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NAERINGSPH-Nærings-phd

Improved Multiphase Flow Performance Using Autonomous Inflow Control Valve and its Potential Impact on Reservoir Recovery

Alternative title: Improved Multiphase Flow Performance Using Autonomous Inflow Control Valve and its Potential Impact on Reservoir Recovery

Awarded: NOK 2.4 mill.

Project Number:

322802

Application Type:

Project Period:

2021 - 2024

Funding received from:

Typically oil fields leave half of the oil, that was originally in the reservoir, left after the production is closed. One of the challenges that contributes to the oil remaining is the production of unwanted fluids, such as water, steam and gas. The oil production and recovery can be improved by increasing the reservoir contact. Increased reservoir contact can be achieved by drilling long horizontal wells. Another method to improve oil recovery is implementing inflow control technologies. By balancing the pressure drop along the well, these technologies are able to reduce the production of unwanted fluids and increase the oil production. One of these inflow control technologies which has been deployed internationally during the last few years is the patented Autonomous Inflow Control Valve (AICV). AICV can control or even totally stop the production of unwanted fluids and increase the oil production. AICV installations worldwide have shown promising results in a wide range of reservoir conditions. However, further development of AICV to cover even wider ranges of applications and reservoir conditions, is the main objective of this PhD project. This will be achieved by performing experimental tests using realistic reservoir fluids, and doing simulations using industry standard reservoir simulator. Experimental results will provide information about the AICV performance for water, oil, gas, and steam. Also, the results will describe the choking ability of AICV when exposed to unwanted fluids. One example of AICV development prospects is AICV for CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) applications. AICV for CO2 EOR can contribute to choking back CO2 and avoiding reproduction of CO2 thus making possible to store CO2 in the oil reservoirs. Another application is AICV for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) reservoirs. AICV for SAGD application can reduce energy consumption for steam generation and consequently improving the economics of SAGD projects.

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Early water and/or gas breakthrough is one of the main challenges in oil production which results into inefficient oil recovery. Existing mature wells must stop the production and shut down due to High GOR (gas oil ratio) and/or WC (Water Cut) although more oil still is remained in the reservoirs. In most fields more than 50% of oil at the Norwegian Continental Shelf will not be recovered. Inflow control technologies have been used widely during decades in order to make the wells more profitable by attaining uniform flow , delaying the unwanted fluid breakthrough and consequently maximizing the oil production and recovery. One of these inflow control technologies is patented Autonomous Inflow Control Valve (AICV) which can delay the onset of breakthrough and control or shut off completely the unwanted fluid production when the breakthrough occurs. Extensive amount of AICV development programs and several successfully performed qualification tests done at Equinor multiphase flow loop test facility have been resulted into a worldwide installations with significant well performance improvement. The current variant of AICV has been contributed in increased oil production, reduced water and/or gas production and generally making better and more profitable wells around the world. AICV technology has huge development potentials . This technology can be developed further for different type of reservoirs and applications such as light oil reservoirs, SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) applications or CO2-EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery).

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

NAERINGSPH-Nærings-phd