Advanced Lower Completion Tool

Advanced Lower Completion Tool (ICDSIM - Inflow Control Device SIMulator) Lower completion, refers to the well in the production zone. Maximising oil production means minimising production of gas and water. To find the best possible solution, it is necessary to understand the interaction between the well and the reservoir. Petrell has developed an advanced simulator that connects the reservoir and the well (The Near Wellbore Simulator or Brilliant NWS). Brilliant NWS includes flow in pipes, flow in porous material (reservoir), energy transport, stress analysis, chemical reaction, advanced thermodynamic and much more, all in mutual interaction (multi-physic). Where a dynamic process takes place, as in the wellbore during production, the multi-physic approach is important. The ICDSIM project is about making a tool to help understanding the dynamic processes in well and reservoir and using that knowledge to design a completion to achieve optimum production. The use of ICV and ICD, and Autonomous ICDs/ICVs, is a method for increasing oil production from a well, by preventing water or gas to enter the well, and thereby also improving oil recovery. An ICV may utilize that oil, water and gas have different viscosity. The working principle is well known, through both field experience and experiments. There are, however, challenges related to planning of completions using ICDs, because sometimes production is better than expected, and sometimes not. Commercially available off-the-shelf tools do not predict performance sufficiently. The ICDSIM project aims at providing a relief to these issues, by developing a tool for modelling and simulation of advanced lower completions. The technology developed by Petrell and made available in Brilliant NWS is well fitted for this purpose. During the project a flexible model is to be developed for adaption of different reservoir and wellbore conditions. The model shall include a well with annulus, functionality of different valves, sand-screen and other required equipment. Extensive testing and comparison with field data will be part of the project. Brilliant NWS can be used for simulation of flow, energy transport and stress analysis simultaneously, applying the same geometrical model. The system includes a comprehensive thermodynamic library, material properties for steel and rock, as well as constitutive models. Status report at the end of 2018: The Near Wellbore Simulator Brilliant NWS is powered by Brilliant, a system that provides seamless interaction between Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and Finite Element Method (FEM). During 2018, two activities have been in focus: Building of the flexible model and preparation for treating multiphase flow. The focus has been on robustness and stability of the solution procedure. Multiphase flow has been tested and results are promising. Multiphase flow and the new algorithm have been implemented in Brilliant, ready for use in Brilliant NWS. Much work has also been put into the flexible model, and this work will continue in 2019. Status per May 2019: The work on the new solution algorithm has proceeded also into 2019. Most of the focus is kept on testing and comparison to the older algorithm. Also, further work on multiphase flow is performed. Another focus area is building of a parameterized model well and its surroundings. The well can take position data from an existing well and form the model based on the well path. The idea is to include relevant completion equipment in the well. Simulation of the whole well or part of the well can be done with varying resolution. Different valves and their properties will be included for use in the model well. Status per 31st of Mars 2020: The geometrical model of the well and the reservoir are ready for use. The geometrical model is parameterized for easy adaption of a real case. The well can be automatically generated from a standard well description, and the reservoir is generated around the well, filled with actual properties. ICD- and AICD-valves can be installed. Flow in the reservoir is calculated based on a three phase (gas, oil, water) model, using the Darcy equation, including capillary forces. The model includes solution of the energy equation including heat transfer between formation and flow. The porosity model is directly connected to the well flow. Several models can be used inside the well. The most relevant is "MultiFlow" and "MixedFlow". MultiFlow is a multi-phase model where each phase has a complete equation system and is connected with the momentum, mass flow (including phase changes), and energy. The model also includes Petrell's proprietary thermodynamic package, ThermoProp. The MixedFlow model is a single-phase model where the different phases are identified by use of the thermodynamic.

Dette prosjektet har vært et vesentlig prosjekt for Petrell. Det bidrar til å åpne nye markeder og utvide vårt tilbud til våre nåværende og nye kunder. Det er forventet at det vil gi forbedret inntjening til våre kunder som er oljeselskapene. Gjennom bedre forståelse av et reservoars dynamikk og hvordan ICD- og AICD-ventiler påvirker dynamikken blir det mulig å få en mer optimal produksjon og bedre utnytting av ressursene. De samfundsmessige effektene er knyttet til bedre inntjening og sikkrere produksjon.