A Success Story of Implementing Autonomous Inflow Control Devices (AICD) for Gas Control in a Brownfield Asset - What Can We Learn?

Abstract

Abstract An onshore oil field in Abu Dhabi with high gas saturation has been implementing flow control devices since 2019 to control the undesired fluids production. Over the course of production ‘Reservoir 1’ is experiencing a gradual GOR increase as a results gas injection in underlying units. The key objective of this assessment was showed the optimal reservoir management Lower Completion (LC) strategy adopted during the last 4 years to mitigate the gas production and extend the well production life. Steady-state numerical solutions were set up to explore separate scenarios where Flow control devices (FCD) and Intelligent Completion (IC) were incrementally implemented. Overdesigned ICDs was avoided since they not just increase the cost of well completion, but also will impact the well Productivity Index negatively. The output is compared in terms of well cumulative oil and water/gas production thru the scenarios and their value quantified. Conveying in the use of integrated LC (i.e. ICV, ICD/AICD, DHPG, PPL), Seven (7) new wells were drilled and completed with FCD in 2019-2023. Following the AICD Well performance evaluation: 1. Regular Surface Well Testing and Multi Rate Test MRT, 2. Production Logging Tool (PLT) and 3. Reservoir Well Modelling were conducted. Furthermore, an integrated review regarding utilization of ICD technologies for GOR control and lesson learnt has been performed. The utilization of ICD technologies as a means for GOR control, is feasible and more efficient practice for well and reservoir management. All the wells with segmented completion with Autonomous Inflow control Device AICD shown enhanced production performance compared with barefoot completion. Recent PLT’s tests at various choke sizes in all the wells revealed no evidence or minimum free gas production down the horizontal wellbore adhering to reservoir management guidelines and ensuring production sustainability. In capturing GOR evolution trends, the use of multiphase flowmeters has proved crucial. The simulation model calibration with actual AICD well performance proved a significant oil recovery in long term. The delivered results supported the adoption of the technology on a larger scale; The provided solution effectiveness is continuously monitored to improve Lower completion design and increase production uptime.