Using Autonomous Inflow Control Device Completion to Manage Gas Breakthrough Challenges

Abstract

During the production of horizontal oil wells, it is crucial to normalize the drawdown once gas breakthrough has occurred. This challenge must be addressed either mechanically or chemically to reduce the gas-oil ratio. Unfortunately, without the use of inflow control devices (ICDs) this can result in loss of oil production. This challenge can potentially be addressed by implementing an advanced inflow control valve completion to suppress the gas-oil ratio (GOR) and maintain oil production. Uneven inflow in a horizontal oil well will usually occur due to a pressure drop in the liner, reservoir fractures and heterogeneities. In fields with free gas, this will cause gas coning and breakthrough leading to a high GOR. As the breakthrough expands, the oil production is reduced due to excessive gas production. Passive ICDs have shown that oil production can be increased. Conventional ICDs are not able to shut off the unwanted gas and water production completely. The newest generation of self-regulated ICDs (SRICDs), utilizes valves where their movement is governed by fluid properties being produced, which autonomously shut off the gas and maximize oil recovery. This paper presents the SRICD technology design evolution to match the reservoir challenges, installation processes and well performance comparison before and after completion deployment. A near wellbore inflow simulator was also used to support and model the completion placement, productivity and evaluate the completion performance together with the well production data. The well completion installation and production optimization was successful, and a significant reduction of the GOR was achieved.