Autonomous ICDs Optimize Production in Singue Field, Ecuador

Abstract

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 210417, “Autonomous ICD Introduction in Singue Field, Ecuador: Completion Methodology and Production Evaluation,” by Alejandro Chacon, SPE, Georgina Corona, and Juan Pico, Halliburton, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ Autonomous-inflow-control-device (AICD) technology, design methodology, and production-performance evaluation for AICD completions were applied for the first time in multiple horizontal wells of the Singue oilfield development in Ecuador. The analysis described in the complete paper covered the complete cycle, from reservoir modeling, completion design, post-drilling match, calibration, and production-performance analysis. Background and Field Information Singue is a field in a tropical rainforest in the Sucumbios province of Ecuador. The first well in the Singue field was drilled in February 1991. Lower U was the target reservoir in this first well. The well was drilled on the basis of seismic 2D data acquired from 1979 to 1989. Field cumulative oil production between 1991 and 1997 was 447,000 bbl. The field then was shut in until 2012, when Gente Oil Company was assigned as the operator of Block 53. Despite heavy field-development investment, a cumulative oil production of 8 million bbl was generated until 2018. Alternate completion techniques were considered to increase oil production by drilling horizontal wells. Water breakthrough was the challenge in these wells. The field has strong support from a water aquifer. An additional challenge in this area was the environmental sensitivity of the Amazon region to produced-water disposal. A horizontal completion with inflow-control technology to restrict water was considered as a mitigation measure. The first horizontal well, AH1, was drilled in 2019; it included swell packers and AICDs to balance the oil and control and restrict water at breakthrough. The second well, BH2, was drilled in 2020; the third and fourth wells were drilled in 2021 with similar completion technology. These wells were drilled in the Lower U reservoir, which has an average oil API gravity of 22.8. This reservoir is considered a consolidated sandstone with no sand production. Fluidic-Diode AICD Technology AICDs have a similar performance to traditional ICDs during the initial oil-production phase of the well before the onset of unwanted fluids (water/gas). During oil production, AICDs induce a low-pressure differential that allows balancing the flow across the completion. Therefore, they also provide the benefit of delaying the onset of water or gas. However, this technology offers additional benefits. In contrast to ICDs, AICDs induce a higher restriction for water or gas by creating a greater pressure differential across the devices for these fluids, which reduces the flow rate when compared with traditional ICDs.