Schlumberger AICDs delay gas and water breakthrough in oil reservoirs and self-regulate to restrict gas and water flow when breakthrough occurs. Produced fluid flows through the screen, between the screen medium and the unperforated basepipe, and into the AICD and screen basepipe.
The AICD entry nozzles and internal design create a rotational flow. Oil exits the device with a swirling motion and a pressure drop very similar to that produced by a passive ICD. Gas and water rotate at a higher velocity because of their lower viscosities, creating low pressure in the core region that causes flow breakdown. As a result, the flow rates of gas and water are reduced; the effect increases with the proportion of gas and water in the flow stream.
AICDs promote uniform production across the reservoir. In high-permeability or high-pressure zones, they exert higher backpressure than in less-productive zones because of the higher fluid velocity. Consequently, low-productivity zones produce more than in normal screen completions, minimizing the risk of bypassing reserves, therefore increasing hydrocarbon recovery.
Our AICD completion designs are supported by flow modeling using the ECLIPSE industry-reference reservoir simulator and ICD Advisor inflow control device planning software. The number of AICDs deployed can be adjusted at the wellsite using the latest LWD data.
Flow through Schlumberger AICDs remains below sonic velocity at differential pressures up to 600 psi. Subsonic velocities, no moving parts, and tungsten carbide construction result in a robust device that resists erosional damage.
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