Abstract
Intelligent valves provide more flexibility for well operation and different options to improve field production. The number of control alternatives is large and the decision of using inflow-control-valves is not simple, mainly for choking valves. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify economic and technical impacts in order to avoid undesired results. This work uses reservoir simulation to evaluate valves operation as the basis for the decision-making process. The process is based on simulation results to quantify real-time production and reservoir data on the short and long-term effects. Observed data, such as water breakthrough, water front movement and production economic limit are used to make control decisions. A test example is created to represent a fracture region of a reservoir with channel configuration; then, different reservoir size models and different well production constraints are created. The results show that actions to control water front and to shut down regions in which the breakthrough occurs, significantly increase the NPV. Conversely, attempts to control water front and breakthrough in cases in which the production rate is not constrained may lead to a significant NPV reduction without providing any significant increase in oil recovery. It is also shown that it is essential to shut down regions where the production economic limit is reached, even if a higher oil recovery factor can be achieved. As a conclusion, inflow control valves operation based on real-time production and reservoir data may efficiently improve field production when an adequate control is applied. The decisions are complex and must be made carefully, observing the real-time data and associated limiting conditions. This paper provides information that supports the use of water front movement, water saturation and production data to operate inflow-control-valves. It is proved that the use of the production and reservoir data considered in this work can help real-time operation to achieve relevant long-term effects. However, it is important to observe reservoir conditions to make an adequate use of data.
