ICD Evaluation Study Using Numerous PLT Runs to Optimise Design Practice and Maximise ICD Value
Authors: Lee Byung Oh , Al-Fassam Fahad Sulaiman , Galimzyanov Artyom , Faizal Syed Abu , Vicario Roberto 
Published: May 2016

Passive Inflow Control Devices (PICD) became a commonly used completion method for horizontal wells over the past decade. PICD restricts a flow by creating an additional pressure drop and therefore equalizing the fluid influx along the horizontal well. With more evenly distributed flow profile, PICD can reduce water or gas coning, prevent sand production, and solve uneven reservoir heterogeneities distribution problem. Saudi Aramco is now the world leader in the use of PICD technology.

Since the first installation in 2002, Saudi Aramco utilized various types of PICD for substantial number of oil wells. Among these wells, one particular carbonate field was selected to assess the effectiveness of PICDs over open hole completion. Production logs from 22 post-installation horizontal wells with PICD were analyzed. A near wellbore simulator was used to match the actual fluid influx obtained from production log and compared the performance of the PICD completion with simulated flux for open hole case. Areas of improvement in terms of design guidelines for number of compartments, PICDs per compartment and the process of dealing with uncertain changing well conditions in naturally fractured carbonate fields were identified.

One of the methods of PICD performance evaluation is to analyze production history. Time to water breakthrough and increase in water-cut trends for PICD installed wells was investigated to find out how PICD design can delay unwanted fluid and improve fluid flux from reservoir along horizontal well. The PICD design guidelines were suggested based on evaluation study for further completion designs taking into account uncertainties and different types of heterogeneities.

This paper describes the detailed evaluation methodology, analysis results for selected field and subsequent recommendations for design practice to maximize the value of PICD.

Introduction

The Passive Inflow Control Technology has been used over the years to improve performance of horizontal wells. This technology when used along with appropriate compartmentalization with open-hole packers allows uniform production, evenly distributing the fluids along the wellbore into the base pipe, taking into consideration the reservoir heterogeneities.

The operating principle of the PICD is based on applying different pressure drop in each of the discrete intervals created in horizontal wellbore, thereby enhancing production from certain section and chocking back in other sections. This effect is achieved by forcing the reservoir fluid through a spiral channel or labyrinth path which creates pressure drop which results in a decrease of inflow rate through the PICD joint. The main pressure drop mechanism is either friction losses or due to restriction of inlet flow area. The PICD completion design can also help in delaying potential water or gas breakthrough, optimizing reservoir production by enhancing the oil recovery from less permeable zones, mitigate uneven production profile along the horizontal length and thereby increasing the Net Present Value (NPV) of the well.