Modeling and Simulation of Autonomous Inflow Control Devices for Gas Exploitation

Area of Science:

• Petroleum Engineering
• Reservoir Engineering

Background:

• Horizontal well technology enhances oil and gas recovery by maximizing reservoir contact.
• Bottom water coning significantly impedes production efficiency in oil and gas wells.
• Autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) are crucial for mitigating water influx.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate novel AICD designs for restraining bottom water breakthrough in natural gas production.
• To assess the efficacy of AICDs in preventing premature water influx in horizontal wells.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulation of fluid flow through two distinct AICD designs.
• Calculation of pressure differentials across AICDs to quantify flow blocking capabilities.
• Comparative analysis of AICD performance in preventing water coning.

Main Results:

• The study simulated fluid flow within two types of AICDs.
• A dual-inlet AICD design demonstrated a superior ability to increase flow rates and enhance water blocking.
• Numerical results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed AICDs in preventing water from entering the wellbore.

Conclusions:

• The developed AICDs effectively control bottom water breakthrough in horizontal wells.
• The dual-inlet design offers improved performance for water management in oil and gas exploitation.
• AICDs are vital for maintaining production efficiency by delaying water influx.