New Topics on Inflow Control Devices Application: Longer Wells and Solvent-SAGD
Authors: Pichach Craig , Melo Llanos Marco , Irani Mazda 
Published: December 2024

In recent years, operators have increasingly turned to drilling longer wells as a means of reducing total well pairs. However, effective control measures, such as the utilization of Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) for producers and steam splitters for injectors, are imperative to prevent poor conformance. Following the successful completion of the SAGD Demonstration in Sawn Lake in 2018, plans are underway to drill additional wells informed by the insights gained from the pilot project. The objective is to further extend well lengths to streamline costs and boost production rates, thereby achieving quicker cost payback periods. Nevertheless, the primary challenge lies in enhancing conformance while maximizing recovery. This paper addresses this challenge by exploring strategies to optimize conformance and maintain peak recovery rates amidst the deployment of longer wells in the SAGD process.

The heterogeneity of Athabasca McMurray oil sands reservoirs is a consequence of complex estuarine and fluvial depositional environments. This complexity is further compounded by hydrocarbon biodegradation, presenting challenges to reservoir characteristics. Notably, reservoir heterogeneity significantly influences SAGD recovery outcomes. In response, the introduction of inflow control devices (ICDs) has emerged as a strategy to enhance SAGD performance. These devices serve to establish a more uniform steam chamber, thereby reducing steam consumption, improving steam sweep efficiency, and enhancing oil production efficiency. However, challenges persist in optimizing steam delivery efficiencies within the SAGD process, including addressing steam conformance along the production/injection lateral due to reservoir heterogeneities, optimizing steam trap controls, and ensuring appropriate completion sizing to accommodate wellbore hydraulics.

In response to the industry trend of drilling longer wells to optimize costs and enhance production rates, the implementation of Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) and steam splitters has become crucial for achieving effective reservoir conformance. Drawing from the successful SAGD Demonstration in Sawn Lake in 2018, where wells were drilled longer to expedite production and reduce costs, this paper addresses the challenge of improving conformance while maximizing recovery. The inherent heterogeneity of Athabasca McMurray oil sands reservoirs, compounded by hydrocarbon biodegradation, poses significant challenges to SAGD performance. To mitigate these challenges, this study introduces the use of ICDs to create a more uniform steam chamber, thereby reducing steam consumption, enhancing sweep efficiency, and optimizing oil production. Key factors affecting steam delivery efficiencies, such as reservoir heterogeneity, steam trap controls, and completion sizing, are examined within the context of the SAGD process. Utilizing reservoir modeling techniques, this paper evaluates the impact of reservoir heterogeneity on producer performance, comparing scenarios with and without ICDs. Emphasis is placed on the design considerations for ICD wells, particularly focusing on choking and resistance parameters. Through comparative analysis of ICD systems with varying resistance profiles, this study underscores the importance of selecting ICDs with lower resistance before flashing and higher resistance after flashing, particularly for longer wells, to optimize performance and enhance recovery.