Abstract
Intelligent completions have been in commercial use for over ten years. Application of intelligent completions technology has evolved from intervention-less completion for sub-sea wells to new applications where intelligent completions are delivering better wells through improved efficiency, productivity and hydrocarbon recovery with fewer wells both offshore and on land.
Intelligent completions have proven their value in managing production from multilateral wells, horizontal wells with multiple zones, and wells with heterogeneous reservoirs, using a single wellbore. Their capability to restrict, water or gas production, and improve ultimate recovery has helped optimize overall drilling, completion and production costs.
Electric Submersible Pumps play a key role in producing from oil wells that are incapable of producing naturally at commercially viable rates. ESPs are commonly used in wells which cannot lift the oil to surface due to low reservoir pressure, high water cut, and high back pressure from surface facilities or a combination of all three. As large oilfields around the world mature ESPs will play a major role in maintaining production from these fields.
In order to combine intelligent completion with ESPs several factors need to be considered. This paper will evaluate different options to combine ESPs with intelligent completions and review their respective limitations, benefits and risks.
