| < < < Back to Main Page | By Hammad Shahid | |
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| Smart Well Technology |
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As said by Albert Einstein, "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simple." Smart well technology is likewise based on this phrase. Wells equipped with permanent downhole measurement equipment or control valves, are nowadays know as smart or intelligent wells ; see Figure.
Over the last years drilling and completion techniques have developed significantly. This comes out in the foundation of drilling complex multi-lateral and extended reach wells. Additionally, measurement devices for pressure, temperature and flow rate make the well system more straightforward. These down-hole measurement methods and control of well bore and reservoir flow results in the invention of smart well system. Question arises, how smart wells can be designed in a real meaning to make the well "smart." Its simple!  There is no need of over-engineer! Make the well Robust (healthy) Your plans should also be design for any Un-expected incident Use previous experience to enhance your future
Yes, this can be happen by providing remote and automated control (downhole if necessary) of the elements that will robotically increase production at a lower cost is what smart well technology is all about. Intelligence is not always a guarantee for success in the oilfield (just as in the real world), and the basic question in the development of smart well technology is when the added functionality adds value. Dumb wells are sometimes the smartest solution. On the basis of sensing, industry classify smart well into four main parts: Pressure, temperature sensing Flow metering Fluid composition Reservoir imaging
Lets discuss some examples of the use of smart well technology. 1. On-line Well Tests: By using downhole control valves one can perform on-line well tests i.e., to gather information from the reservoir response to intentionally disturbed inflow into the well bore. 2. Well control by ICVs: Use of Internal control valves (ICVs) in completed wells play a vital role in controlling downhole flow and pressure. For example, ICVs can be applied to a multi-lateral well. ICVs installed in the main well bore can be used to control inflow from branches. This will usually lead to communication between mother bore and its laterals. 3. Reservoir imaging by 4D Seismic: There are several developments to obtain reservoir information from other sources during the production life of a field. Most notably is the use of "4-dimensional" (4D) seismic, also know as time lapse seismic. The purpose is to achieve a picture of fluid front movements in the reservoir through observation of the differences in seismic images over time. Some how it seems that the expression smart wells may be likely to disappear as suddenly as it came into fashion, the concept of using measurement and control to optimize oil and gas production is still alive. Although costs are generally still high, the reliability of the equipment has improved dramatically over the recent years, thus bringing more and more economic applications within reach. Without any hesitation in my opinion, "In this modern and advanced time, adapting smart well techniques and installations point towards the BEST kit in the world." |
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