Smart Well Completions: A Comprehensive Review of Technologies, Applications and Challenges

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of smart well completion technologies. These technologies are being effectively utilized around the globe for production enhancement, effective reservoir monitoring and management, and reservoir performance, which has always been the main focus of oil and gas industry. Efficacy for the applications of such technologies in specific cases is discussed and the associated challenges are analyzed. Extensive literature review of the past and contemporary technologies has been conducted to understand the evolution of smart completions. Thorough review has been conducted to grasp the specific applications and challenges associated with it. As the application of technology is widespread, specific cases pertaining to multilayered and compartmentalized reservoirs were selected where the solutions were deployed for better control and reservoir management. The operational complexity in these completions related to deployment and future well interventions is also covered. Further, review of smart completion system, its components and implementation, challenges faced during the designing and execution and different applications to address major problems such as, auto gas lift, production optimization production of thin and high water cut reservoirs, effective reservoir management and remote operations is also taken into account. As the industry embraces digitalization and automation, smart well completion is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of oil and gas operations. Successful application of smart or intelligent completions globally have enabled operators to manage complex subsurface reservoirs effectively. Moreover, a combination of such technologies has proved to be vital in multilateral wells enabling downhole monitoring and control. The solutions provide downhole monitoring, enabling real time analysis and on spot decision making. Based on different solutions and technologies available, an analogy has been derived to deploy a tailored solution for multilayered reservoir. Selection of equipment based on different requirements and applications has been presented to derive cost benefit as well as to keep challenges at bay by reducing interventions. Also, the specific application of fiber optics for real-time monitoring of acoustic and temperature measurements is compared as a substitute of production logging tools can prove beneficial and provide monitoring requirements over the life of the well.