Enhancing Production Performance of Horizontal Wells in Naturally Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs Using Inflow Control Devices (ICDs)

AbstractThe use of Inflow Control Device (ICD) in long horizontal wells drilled in naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs (NFR) has helped alleviate premature water breakthrough and control high water production. The main factors associated to premature water breakthrough and high water cut in NFR wells are the uncertainty in fracture conductivities and location of fracture corridors crossing or nearby to the horizontal wellbore.In this paper, an assessment is provided of the production performance review conducted over a limited NFR area developed with some horizontal wells equipped with ICD completions versus other horizontal barefoot open-hole completions. Efforts have been made to compare the horizontal wells in same reservoir areas and layers of comparable reservoir quality and all wells used in this study had complete fluid losses during drilling. Data used in the evaluation included production and pressure data, image and caliper log, production log profile, fracture maps, open hole log and ICD completion design.Six horizontal wells equipped with ICDs are currently producing within expected oil production rates at low water cut. Two of these six wells with ICD's are observed to have water breakthrough delay of up to 18 months compared with offset barefoot open hole horizontal wells. These ICD wells have been on production for more than three years. On the other hand, three horizontal open-hole wells of similar characteristics are either dead or producing at a high water cut.This paper will shed light on lessons learned including in three horizontal wells equipped with ICDs that are experiencing high water cut. After reviewing all available well/reservoir/production data for the studied horizontal wells, some improvements have been recommended for both the ICD design approach and how wells equipped with ICD in NFR should be produced.?