Intelligent Multilateral Wells Provide Significant Benefits in Environments Ranging From Heavy-Oil Shallow Onshore Wells to Difficult Subsea Well Construction

摘要

During the past decade, the oil and gas industry has implemented several new well completion technologies, such as multilaterals and intelligent well systems. These two technologies have independently proved themselves desirable because of their ability to reduce cons and/or increase production. The integration of these technologies into a single well bore offers synergistic opportunities for even greater well construction efficiencies and production optimization. This paper will discuss the merits of the individual technologies. In addition, it will provide two case histories of their combination in drastically different environments in order to show their ability to enhance reservoir value. Further as multilateral well bores have matured over the time, tri-lateral and quad-laterals have become as common as Bilateral wells. Multilaterals provide a cost effective venue to maximize reservoir contact in singular or multiple zones, while minimizing cost Moreover, with the on set of acceptance of multilateral technology into the main stream of the oil and gas industry, new issues have arisen; How to control the additional production while maintaining effective reservoir management? Intellegent Well Systems effectively eliminate the much desired but difficult issues by providing a flexable approach to manage the reservoir assets and eliminating costly wellbore interventions. Both technologies are as effective in off shore as they are in on shore applications.