Improved modelling of near well multiphase flow for optimised planning of ICD/AICD valves in production wells

ICD/ AICD (Inflow control device / Autonomous ICD) technology has demonstrated their feasibility and large IOR potential for oil production from thin oil layers where gas and water intrusion to producing wells is often limiting oil flow rate. When ICD/AICD are installed, for example 1 valve in each tubing length in the perforated zone, the gas or water intrusion can be reduced by self-controlled ICD/AICD valves when the gas or water rates exceeds a preset value, thereby stop their intrusion in the well segment. This project is designed to identify the current technology gap in the modeling tools, particularly for the near-well flow around the ICD/AICD values in order to improve necessary tools and methodolgy for optimized planing of ICD/AICD valve installation. In 2018, the main activity has been on modelling of the ICD/AICD for a real case using commercial simulation tools with grid refinement and CFD modelling. The details in flow properties have been revealed from simulations. This work will continue till 2019 with target to propose improvements for field scale modeling and input laboratory parameters. In 2019, the project has completed several CFD models at both large scale and lab scale. The modelling results help us to understand the behavior of flow patterns and performance of AICD valves. An important clarification is the short time from the reservoir water penetrates into the valve till they are completely flooded and shut off. This phenomenon will help with future optimization of AICD valve placement in a well. It also reveals a need for improvement in performance characterization (P-Q curve) that must take into account the location and housing around the valves. Therefore, a lab setup is proposed to measure the P-Q curve which also includes AICD valve housing and placement along the well. The lab layout can also be used to validate CFD modeling which can be used to optimize the well design and calculation of AICD valve behavior. The project is planned to be completed with the final project report.

The objective is to establish the best practice for modelling of multi-phase near well flow for optimised planning of ICD/AICD valves in production well. Main achievement: - The methdology of CFD modelling for AICD flow near well has been established and validated using experimental data and fine-grid ECLIPSE simulations - CFD model of field scale reveals the detailed flow pattern near the AICD valves which may improve future AICD installation strategy - Near-well flow patterns around AICD (micro annulus, gravel pack, sand screen) from CFD modelling can form basis for field scale modelling improvement - AICD performance measurements are crucial and are non-linearly dependent on flow fluid properties such as viscosities. - A laboratory AICD test bench design is proposed and validated using a CFD model. In addition, the project partners have established good collaboration as basis for future collaboration between Norway and Brazil.

The anticipated method is to start with CFD modelling and combined with an existing modelling tool to identify the critical areas of technology gap. Once the gap is identified, new method and potentially new software modules will be developed to close the gap. We will target 3 main deliveries: 1)Best practice for ICD/AICD modelling using standard ad existing reservoir engineering software 2)New and standalone software tool which is compatible with existing commercial software and procedures for better estimation of ICD/AICD benefit during well planning; 3)Identify the way for validation of the new method and software, numerically, using field data, or if necessary propose experimental setup at lab scale for validation of the existing and new mathematical formulations. The main scope of work will be 1)Set up 1-2 real field cases and use CFD and field modelling tool to identify the gap between the field data and the results from the existing modelling tool. 2)Develop new method and mathematical formulations to close the identified gap 3)Recommend new procedures for well planning and better estimation of benefit of ICD/AICD implementation 4)Propose validation method to qualify the results from 3)