Testing of a Novel Autonomous ICD with Low-Viscosity Multiphase Fluids

Abstract

Abstract Applying proven technology to control the production of water and gas has become necessary to extend the life of very light-oil reservoirs while optimizing economics. Traditional inflow control devices (ICDs) can help balance the flow of oil, but are not helpful once water and gas breakthrough occurs. Multiphase data and field-evaluation applications show that low-viscosity, fluidic-diode, autonomous ICDs (AICDs) support the production of very light oil while restricting gas and water. Testing has proven that the low-viscosity, fluidic-diode AICD can differentiate oil from water and gas, even very light oils. Tool performance was characterized by measuring the pressure differential vs. the flow rate of diverse oil viscosities representing very light-oil formations in Canada, Russia, Malaysia, and Brazil. The AICD was flow tested with very light oils, water, and gas, as well as multiphase testing simulating mixtures of oil/water for different water cuts and oil/gas at diverse gas-volume fractions. The characterization of flow performance was embedded into sophisticated reservoir simulators for steady and transient evaluations. The multiphase condition of the test fluids was achieved by increasing water cuts and gas-volume fractions. The flow performance tests indicated that the highly sensitive fluidic sensor of the low-viscosity AICD enhances the production of very light oil and restricts water and gas as the water cut and gas-volume fraction increase. The restriction process gradually increases as per the water and gas ratio in the mixture and is reversible if water and gas production recede. Comparisons of the low-viscosity, fluidic-diode AICD vs. a traditional ICD show approximately 25% less water production and 40% less gas production with the AICD. The ability of the low-viscosity AICD to produce very light oils while restricting the flow of gas and water extends the life of light-oil reservoirs by increasing the production of hydrocarbons while helping to lower costs. For optimum reliability, this unique fluidic-sensor technology has no moving parts or control lines, but uses fluid dynamics to distinguish fluids. Multiphase-flow performance testing and field simulation of light-oil reservoirs indicate that the low-viscosity, fluidic-diode AICD favors the production of light oil (0.3 cP–1.5 cP) and restricts the flow of gas and/or water in a multiphase production-flow environment.