Overcoming the Challenges Associated With the Life Cycle Management of Multilateral Wells: Assessing Moves Towards the "Intelligent Well"
Authors: Robison Clark E. 
Published: October 2008

Well management concepts are continually changing, with the urgency for development of new technologies usually related to economic initiatives. A new direction in technology and well management is again surfacing, and the oil industry is about to enter the era of the "intelligent well." This concept will advance technology a step further by placing emphasis ondevices that can be employed initially to provide ongoing control of well maintenance and production problems. In operation, advanced downhole sensors and the necessary controls to operate the production processes to the greatest benefit will be planned into the initial completion to control such changes as water production, etc., that might occur during the life of the well; thus, reducing the need for wellinterventions during the well production scenario.

This paper will discuss the basic "intelligent well" concept, its development, and the advantages that can be gained from combining this technique with other new technologies such as multilateral wells. It will also discuss the planning changes and justification of the greater expense of completions equipped with these systems. This paper will review these challenges and the roles that the industry as a whole must accept with regards to developmental strategies and business relationships if current oilfield needs are to be fulfilled. Finally, there will be discussion as to how these complex systems will be introduced into existing wells and how reliability and redundancy will be managed.

The "intelligent well" concept could be applicable to any completion scenario employing zonal isolation techniques and will enhance well management throughout the well's life cycle. Although development of this system will require tremendous commitment on the part of all those involved, its application will support operator endeavors to lower capital and operating expenses. These reductions will be made possible by the system capabilities that will provide control for changes that might occur at any time during the life of the well that could detrimentally affect well performance. The discussion of the features of this new concept will enable the reader to understand why it will allow a well employing its technique to be considered "an intelligent well."

Introduction

As a result of the documented successes that have proven the economic viability of multi-lateral completion techniques, many operators are looking to this relatively new technology as the means for providing the ultimate solutions to the complexities of today's completion needs.' While it is true that multi-lateral completions hold a definite promise ofincreased production from a single wellbore, improved drainage efficiencies, and potentially upgraded recoverable reserves; the economic advantages that can be derived from the application of this new technology will not be fully realized until a system that can provide the operator with real time control over commingled production streams from the respective lateral wellbores is available. A complementary technology is just now surfacing to address this need - the intelligent completion.