Case Study: Application of On-Off Adaptive ICDs with Inner Sliding Sleeves in a Horizontal Well in Saudi Arabia Using 2 3/8-in Coiled Tubing

摘要

Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) are completion hardware often used in horizontal wells to balance flow rates across the completion for the entire length of the interval. This is accomplished by creating an additional pressure drop on each ICD to equalize pressure drawdown along the reservoir to achieve a more homogenous flow profile along the horizontal section. ICDs are also used for selective zonal isolation and for delaying the flow of unwanted fluids such as water and gas into the horizontal wellbore. The conventional method to shift the ICDs uses a downhole tractor conveyed with an electric line (e-line) cable or a standard coiled tubing (CT) string; the shifting activates the production of horizontal wells equipped with these devices. However, there are some challenging cases, for which neither of these traditional methods represents a reliable alternative to actuate the ICDs for several reasons, including 1. Drag and buoyancy forces encountered in the wellbore close to the operational limits of the e- line cable. 2. Wellbore severity, tubular restrictions, and well configuration, which hinders the ability for electric line cable to access target depth, even with the use of a downhole tractor. 3. The absence of downhole measurements in standard CT use for accurate depth control and confirmation of ICD status and shifting tool performance. In a well in Saudi Arabia, electric line was unable to reach target depth, and conventional CT did not provide the confidence needed to act. In this well, CT equipped with real-time downhole measurements was successfully used to actuate up to 10 ICDs in a horizontal well. The real-time downhole measurements included pressure, temperature, depth from a casing collar locator, and tension and compression from a tension-compression sub. The experience gained with this technique in the successful operation in Saudi Arabia yielded recommendations for future similar operations.