Combining Distributed-Temperature Sensing With Inflow-Control Devices for Improved Injection Profile

Abstract

This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 127772, ’Combining Distributed-Temperature Sensing With Inflow-Control Devices Provides Improved Injection Profile With Real-Time Measurement in Power-Water Injector Wells,’ by Drew Hembling, and Garo Berberian, SPE, Saudi Aramco, and Mark Watson, Sam Simonian, and Garth Naldrett, SPE, Tendeka, prepared for the 2010 SPE Intelligent Energy Conference, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 23-25 March. Passive inflow-control devices (ICDs) are used to enhance the performance of horizontal producing wells in unfavorable environments such as nonuniform permeability and/or pressure variations along horizontal sections. ICDs were combined with a fiber-optic distributed-temperature-sensing (DTS) system to manage the water-injection profile across a reservoir horizon. This field trial demonstrated the effectiveness of the ICD system when used for injection-well profiling and for fluid diversion during acid stimulation. Introduction To understand the injection profile and well performance, a DTS system was deployed with ICDs and swellable packers as a field trial in a planned injection well. The objectives were to provide real-time information on multirate testing, determine real-time compartmental-injection profiling, and eliminate the need for horizontal flowmeter logging and well intervention. Recent designs use ICD-completion technology with a DTS umbilical deployed in the openhole producing section below a liner for real-time monitoring and controlling of inflow from each compartment, thereby extending well life and increasing recovery. This case involved the use of DTS and ICD technology to control injection profiles in an openhole near-horizontal well. Compartments were created by use of water-swellable packers with feedthrough capabilities for the DTS umbilical. Completion Design The reservoir section was separated into six compartments. On the basis of openhole-log analysis, the reservoir has a uniform porosity along the length of the well, with a few dolomite intervals present. The spacing of the ICDs and packers was planned in such a way as to isolate these dolomite sections while distributing the desired injection rate along the well. To mitigate the risk of getting stuck while running the lower completion to total depth, it was decided to limit the number of openhole packers to six, thereby reducing the number of allowable compartments. DTS System and Installation The DTS and a permanent downhole-monitoring system were installed in April 2009. The fiber-optic DTS cable was attached and secured to the production-tubing string and provides multipoint temperature profiles across the length of the well. The real-time data from the DTS system can be used for injection optimization and reservoir management by monitoring injection rates between and within the ICD compartments and by identifying crossflow conditions.