ABSTRACT
Huge amount of hydrocarbon in place is left unrecovered. Integrated
reservoir management, in addition to the use of new technologies
improves hydrocarbon recovery. Intelligent completion is one of the
technologies which enhance reservoir management thereby improving the
hydrocarbon recovery.
This work presents a review of intelligent completion technology,
guidelines to evaluate the decision whether or not to implement
intelligent completion and evaluates field cases of intelligent
completion installation.
The case studies were derived from four fields where intelligent
completions have been implemented. Comparison of intelligent completion
with non-intelligent completion was based on ease of data acquisition
for reservoir management, incremental oil production and profitability
criteria. The yard sticks used for economic analysis include the net
present value, discounted payout period, profitability index and growth
rate of return.
The results from the study show that reliable intelligent completion
improves reservoir management by enabling data acquisition and well
monitoring. Employing intelligent well completions in reservoir
management can lead to 21% to 38% increase in oil recovery and 17% to
41% increase in NPV compared to non-intelligent completion. It must be
pointed out that intelligent system failure may render intelligent
completion projects economically unattractive.
The results of this study can be used to evaluate the feasibility of
executing an intelligent completion project; especially in fields were
intelligent completion is yet to be implemented as a tool for reservoir
management.
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Reserves are the main asset of the exploration and production
(E&P) industry. Every E&P firm aims at maximizing its total
profit in the long run, hence the industry aims at enhancing ultimate
recovery of a field, cost efficiently. However, most of the hydrocarbons
in place are not recovered; about 35% of hydrocarbons in place are
recovered leaving behind the remaining 65%. The need to improve recovery
from the huge amount of remaining hydrocarbons in place around the
world requires sound reservoir management practices.
Integrated reservoir management is a continuous process and the key
to successful operation of the reservoir throughout its entire life. It
requires the use of both multi-disciplines and technological resources
for maximizing profit. A comprehensive reservoir management plan
involves depletion and development strategies, data acquisition and
analyses, geological and numerical model studies, production and
reserves forecasts, knowledge of facilities requirement and economic
optimization. These can facilitate better reservoir management which
will enhance economic recovery of hydrocarbons (Satter et al., 1994).
Intelligent well completion forms part of the overall vision of
reservoir management optimization.
An intelligent well completion (IWC) is completion system capable of
measuring, transmitting and analyzing wellbore production, reservoir and
completion integrity data, and enabling remote action; change valve
chokes and optimize these parameters to better control reservoir, well
and production processes (Eni, 2006 ). The concept of intelligent
completion does not generally refer to any capability for automated
self-control but rather manual interface to initiate instructions to the
well (Robinson, 2007).
Reservoir parameters are continuously monitored for each zones with
permanent pressure and temperature gauges, base on which the valve
chokes are reconfigured to allow simultaneous production from more zones
through a single string or well. Remote completion monitoring is the
ability of a system to provide data, obtained in or near the wellbore,
without requiring access and entry for conventional intervention to the
well. Hence IWC technology provides great flexibility in the operation
of conventional wells and multilateral wells; as each branch of the well
can be controlled independently. (Yeten et al., 2004)
The basic element of IWC are acquisition and transmission system,
flow control valves (FCV) and actuation system. The acquisition and
transmission system is a set of equipment used to transmit and acquire
reservoir data, while the FCVs control flow rate from a zone or in a
level. And the actuation system is a set of equipment that supplies
power to the valves (Eni, 2006)
Compared to conventional completions, IWC offers great benefits. The
primary objectives of IWC are normally to maximize or optimize and
anticipate oil recovery, control gas and water breakthrough, reduce cost
and improve safety. Zero intervention especially subsea or remote
location wells and production optimization for multi zones reservoir
(simultaneous production), horizontal wells, complex reservoir
structure, auto gas lift, etc. justifies the installation of intelligent
completions (Eni, 2006).