Modeling Well Inflow Control with Flow in Both Annulus and Tubing

Abstract

Abstract We present a model for well inflow control devices (ICDs) that includes the effects of an annulus in which the flow between the ICDs is open or partially obstructed by the presence of packers, and we describe the application of this model in a full-field simulator. Flow in an open or partially obstructed annulus requires looped flowpaths to be modeled within the well. We describe the extension to the formulation of the well model together with considerations to ensure that the resulting equations have a Jacobian matrix that is invertible and explain the necessary modifications to the techniques used to solve the resulting linear system. The effect of simulating flow in both the annulus and the tubing was investigated in two case studies involving ICDs: a synthetic case and a sector of a North Sea field model. Results showing significant differences between the inflow profiles of horizontal wells with and without packers in the annulus are presented.