Application of Nozzle-Based Inflow Control Devices (ICD) in Al-Khafji Field

Al-Khafji field, located in the Arabian Gulf, contains an unconsolidated sand reservoir subdivided into two reservoirs (A and B). The main obstacle in Al-Khafji field is water encroachment due to unfavorably high-water mobility compared to oil; therefore, the field presents a reservoir management challenge in the form of curbing water production in these relatively high-permeability sandstone reservoirs. Both reservoirs (A and B) have irregular water-front movement and water encroachment is dominated by edge-water drive for reservoir A and bottomwater drive for reservoir B. Water coning/fingering problems are evident even in the crestal regions. This water encroachment problem can be explained by one or combination of:  Water movement behind casing  Water movement along conductive fault planes Typical Al-Khafji field horizontal wells are completed with cemented liners and perforations. The wells typically water out during the initial production phase because of the reasons explained previously and limitations on surface water handling capabilities adds to the problem by preventing the wells from flowing at their full potential. A new technology for horizontal well completions has been proposed by integrating 350-μm screens with inflow control devices (ICD) and packers to curb the water production by delaying water breakthrough and managing sand production. Numerous wells in the field have been completed with a nozzle-based ICD, and the promising results will be discussed during the course of the paper. The ICD-completed wells will be analyzed and compared with nonICD-offset wells. The parameters that were used during the ICD-completion design to overcome the main field challenges will be highlighted. Completion strategy has been changed in Al-Khafji field based on positive performance results from the ICD-completed wells.