Integrated Cemented Inflow-Control-Device System Design

Abstract

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 183383, “Integrated Off-Bottom Cemented Inflow-Control-Device System Design Toward Well-Delivery Optimization,” by Mohammed A. Al Madan and Mazen Bu Khamseen, Saudi Aramco, and Hedy Suherdiana and Ahmad Al Abdulmohsen, Baker Hughes, a GE company, prepared for the 2016 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 7–10 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Off-bottom-cementing (OBC) operations are unique to Saudi Arabia and represent a very challenging approach to drilling and workover operations when deployed in combination with inflow-control devices (ICDs) across horizontal sections. The multitasking-valve (MTV) feature in upgraded ICDs offers safe, simple, and cost-effective deployment operations. This paper discusses the first deployment of an ICD system combined with an OBC system for a workover operation in a mature producer well in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Introduction In wells where an OBC liner is required to cover nontargeted formations above the production zone, two methods of deployment can be used: the one-trip system and the two-trip system. These refer, respectively, to whether the OBC components are deployed in a single trip along with the ICD or in a second trip with string in the previously deployed ICD completion. The one-trip OBC ICD completion does not allow an inner-string application. Therefore, circulation while running in hole was ineffective in this producer, which caused deployment problems. The two-trip OBC ICD completion was then considered. The idea was to split the completion into a lower ICD completion, which is dropped off inside the openhole horizontal section with a setting sleeve. The earlier two-trip OBC ICD completion used an inner string, a circulating system, and an openhole-packer-setting tool. This allowed 100% circulation from the shoe during deployment of the lower ICD completion, although circulation rate is limited because of pumping through the small internal diameter (ID). The upgraded ICD with an MTV allows the lower completion to be deployed without an inner string while achieving 100% circulation at the shoe, which smooths operations and saves up to 24 hours of rig time. The MTV temporarily blocks the communication between string and annulus while running in hole. Once reaching the setting depth, MTVs are actuated by hydraulic pressure. All hydraulically set equipment can also be set at this point. Ultimately, in the case outlined in the complete paper, it was decided to combine once again the separated deployment into a single system by use of the MTV feature, which provides important functions for the one-trip OBC ICD completion—the ability to perform 100% circulation from the shoe and to set all hydraulic downhole tools with one setting ball.