The Application of Inflow Control Device for an Improved Oil Recovery using ECLIPSE

Abstract

The rate of inflow to a horizontal well could vary along the completion length due frictional pressure losses or heterogeneity in the reservoir. These variations reduce oil sweep efficiency and the ultimate recovery. Owing to this, it is necessary to manage fluid flow through the reservoir in order to maximize oil recovery along horizontal wells. One increasingly popular approach is to use inflow control devices (ICD) that delay water and gas breakthrough into the well. Inflow control devices balance the inflow coming from the reservoir towards the wellbore by introducing an extra pressure drop. This paper presents the mathematical models used for the implementation of ICD in ECLIPSE. A case using heterogeneous reservoir similar to Troll offshore Norway was illustrated. The simulation result shows that ICD could delay water breakthrough for 262days and water cut after 3000days reduced by 11%. Gas breakgthrough was also reduced by approximately 51% with ICD.