Deployment of Lower Completions with Interventionless Inflow Control Device to Increase Operational Efficiency, Save Rig Time and Reduce Deployment Risk

Abstract

The most common practice to deploy a lower completion with inflow control devices (ICDs) requires a washpipe assembly to facilitate deployment. Due to the nature of traditional ICDs, with open flow ports, the washpipe assembly provides a conduit to circulate fluids during the installation. However, makeup and break out of washpipe takes time, carries risk, and provides no long-term benefit to the completion or long term value to the operator.

The industry has used temporary mechanical isolation in more recent years, but these devices lack redundancy in the event of malfunction.

The objective of the hydro-mechanical ICD is to remove the requirement for washpipe, thereby reducing operational risk and rig time while eliminating HSE concerns related to drill pipe handling when deploying the lower completion. The key differentiator being additional redundancy, should manipulation be required.

An additional feature of the tool is position verification, the ICDs benefit from a passive attenae. The attenae reader can be deployed in the future to independently verify sleeve position should well optimization be required over the well lifecycle as water cut increases.

The paper reviews various techniques that have been adopted to date and concludes with presenting a hydro-mechanical solution that was successfully installed and the value derived.