Intelligent Well Technology in Mature Assets

Abstract

Abstract Sustainable growth in mature areas of the oil sector must continually focus on finding additional value often coupled with reducing lifecycle costs. New technologies promise much in realising these aims but must first be successfully implemented. Implementation of new technologies in mature areas often poses significant integration challenges, particularly with respect to existing field infrastructure. The Northern Business Unit (NBU) of Shell U.K, operator in the U.K. sector of the North Sea for Shell and Esso, operates nine fields that produce 400 Mboepd oil and gas from both offshore platform and subsea facilities. Intelligent well technology, in particular downhole flow control, has been identified as having significant value adding potential for these fields. The Interval Control Valve or ICV is the core component of a downhole flow control system and is a device analagous to traditional wireline operated sliding sleeves. The ICVs provide on-line remote control of the communication path from the reservoir zone to the production tubing. The devices can be either binary (open and close only) or variable (capable of some degree of choking). For the mature assets the key value adding capabilities facilitated by the ICVs include the optimisation of oil production, the provision of zonal water management capability and the provision of more flexible cost-effective gas capacity management. In order to realise this potential a number of challenges in terms of integration with existing infrastructure, qualification of new equipment and operating philosophy had to be addressed. Worked examples are presented for wells installed in the Brent and Tern fields highlighting where the intelligent well proposals add value, outlining the technical challenges and introducing the operating philosophies required to realise lifecycle value post-installation.