Well Packer Placement Using Reservoir Clustering for Uniform Inflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well completion methods struggle to optimize packer placement for uniform inflow profiles, leading to issues like water-cut and gas coning, and require significant manual effort and time in designing ICD completions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using clustering analysis algorithms to identify optimal flow compartments based on three-dimensional reservoir properties, automating packer placement along well trajectories, and optimizing ICD settings to ensure uniform hydrocarbon production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual methods are used to design ICD completions and place packers, then flexibility in handling complex reservoir scenarios is maintained, but significant manual effort and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical design processes with an automated computer-based system that uses clustering algorithms to analyze reservoir properties and determine optimal packer placement locations, eliminating the need for manual well completion design while significantly reducing turnaround time
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the completion design process to be self-executing by automatically analyzing reservoir data, identifying flow compartments through clustering, and determining packer placement locations without requiring continuous manual intervention or expertise
2Reliability
If traditional packer placement methods are used, then implementation is straightforward, but uniform inflow profiles cannot be achieved leading to water-cut and gas coning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wellbore into distinct flow compartments by using clustering algorithms to group grid cells with similar reservoir properties, then places packers at the boundaries of these compartments to achieve uniform inflow profiles and prevent water-cut and gas coning
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by tailoring the packer placement strategy to specific local reservoir conditions identified through clustering analysis, ensuring that each flow compartment is optimized for its unique properties rather than using a uniform approach throughout the well
3Reliability
If the number of ICDs is increased to improve production control, then inflow uniformity may improve, but costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using clustering analysis to pre-identify optimal packer placement locations that will naturally create uniform inflow profiles, eliminating the need to over-equip with additional ICDs and reducing both quantity and cost while maintaining reliable inflow control
Data Source
AI summary
A method to perform a completion operation of a wellbore is described. The method includes determining a wellbore trajectory of the wellbore penetrating a reservoir, generating a grid cell set of interest surrounding the wellbore, where the grid cell set of interest includes consecutive grid cells that are penetrated by the wellbore in the reservoir, generating, from the grid cell set of interest and using a clustering algorithm, grid cell clusters based on a grid cell position measure and a reservoir property of each grid cell, where each grid cell cluster corresponds to a flow compartment of the wellbore, and placing, during the completion operation and for each grid cell cluster, a packer at a starting position and an ending position of the corresponding flow compartment.