Introduction to Intelligent Completion

INTRODUCTION TO INTELLIGENT COMPLETIONS

The exploitation of oil/gas reservoirs especially offshore now involve the extensive use of extended reach horizontal and multilateral wells in order to enhance production at minimum cast per barrel With multilateral well, the economics of producing from a single parent wellbore now require the use of specialised control systems.

Real-time downhole pressure and temperature data acquisition has been available for years but the ability to provide real-time control of production parameters has just been possible with intelligent completion system This is a system that combines well control functions with data gathering capabilities for improved reservoir management This involves real time control from surface of downhole facilities without the need for well intervention

No example of the intelligent completion system is SCRAMS (Surface controlled reservoir analysis and management system). This is a remotely operated downhole monitoring and flow control system that enables well workovers to be performed from the surface (See Fig 13 1)

The system uses the computer and electro-hydraulic downhole completion system to monitor reservoir parameters, control fluid flow from multiple zones and reconfigure well production or injection profile. 1t can be used to shut off unwanted water or gas breakthrough By choking back flow rate of a high pressure zone, reservoir pressures between zones can be equalised thereby allowing commingled or simultaneous multiple zone production

The system requires elaborate planning as part of initial completion strategy. Fig 13 2 and Fig 13 3 show the difference between a conventional and an intelligent completion system otherwise known as Smart well completion