Application of Inflow Control Device Technology and its Value Realization for Kuwait Oil Fields through Best Practices and Multidisciplinary Team Work

Abstract

AbstractIn the pursuit of maximizing oil production to meet the 2030 strategy of producing 4.5 MM bopd, KOC has adopted a massive plan of implementing new technologies through pilot trials. Some of the technologies successfully tested are fiber optic sensors for real time reservoir monitoring, horizontal wells for increased production through increased reservoir contact, inflow control device and interval control valves for improving cumulative production and managing reservoir uncertainties, multilateral wells to reduce well footprint with increased production and acid tunneling technology to gain oil from old wells in depleted reservoirs.Horizontal wells are considered superior over conventional wells in terms of production improvement due to increased reservoir contact. Despite this, these wells pose severe production challenges due to variations in permeability, reservoir pressure, reservoir fluid properties and frictional pressure drop along horizontal section. Preventing water/gas breakthrough, equalizing inflow with minimizing pressure loss, minimizing annular flow and heel-to-toe effect, delay non-uniform water progress, avoiding by-passed oil, increasing sweep efficiency and ultimate recovery are some of the primary challenges that are required to be addressed for gaining optimum advantages of horizontal wells. One of the promising technologies to address all these challenges is the application of advanced completions, such as inflow control device (ICD) and interval control vale (ICV). These completions help to enhance hydrocarbon recovery and reserves management.The technology was test trialed successfully through multidisciplinary team approach and best practices. The value addition of the technology was evaluated by interacting with major operators and service companies. The evaluation of ICD and ICV was done by inviting designs from all the major companies and appropriate systems were selected with respect to reservoir and fluid properties, maintaining the policies of commercial group. For the first pilot test, suitable wells and systems were selected to avoid drawbacks that might lead to pilot failure and eventually disapproval of the technology from top management. This paper describes the results of the first ICD and ICV pilots, methodology, best practices and selection criteria that ultimately resulted into large scale field implementation of these technologies.