could be implemented in additional prospect wells. The AICD pilot was implemented in geological conditions more adverse than wells previously completed with conventional completions and still other wells previously completed with passive but non-autonomous inflow control device (ICD) completions; the pilot will be evaluated with horizontal wells of the area. The main purpose of this paper is to provide details about the selection process, design, and evaluation results for the use of the AICDs in horizontal wells in both heavy oil fields.

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Passive Inflow Control Device (ICDs) Aplication in Horizontal Wells Completions in Rubiales Area, Heavy Oil Reservoir

Cited by 7 publications

References 9 publications

Improving Oil Recovery in Offshore Heavy Oil Underlain by Large Aquifer

Improving Oil Recovery in Offshore Heavy Oil Underlain by Large Aquifer

Enhanced Oil Recovery of Heavy Oil in Reservoirs With Bottom Aquifer

Autonomous Inflow Control Devices (AICD): Application in Horizontal Wells Completions in Rubiales Area, Heavy Oil Reservoir

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