The first intelligent completion was achieved in 1997, and since then reliability assurance is regarded as one of the most important themes for market implementation of this technology. Currently, intelligent completion can be found in most global oil and gas production areas, from mature land to ultra-deepwater wells like those in the Pre-Salt region, offshore Brazil. Intelligent completion technology has been applied to improve the return on investment over the life of the field. This is achieved by oil recovery enhancement, consequently increasing net present value (NPV) through selective or comingled production, efficient water or gas sweep, reduced interventions and ultimate reservoir control.
Until recently, almost all intelligent completion installations in the world were fitted with remotely actuated hydraulic systems. However, there are other kinds of systems, such as electric-hydraulic and all-electric systems. The world's first all- electric intelligent completion installation was carried out in Brazil in May 2001, in the land well 8-VRG-7D-RN (Petrobras) in Mossoró (Rio Grande do Norte State) for a trial period ending in April 2002. Following this first onshore installation, a subsea deepwater well installation was carried out in August 2003 in the well 8-MLS-67HA-RJS in a water depth of 1180 m in the MarlimSul field, about 100 Km offshore Campos (Campos Basin), Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The installation is still operational until the present day, almost ten years after its deployment. Consequently, it is difficult to understand why the electrical technology is yet to be widely applied around the world, differently from what has already happened in several other industries, like automotive and aviation.
This paper does a brief comparison among hydraulic, electric-hydraulic and all-electric systems, focusing on the advantages of each system. An explanation is offered for the apparent suspicion towards all-electric technology, and a review is made on the prognosis for this system after the first installation in the world5.
