Introduction
One of the advantages of attending at industry events is that it gives us the opportunity to learn of new and exciting services or technologies the other exhibitors have to offer. During our latest #DEVEX event we had the chance to meet with Øystein Mølstre from InflowControl who gave us a tech demo of their Autonomous Inflow Control Valves, (AICV®).
What is an Autonomous Inflow Control Device, (AICD).
An Autonomous Inflow Control Device (AICD) is a well completion technology used in managing oil and gas breakthrough, across the reservoir, during well production.
AICDs are designed to improve reservoir influx and restrict unwanted fluids, (such as water or gas, as required), for higher oil recovery. These devices operate autonomously without human intervention, without manual adjustments required once installed. Some AICDs restrict water flow based on the density of downhole fluids, which is particularly useful in reservoirs where oil and water have similar viscosities. By delaying gas and/or water breakthrough, AICDs can significantly reduce water production and associated handling/disposal costs.
Key Considerations – Choosing which AICV®/AICD
Reservoir Characteristics:
- Understand your reservoir’s properties, including permeability, heterogeneity, and fluid mobility.
- High-permeability zones may require more restrictive AICVs to prevent early water and gas breakthrough.
Well Configuration:
- Consider whether your well is vertical, deviated, or horizontal.
- AICV®s are effective in both vertical & horizontal wells, where balancing flow is critical.
AICV® Type:
- AICV®s remain ‘open’ for oil-saturated zones and autonomously ‘choke’ water and gas zones.
- Can be tailor to specific requirements.
Operating Conditions:
- Evaluate temperature, pressure, and fluid composition.
- Some AICV®s are better suited for harsh environments or corrosive fluids.
Vendor Selection:
- Research reputable AICV® providers.
- Consider their track record, technology, and customer support.
What is the Difference between AICD & AICV®
Both the AICD and the AICV® have the ability to choke the unwanted production of water or gas, however the advantage of the AICV® is its ability to completely shut-off the main flow. AICD is a generic term used and the differences between ‘AICD types’ varies from vendor to vendor where some have no moving parts and some do have moving parts. From 2016-2023 the most deployed AICD type is known as the RCP-AICD which is supplied from three vendors and is licensed from Equinor.
AICVs can manage un-wanted water and gas within ultralight and light oil reservoirs as the technology utilize both the density and viscosity properties of the reservoir fluids (as shown in the below figure).
How does the inflow control AICV® Work.
As series of interesting and informative video presentations have been created by inflow control to describe the functionality of their AICV® and its advantages. The full series of 12 videos, discussing the physics of inflow control, are available here. The simple physics of inflow control – YouTube
Alternative suppliers of Inflow Control Devices.
It is worth noting that there are several vendors offering passive and active flow control products to the market. Most of the of completion technologies suppliers fielding their versions of Passive or Autonomous Inflow Control Devices’, additional information can be found on the links below.
Halliburton EquiFlow® autonomous inflow control devices (halliburton.com)
Baker Hughes Autonomous inflow control | Baker Hughes
SLB Autonomous ICDs (AICDs) | Inflow Control | SLB
Conclusion
At one&zero we strive to stay informed of the latest technologies available in the O&G industry. These technologies may sometimes not be our core area of expertise, however our focus is to bring greatest impact to our clients and their operations. By staying up to date with the latest services and technology on the market, this allows us to inform our clients of services that may be of value to their operations. From what was demonstrated by InflowControl it certainly appears that their offerings are worth consideration, when determining which equipment is best suited for your well completion.
If you have any upcoming operations and are unsure of what option is best suited to your needs, then please get in touch with one&zero , where our team of experts will be happy to discuss your requirements.
