Intelligent well on 2/4 B

By Björn Lindberg, Norwegian Petroleum Museum

The first in a series of “intelligent” production wells for Ekofisk was brought on stream in the spring of 2012. These earn their designation because different downhole zones can be opened and closed from the surface by using known technology in a new way. Both production and water injection can thereby be optimised.

— Ekofisk 2/4 B. Photo: ConocoPhillips

Known technology – new areas

The intelligent well system (IWS) partly utilises downhole valves operated hydraulically from the surface to open and close various zones in the well, explains project manager Steve Actis.

That makes it possible to concentrate on zones with a high proportion of oil (and a concurrent low share or “cut” of water) in the production wells. Similarly, the amount of water injected from dedicated injection wells can be controlled.

IWS wells also feature pressure and temperature sensors on each valve to monitor the wellstream. Producing zones can thereby be moved in response to reservoir changes over time. Such flexibility is very important in long horizontal wells.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Pionér no 2, “Intelligent brønn på Ekofisk 2/4B”, ConocoPhillips, 2012.

The Ekofisk 2/4 B 09C well was completed with IWS technology and produced some 4 000 barrels of oil per day. “We’ve already tested the downhole valves to a depth of around 3 000 metres,” Actis explained at start-up.

“We can now operate the zones from the surface,and have already reaped useful lessons which we’ll be able to draw on in the future.”

“A well design of this kind and using IWS technology help us to improve reservoir management so that we can produce from the best oil pockets,” said well planning manager Per Pedersen. “That ensures high output and better reservoir utilisation.”[REMOVE]Fotnote: Pionér no 2, “Intelligent brønn på Ekofisk 2/4B”, ConocoPhillips, 2012.

Extensive work

Plans for this pilot well and adaptation of equipment began more than a year before installation. The IWS hardware was delivered under a new contract to benefit from the supplier’s experience.

While the equipment as such was not new, its application in the chalk reservoir on Ekofisk marked an innovation. Actis was confident that this was tomorrow’s well design, and wanted to apply such hardware on a larger scale.