A 2018 infill development campaign for a horizontal well offshore China targeted improved production through the installation of autonomous inflow-control devices (AICDs). However, because the well requires gravel packing to manage the sand, the integration of AICDs and the gravel pack was an issue. An integrated work flow was followed to deliver the AICD application successfully in an offshore heavy-oil reservoir with major uncertainties in remaining oil thickness and water/oil contacts. AICD completions ensured balanced contribution from all reservoir sections and limited water production significantly while the gravel pack kept the valves safe from the effects of sand.
Field Description
The field is a low-amplitude fault anticline oil field developed on the basement uplift. The structure is relatively gentle (Fig.