A new semi-analytical model for predicting the performance of horizontal wells completed by inflow control devices in bottom-water reservoirs

Abstract

Simulation and prediction the performance of horizontal wells completed by inflow control devices is the foundation of ICDs completion parameters design-optimization. In this work, a new semi-analytical model that couples the reservoir inflow to the downhole flow is developed for predicting the performance of horizontal wells with inflow control devices in a box-shaped reservoir with bottom-water drive. The reservoir inflow model is based on a 3D volumetric source model that incorporates reservoir permeability heterogeneity in the near well region, reservoir anisotropy, and near-wellbore formation damage. The downhole flow model considers pressure drops due to fluid flow in the tubing, ICDs, and annulus. The calculated results are compared with that obtained from reservoir simulator Eclipse™ showing a good agreement. Influential factors analysis indicates that the reduction in the ICD flow-restriction size gives an even more uniform inflow profile at the cost of reduction in well's productivity. For fractured reservoirs, the optimum well production performance is reached when the number of openhole packers is maximum, which means there is only one ICD joint per compartment. Variable ICD flow-restriction size design not only further improves the well production performance but also causes the increase in well's productivity compared with uniform ICD flow-restriction size design. Ignoring annulus flow will result in higher calculation value of well's productivity.