World's First Gravel-Packed Inflow-Control Completion

Abstract

The Etame oil reservoir is an ovalshaped, low-relief structure with a moderate aquifer drive. To maximize ultimate field recovery, the ET-6H well was drilled with a horizontal lateral positioned to traverse the reservoir near the structural crest and to be within the Upper Gamba sandstone throughout its length. The Gamba sandstone averages 45 ft in thickness and overlies a significant angular unconformity. The subcropping Dentale-aged sandstones and interbedded shales below this unconformity have dips to 12°. The oil column of approximately 170 ft extends below this unconformity. Previous wells in the field were completed using openhole horizontal gravel packs (OHGPs) and have experienced excellent sand-control performance. However, OHGPs offer no protection against early water breakthrough. The Gamba sand averages 30% porosity with a permeability range of 1 to 3 darcies. The Dentale sands are much more variable, with porosities of 18 to 30% and a permeability range of 50 to 1,000 md. Thus, if a portion of the lateral is situated immediately above a high-permeability Dentale sand, the well will be at risk of early water breakthrough and subsequent reduced recovery if it is completed with a standard OHGP.The operator gravel packed the ET-6H well and used a system that provides a near-uniform inflow profile along the entire lateral length to protect against early water breakthrough. The gravel packing of inflow-control devices (ICDs) presented some unique challenges because of their differences from standard sandcontrol screens.This paper describes the implementation of the world's first gravel packed inflow-control completion, including: ICD selection process, gravel-pack design, data from the gravel-pack operation, and resulting well performance.

Water shutoff and conformance improvement: an introduction

“…Most of these allow little or no control over fluid inflow after they are installed. Common inflow flow devices are basically pipe with a certain number of openings/holes per unit of length (Augustine et al 2008;Daneshy et al 2012;Dikshit et al 2020;Montero Pallares et al 2020) the openings (Al-Khelaiwi et al 2010;Augustine and Meijs 2011;Langaas et al 2019;Li et al 2011).…”

A Novel Automatic Inflow-Regulating Valve for Water Control in Horizontal Wells

“…According to working theory, the ICD has been categorized into three main types: channel, nozzle, and mixture. The pressure loss of unwanted fluids in the channel ICD is increased by lengthening the flow path of fluids. − The flow rate of unwanted fluids in the nozzle ICD is restricted by increasing pressure loss in parts of an area. − The mixture ICD combines the characteristics of both the channel and nozzle types to restrict unwanted fluids. − However, all these ICDs can only restrict the flow rate, balance the fluid production profile, and delay water coning before bottom water breakthrough occurs in horizontal wells; they lose the water control ability after water breaks through the wellbore.…”