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Collaborating Authors
Abstract The sliding sleeve has been widely used in upper completions as a useful flow management device to enable selective communications between the production tubing and the annulus. Traditional sliding sleeves are mechanically operated by standard wireline method, which not only results in non-productive time and potential operational risks but also restricts sliding sleeve applicable in vertical wellbores only. To overcome the limitations, this paper introduced an innovative Hydraulic Controlled Sliding Sleeve (HCSS), which eliminates interventions with conventional wireline shifting tools. HCSS offers instant open/close operation by surface controlled hydraulic pressure through a single control line. HCSS features unique advantages over mechanical sliding sleeves, by its operational simplicity, independence on wireline units, and applicability in deviated wells and horizontal wells. The application of HCSS could save non-productive time, reduce operational risks and improve operational efficiency and economics. This paper will give a comprehensive demonstration of HCSS and illustrate the working principle in detail. Unique features and capabilities over traditional sleeves will be discussed explicitly. HCSS will be opened by applying hydraulic pressure from the surface control unit to activate the movement of the inner sleeve, and it will be closed simply by releasing the pressure, which will allow the inner sleeve to return to its original position. In the case of hydraulic control failure, HCSS also equipped with a secondary open/close mechanism by the special shift tools operated by coiled tubing. The authors conducted two representative case studies of HCSS application in offshore upper completion in Bohai bay in China to further highlight the improvement of operational efficiency and well economics.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Asia (1.00)
Abstract Traditional methods of running the upper completion system in a well typically include several interventions in order to complete the installation. Such activities require skilled resources and consume significant amounts of rig time. In addition, activities such as wireline, electric line and even coiled tubing intervention carry with them the possibility of operational problems leading to non-productive time (NPT). Elimination of such NPT and associated intervention costs has always been an industry goal, but while options exist for such operations as packer setting and tubing isolation, to date no approach has been available which can enable the operator to take full remote control of the installation. As modern technology evolves so old technologies can be re-evaluated. One such technology is radio frequency identification (RFID) which offers the user flexibility in controlling downhole operations without intervention. RFID uses close proximity sensing to communicate by simply passing a coded tag through an antenna equipped downhole tool to actuate it. These tools also have a secondary means of communication by pressure pulse signature, or timer, if circulation of a coded tag is not feasible. Using this technology an upper completion system comprising packer, circulation sleeve and downhole barrier valve has been developed which is controlled by a single RFID module, thus providing a means to remotely control the installation, reducing running costs and the elimination of NPT. In this paper the authors will review current upper completion operations and describe in detail the development and operation of an RFID enabled completion. A case study of the industry's first truly remote controlled upper completion, successfully installed in the Middle East will be presented.
An Innovative Inflow Control Device Technology with Sliding Sleeve Functionality Maximizes Recovery in Horizontal Wells
Lee, Byung (Saudi Aramco) | Julaih, Ali Al (Saudi Aramco) | Gavioli, Paolo (Baker Hughes Incorporated) | Vicario, Roberto (Baker Hughes Incorporated) | Suherdiana, Hedy (Baker Hughes Incorporated)
Abstract Horizontal wells drilled in heterogeneous reservoirs present several challenges for reservoir management. Issues like early water breakthrough and inefficient drainage around the well in a reservoir with high contrast in permeability are very common in horizontal wells. An effective approach to address the challenges of horizontal wells and to increase the oil recovery is to complete the wells with inflow control device (ICD) technology. Most ICD technologies available in the market are passive inflow control devices that do not have the ability to change properties when unwanted fluids break through. The new ICD not only incorporates the benefits of passive ICD technology, it also incorporates sliding sleeves in the module that can be closed whenever the ICD starts producing water. This helps maximize the oil production from the well and reduces the problems related to handling of water at the surface facilities. This paper will demonstrate the effectiveness of the new hybrid ICD design. It is novel viscosity insensitive and may provide higher restriction to water over oil, and the successful operation of the sliding sleeve feature through a field case of a well drilled in a carbonate field in Middle East. Bottomhole pressure and weight indication observed through specialized fiber optic-installed coiled tubing confirmed the operability of technology by proper opening and closing of sliding sleeve. A fluid flow profile recorded by a production logging tool (PLT) on the same CT proved that the completion effectively equalized flow along the wellbore and will delay eventual water breakthrough while still producing at the desired production rates. PLT proved that the custom-designed completion with its appropriate number of compartments, number of ICD joints and flow resistance rating, achieved an optimized ICD completion.
Abstract With the increase in drilling activity in new subsea and deep water exploration and development, a reliable means of intervention-less completion technology has become a major consideration in helping to reduce operational risk and achieve economic exploitation of new hydrocarbon reserves. Although intelligent completion methods have been in use for some time, the communication system they require can be expensive and time consuming and the need for a simpler, more cost effective, method of intervention-less well completion and management is clearly an attractive option. To simplify the completion process, a new system has been developed which uses the well tried and trusted communication method known as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID is a reliable well proven technology which is used in countless applications in daily life; however its applicability to the oil and gas industry is only now beginning to be recognized. In this system tubing mounted control modules, which are capable of performing a number of key completion operations, are activated by simply dropping and pumping down RFID tags or, where pumping down is not possible, by the application of pressure cycles. This system consists of several primary components as follows: Battery powered control module with antenna and processors, motor, pumps and closed hydraulic reservoir. A circulating control valve functioning as a sliding sleeve. A hydraulic set packer. A barrier valve. Using these modules all the operations involved in an upper well completion can be performed free of interventions. This paper will give an introduction of RFID technology and present operational mechanism in detail for key accessories of this new intervention-less completion system; and also display one typical logic application of sequence of operations for a new intervention-less upper completion system.
This article, written by Editorial Manager Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 153834, ’Interventionless Completions for Unconventional Shale Plays,’ by Jane Mason, SPE, John Tough, Paul Day, SPE, and Shirley Hatton, Petrowell, prepared for the 2012 SPE Middle East Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, 23-25 January. The paper has not been peer reviewed. To simplify the process of multiple fracturing operations, a new approach has been designed that uses radio-frequency-identification (RFID) techniques to operate sliding sleeves remotely. The number of sleeves that can be run in a well using this technology is essentially unlimited, each having the same identification and a unique electronic address that allows it to be operated remotely at will. This approach makes considerably more zones available for treatment without coiled-tubing or wireline physical intervention and, thereby, speeds the operations. RFID-Technology Overview RFID technology will be familiar as the basis of toll-road tags for identification of one’s car—the tag in one’s vehicle contains a microchip that positively identifies it and triggers a toll charge. This same microchip system (Fig. 1) can be used to trigger a downhole tool that has an embedded antenna that picks up the coded signal in the chip as it is pumped down the hole. RFID’s method of data transfer and adaptability permit widespread application in a downhole environment. It is a close-proximity means of transferring data; no direct line of sight is required, and it works by using at least two devices—a reader and tag. The devices are paired and able to recognize each other through the transmission of radio waves; a tag is coded with relevant information that can be read as it passes an RFID reader. The term “close proximity” is relative. Tags are read from 100 m in the airline industry, where readers are able to use vast amounts of power. In contrast, the distance would be reduced to 6–12 in. in the oil industry, demanding far less power downhole. The tag, which contains an electronic circuit (transponder), is programmed with specific information, and, when it approaches the reader, the radio-frequency field generated by the reader powers up the tag, causing it to transmit its data continuously by pulsing the radio frequency. The data are then captured by the reader and processed. Because the tag is so small, it allows great freedom of movement, and there is no need for direct contact for both devices, which results in a high level of convenience and flexibility. Some of the other advantages of RFID are Tags can be hidden or embedded in nonmetallic materials. No line of sight is required. Its contactless nature limits wear and tear. Tags can be read even if they are covered with dirt or submerged. Unalterable permanent serial code prevents tampering.
- Well Completion > Hydraulic Fracturing (1.00)
- Data Science & Engineering Analytics > Information Management and Systems (1.00)
- Well Completion > Completion Monitoring Systems/Intelligent Wells > Flow control equipment (0.61)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs > Shale gas (0.55)