Passive Inflow Control Devices versus Multiple Fracturing in Horizontal Wells: Selection Criteria for Optimized Completions in Oil Reservoirs

摘要

The industry has faced rapid advances in openhole completions in recent years, mainly in horizontal wells. Among these in- novations, multistage fracturing and inflow control devices (ICDs) have gained notoriety as popular methods for field devel- opment, especially in unconventional reservoirs. Fracturing a horizontal well may be considered when formation permeability is low and laminated shales are present. Compartmentalization or anisotropies are also a reason for this type of completion. In the same manner, ICDs can be de- ployed in a heterogeneous reservoir to mitigate the potential for early water and/or gas breakthrough. To compare the features and benefits of both completion methods, the water breakthrough time was investigated in a full- field simulation model. Initially, a near-wellbore simulator was used to evaluate the applicability of the hydraulic multifrac and ICD completion. Then, a full-field simulation model was used to quantify the benefits of these completion techniques, where flow performance and completion optimization were accounted for. A degree of increase of recovery factor due to optimized completion was investigated. The multistage frac was modelled with explicit gridding techniques. These used local grid refinement and a single poros- ity approach around the well and induced fractures. ICDs were modelled with a multisegment well model, which analyzed the lateral well branches, fluid phase changes and pressure variations. This paper provides an example of the unconventional reservoir development for both a multistage frac option and an ICD completion. The optimization designs were aimed to achieve the optimum well completion strategy to fit specific reser- voir conditions and an increasing recovery factor. The work was based on a real field case from Russia. The simulation runs were carried out using a commercial black oil simulator. Evaluation and selection criteria of these optimized completions are discussed in this paper.