World's First TAML Level 5 Multi-lateral Well with Individual Remote Inflow Control of Three Branches on Troll Oil Field
Authors: Liland Gorm , Prebeau-Menezes Leon , Mjolhus Stian Jose de Castro 
Published: June 2014

The Troll oil field has been drilled and completed with more than 100 geo-steered extended-reach multi-lateral (MLT) subsea wells having two, three or four branches each to maximize reservoir contact. The Troll team has drilled multi-lateral wells from semi-submersibles for more than 10 years. The wells are equipped with complex intelligent top completion (ITC) systems to optimize production.

The oil column of the Troll oil field was initially between 11 and 26m thick, with an overlaying gas cap. The wells are 2-5,000-m-long horizontal multi-lateral branches; many completed with stand-alone sand screens and autonomous inflow control valves (AICD) for the lower completions, with up to 80-90% screen coverage per branch lateral.

Production life of MLT wells on Troll is limited by gas break-through and/or high water cut. To increase production life and reservoir meters per well there is a need for flexibility through flow control from the surface.

Until recently, the ITC system only allowed for individual control of two-branches by two dedicated inflow control valves (ICVs). For three or more branched wells, the upper-most branch would be individually controlled while flow for the other branches controlled together. If break-through occurs in one of the lower laterals, they would have to be choked/or shut-in together, resulting in lost production and reduced recovery from the other laterals. As a result, there was a need for greater flexibility and inflow control for wells with more than two branches.

The operator requested contributions from a supplier for a system based on the existing multi-lateral system, the FlexRite® intelligent completion interface (ICI), which would allow for flow control of all branches. A development project began in 2010, and a new multi-lateral system, multibranch inflow control (MIC), was created in 2011. This system has an increased internal diameter (ID) for installation of the completion string with ICVs and swellable packers through the junction for enhanced well control.

In October 2012, the Troll team installed the first multibranch MIC system on the Troll well N-24. This system is believed to be the first TAML Level-5, three-branched well with individual branch control worldwide. With this new and innovative junction and completion system, the operator now has the ability to optimize the oil production from new extended-reach multi-lateral wells.

In the future, this innovative multi-lateral solution will enable the operator to increase oil recovery from Troll and other fields, which will help the operator to continue to push the functionality and economic viability of multi-lateral technology worldwide, especially in thin reservoirs.

Introduction

The Troll field is a large oil- and gas field located 80 km northwest of Bergen in the North Sea. It was discovered in 1979 and consists of three provinces Troll East, Troll West Oil Province (TWOP) and Troll West Gas Province (TWGP). The Troll field contains approximately 40% of the total gas reserves on the Norwegian Continental shelf.

Originally, the Troll field was considered strictly a gas field with no commercial oil value. This was due to the thin oil-bearing layers overlaid by a thick gas cap. However, this changed with the advent and evolution of horizontal drilling and later multi-lateral well technology.

Three production platforms, Troll A, B, and C, are installed at Troll. Oil is produced and processed on Troll B, a floating platform with concrete hull and Troll C, a floating platform with steel hull. Oil was first produced in the fall of 1995 from Troll B followed by production from Troll C in 1999. Troll A began producing gas in 1996.