The Importance of Production Logging Sequence When Designing Inflow Control Completions

Abstract

Abstract Production logging at multiple rates is used to correlate passive inflow device (ICD) completion designs to actual downhole flow rates for performance validation and design improvement. Accurate steady-state multi-rate production logging is quantitative proof of design for completion evaluation. When low rates are recorded first in wells that have not been fully unloaded, and then are followed up with high rate passes, the PI per compartment values may change due to unloading. When this occurs, the simulations will not match both rate curves because the production profile has changed in the time it took to log the two rates. Unloading at high rates may result in rapid wellbore cleanup, and the production-profile changes that are due to the cleanup rates will be evident. When this occurs, the utility of the lower rate PLT dataset is greatly diminished. This paper discusses the importance of performing production logging tests for the evaluation of flow contribution in ICD completions. Sandstone and carbonate case studies are presented that will illustrate the benefits of using a properly sequenced logging strategy for ICD completion performance evaluation. Multi-rate and high-to-low rate-production testing is highlighted, since it has resulted in improved well clean up and productivity. Multi-rate production logging also helped to differentiate between non-productive and the damaged zone sections along the horizontal. This comparison verifies the value gained for operators when an appropriate production-logging test design is put into practice.