The Evolution of the Role of Openhole Packers in Advanced Horizontal Completions: From Novel Technology to a Critical Key to Success

Abstract

Summary Openhole packers have been shown to be very effective in many different applications, including curing losses, controlling high-permeability zones and fractures, improving equalization in passive- and active-inflow-control-device (ICD) completions, and, most importantly, controlling water and gas production. The use of these tools has increased exponentially in the last few years and will continue to grow. This paper summarizes the most important findings and lessons learned about the role of zonal isolation in advanced horizontal completions. More than 12 years of experience using reservoir-optimized completions, including passive or active ICDs and openhole packers, in more than 1,000 wells and several tens of different fields around the world has led to the accumulation of best practices and rules of thumb. The approach for openhole packers has changed markedly with time, along with the industry learning about the importance of these tools in advanced horizontal completions. Important considerations have been generated to design horizontal completions under different fluid properties, reservoir uncertainties, and optimum operational considerations allowing for equalization of flow along the entire length of the horizontal section. These best practices came from extensive run history and lessons learned, and it has been found that openhole packers often play the most critical role for a completion's success. The availability of a wide range of new zonal-isolation tools makes it easier for operators to obtain the best and most-cost-effective solution for each application. Openhole packers for compartmentalization are key for success in many applications and offer benefits for inflow and annulus flow control. An extremely important consequence is the ability to control gas or water after breakthrough. This has been proved from analyzing a significant amount of production logs post-installation. Actual well-performance data and simulations will be shown to support the discussion and illustrate concepts and findings.