WorldOil

New completion technology improves ultimate oil recovery

Horizontal-well technology provides established methods of drilling conventional wells to improve reservoir contact and drainage and to delay the production of undesirable fluids. However, non-uniform production profiles, especially in highly heterogeneous and fractured reservoirs, can result in premature water production, causing bypassed oil and lower ultimate recovery and, therefore, a decrease in profitability. Shortened well life is directly linked to water production. When water moves toward a wellbore, sweep efficiency is impacted. The well must be worked over or new wells must be drilled to sustain the field’s production capacity. Improved completion systems must become part of the production strategy. In a producing field operated by ADCO in the United Arab Emirates, a new completion technology has been installed for the first time to address this issue. Horizontal hole segmentation using the Inflow Control Device (ICD) completion method has been tested as a pilot program in one new and one existing well, both located in highly fractured areas.