ICD Completion Stimulation and Water Shutoff Using Inflatable Straddle Packers

Abstract

This study describes how the deployment and operation of an inflatable straddle packer combined with a real-time coiled tubing (CT) downhole measurement system improved the productivity of a well by optimizing an intervention that required selective treatment of multiple zones. The objective was to have the selected products reach only the targeted inflow control device (ICD) while isolating the other ones. The inflatable, resettable, configurable, CT-conveyed straddle packer was set up to isolate a portion of the production ICD completion and allowed precise injection of stimulation and water conformance chemicals in one run. This system is more precise than other methods of selective placement (e.g., chemical diverters) and only requires a slight amount of tension and/or set-down weight to operate under its different configurations (inflation, spotting, and injection). Its combination with real-time downhole measurement capabilities enabled rapid response and adjustments to the actual downhole conditions throughout the operation. The assembly was run successfully and managed to selectively stimulate and shut off two different zones in one trip, thus avoiding the use of multiple plugs to isolate the different sections. The real-time downhole measurement casing collar locator module permitted accurately placing the straddle section in front of the ICD port, while inflatable packers and a flow control module isolated mechanically the rest of the completion to facilitate fluid placement. Using the software specifically designed for this application, in combination with a memory logger tool that enabled a more accurate post-job evaluation, it was confirmed that all treatment fluids were injected into the targeted ICD zones, preventing more-permeable sections from absorbing it and adding the flexibility to avoid injecting the fluid used for the inflation of the packers. This case study proposes an innovative approach to integrating CT conveyance, telemetry, and mechanical wellbore isolation tools to enhance production in wells with challenging configurations. While a thorough design identifies the optimized execution strategy, this methodology allows reducing the time of operation execution and using the treatment chemical fluids in a cost-effective manner.