Implementation of Autonomous Inflow Control and the Effect on Carbon Intensity

Abstract

Abstract A lean approach for qualification of inflow control is presented, involving full-scale experimental tests. The experimental data are converted into optimized well design by a simple and robust workflow, incorporating internally developed software tools for pressure-drop modelling and for well modelling with inflow control. Production data from several Equinor operated fields are analyzed, and the increased oil recovery, as well as the impact on CO2 intensity, is discussed. Results from a full-scale qualification test campaign including five different autonomous inflow control devices (AICD) are presented. The intended application is a special case with high expected production and high pressure, in nearly vertical wells, which is unlike any of the more than 175 wells with AICDs in Equinor. The ability to choke gas and allow high oil production, as well as other selected qualification criteria, were examined for the five, already commercially available, technologies in a benchmarking study.