inflow control devices

As part of a project that involves the use of four artificial islands to drill and complete more than 300 extended-reach-drilling (ERD) wells in a giant offshore oil field, several completion designs have been piloted for brownfield development.

Work conducted in the Surmont field of Alberta, Canada, provided an excellent starting point to optimize flow-control improvements to the SAGD process.

Factors such as hydraulic gradients in the horizontal completion, geologic and fluid variations in the reservoir, and well-placement issues can produce very poor steam conformance in steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD).

The smart multilateral well has assisted in addressing premature water breakthrough, has enhanced water-free oil production, and has facilitated uniform depletion, which results in improved hydrocarbon recovery.