Application of Inflow Control Device (ICD) for Optimizing Horizontal Well Performance

Horizontal and multilateral wells are shaping the development of the oil and gas industry due to its increased reservoir contact. The horizontal well drilling technology was established about ten to fifteen years ago and has since become a method for improving hydrocarbon recovery. With its horizontal nature, the presence of a strong aquifer and gas cap facilitate the possibility of early water and gas breakthrough through a situation known as “heel toe effect” which is a result of frictional losses. Reservoir heterogeneities results into variations in permeability along the length of the wellbore causing unequal influx of the inflowing fluids around the vicinity of the wellbore. The unequal influx contributes to early water and gas breakthrough because the fluids flowing in the zones with higher permeability (thief zones) move faster than those moving in the low permeability zones, thereby allowing the low viscosity fluids to bypass the high viscosity fluids making the well uneconomical.
This research paper studies the application of Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) as a means of eradicating or at least delaying the water/gas breakthrough. A simulation method has been identified by the author after a thorough review of literature. The implementation of ICDs is expected to improve hydrocarbon recovery and delay water/gas production. The multi-segment well model in the ECLIPSE Black Oil Simulator is used to represent a horizontal well divided into segments with ICD installed in some of the suitable segments. A set of data is used to demonstrate and address the problem of unequal influx of fluid and early breakthrough or higher production of water and gas.
Two cases of different model dimensions have been discussed in this study and both cases show that proper application of ICD to the segments that provide optimum oil recovery and reduced water and gas production at the same time will improve performance of horizontal wells. The two cases also showed that oil production may decrease at the beginning when using ICD because of the additional pressure drop created by forcing the fluids to flow through the device. However, the rate will increase eventually over time and higher recovery will be achieved.
Key words: ICD, Horizontal well, Performance, Multi-segment well model.