The Road for Successful Assessment of Completion Placement in Horizontal Wells

Abstract

Abstract Meeting today's energy demand is challenging and requires the application of innovative technologies. Technologies that extend the life of the horizontal wells can help meet the challenge. For maximum well performance, it is imperative to have uniform production and delayed gas/water breakthrough, which can be achieved by installing a downhole inflow control device (ICD). Considering all possible complexities, the ICD will balance the flow profile across all the compartments to optimize the productivity. Production evaluation after running the ICDs includes integrated horizontal production logging tool (HPLT) acquisition to understand and analyze the downhole flow profile. The challenges in maintaining oil production without the use of ICDs are illustrated in Well-X. Five field examples were studied to assess the role of ICDs in various challenges faced in horizontal wells. In the first ICD example, Well-A, an integrated characterization was accomplished using resistivity images together with the production logging assessment for water control practices. Well-B showed a placement of a horizontal well close to the oil-water contact (OWC). As challenging as it maybe, the ICD completion segmentation was implemented to furtherly produce the oil over years. Well-C was equipped with an ICD to control downhole water production. The production logging methodology facilitated in assembling the inflow profiles and guided in sealing off the water producing ICDs using casing expandable patches. In Well-D, the production log (PL) assisted to evaluate unstable well's performance after the sidetrack. HPLT acquisition suggested that the end-of-completion valve was leaking since high water production was detected from below the bottommost ICD. A water shut-off (WSO) job was planned by setting a mechanical plug and pumping cement through it. In the last example, Well-E, based on the recent HPLT multiphase flow profile, ICD shifting will be conducted to reduce the water cut and increase oil production. The study of these challenging examples of horizontal wells completed with an ICD system provides value in several ways. The evaluation of the examples can guide the future action plan based on the interpreted data and results. The evaluated examples contribute to our understanding of the reasons for underperformance of existing wells, help in deciding upon workover plans, and provide information for designing an optimum completion strategy for future wells.