Intelligent Well (IW) Technology improves well and fieldrnperformance management by combining zonal productionrncontrol using Interval Control Valves (ICVs) with therninstallation of flow monitoring devices. The “Added Value”rnfor an IW is dependent on the number and location of the ICVrncontrolled zones. Too many valves lead to unnecessary andrnexcessive cost as well as the potential for reduced reliability.rnToo few valves will not provide sufficient flexibility forrnefficient control.rnWe previously showed1 that a minimum degree of un-evenrnfluid-front progression needs to be induced in order forrneffective ICV control to be observed to “Add” sufficientrn“Value” to justify the costs and risks involved in installing thisrnrelatively new technology. ICV(s) can balance the fluid-frontrnprovided they are placed correctly. A typical example wouldrnbe their installation across zones showing early water or gasrnbreak-though. This allows “Value” being “Added” to thernreservoir management process by controlling the unwantedrnfluid. Optimum ICV placement requires prediction of thesernzones. The extent of reservoir layer / zone connection thusrnneeds to be quantified. In practice, the available information isrnoften limited to (local) information gained from measurementrnat or very near the wellbore during the drilling of the well,rntogether with exploration seismic and (global) reservoirrngeological studies.rnA systematic study of the “Added ICV Value” for a range ofrnreservoir models has been completed. The number of ICVsrninstalled and the zonal length were varied. Emphasis wasrngiven to studying the more complex (e.g. channelised)rnreservoir models where prediction of the extent of reservoirrnlayer / zone connection is more difficult.rnThis study provides optimum ICV placement guidelines forrndifferent well and reservoir geometries with a variety ofrnreservoir drive mechanisms. Results from this study highlightrnthe importance of correct ICV placement. The results can bernused as a screening and decision making tool for deciding onrnthe optimum number of the ICV(s) and their placement.
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