Abstract
Passive Inflow Control Devices (PICD) are a common completion method for horizontal wells. A PICD completion can not only equalize the fluid influx along the length of the horizontal well but also can delay breakthrough of unwanted fluids and solve the challenges associated with uneven reservoir heterogeneities. Saudi Aramco is now the world leader in the use of PICD technology.
Since the first installation of PICD in 2002, Saudi Aramco utilized various types of PICD for their sandstone and carbonate oil fields. Among these fields, one particular carbonate field was selected to study the performance of PICD completion and assess its effectiveness over barefoot completion. Production logs from 22 post-installation horizontal wells with PICD from the subject were analyzed. A near-wellbore simulator was used to match the actual fluid influx in PICD completion obtained from production logs. The matched model was used to simulate the flux profile for the openhole case and well performance was compared with PICD case. As part of the evaluation, production history of the PICD installed wells was also studied. Time-to-water breakthrough and increase in water-cut trends for PICD-installed wells were investigated to find how PICD design can improve fluid flux along the horizontal well and delay unwanted fluid. This exsercise helped identify optimization design guidelines with regards to number of compartments, PICDs per compartment and the process of dealing with uncertain changing well conditions in naturally fractured carbonate field. Dynamic modeling was also performed to evaluate the suggested PICD design recommendations with respect cumulative oil production and water breakthrough deferment.
This paper describes the detailed evaluation methodology, analysis results for the selected field and subsequent recommendations for design practice to maximize the value of PICD.
