Dynamic FCD Simulation via Conditional Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current complex well models using vertical flow performance tables fail to capture the dynamic behavior of flow control devices (FCDs) in real-time operations, particularly in mitigating issues like water coning and optimizing production in complex wells.
Innovation Solution
A framework that transforms real-time control of FCDs into conditional logical constraint equations, iteratively solving these equations with mass and momentum balance equations to simulate dynamic behavior, allowing for reactive control of FCDs during reservoir simulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If vertical flow performance (VFP) tables are used to model FCDs, then the modeling is simple and static, but the dynamic behavior of FCDs during real operations cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static VFP table approach into a dynamic simulation framework where FCD choking sizes can change in real-time based on reservoir conditions. The system uses conditional logical constraints that are re-evaluated at each simulation time step, allowing FCDs to respond dynamically to water coning, gas breakthrough, and other reservoir events, thereby capturing the dynamic behavior while maintaining computational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces adjustable parameters including FCD choking size, control thresholds, and response factors that can be modified to match actual field operations. By changing these parameters dynamically based on simulated reservoir conditions, the model accurately represents real-time FCD behavior without requiring complex proprietary software, thus improving simulation accuracy while controlling complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple iterations are performed to find optimal FCD settings, then the simulation accuracy improves, but the computational time and resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an autonomous simulation system where FCDs automatically adjust their choking sizes based on pre-defined control logic and current reservoir conditions. The system self-regulates without requiring multiple manual iterations by operators, as the conditional constraints are automatically re-evaluated at each time step, significantly reducing computational time while maintaining accurate representation of optimal FCD behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the simulation continuously monitors reservoir conditions (water cut, gas-oil ratio, pressure) and uses this information to adjust FCD positions in real-time. This closed-loop feedback system eliminates the need for multiple iterative trials by directly simulating the adaptive control process that would occur in actual field operations, thereby reducing computational time while preserving accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If static FCD settings are used in simulations, then the model is easier to manage, but it cannot simulate real-time control actions to mitigate water coning or optimize production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal simulation framework that can handle both static and dynamic FCD scenarios within the same model structure. The system uses a standardized set of conditional constraints that can accommodate various control strategies (water coning mitigation, gas breakthrough prevention, production optimization) without requiring separate models, thus maintaining ease of operation while enabling versatile real-time control simulations across different reservoir conditions and FCD types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic FCD control by allowing choking sizes to change in response to simulated reservoir events. The conditional logical constraints are re-evaluated at each time step, permitting FCDs to automatically respond to water coning, gas breakthrough, and production rate changes, thereby achieving real-time control capability while maintaining a unified, easy-to-manage model structure that works for both static and dynamic scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations for simulating performance of a reservoir that includes a wellbore. The operations include determining a constraint for an intelligent completion in a model of the wellbore, where the constraint includes a condition and a responsive action. The operations further include performing, in response to determining that the condition is satisfied, the responsive action. Further, the operations include determining, in response to performing the responsive action, transfer equations for the model of the wellbore. Yet further, the operations include building, using the transfer equations, a wellbore computation matrix for the model of the wellbore. In addition, the operations include solving the wellbore computation matrix and determining that a solution to the wellbore computation matrix has converged to an acceptable tolerance. The operations also include responsively determining that the converged solution is indicative of flow in the model of the wellbore.