The benefits of horizontal wells from both a production and reservoir characterization perspective are well known. With the benefits, however, come several challenges, usually concerning uneven production or injection profiles. Interval Control Device (ICD) completions have become popular as a method of addressing these problems controlling fluid flow between the reservoir and wellbore or vice versa in horizontal wells. Most ICD devices are passive or fixed once installed downhole, making the design process of these completions very important.

This paper describes the elements of the design for ICD completions and workflows that integrate them within an easy to use software environment. The objectives of the completion are discussed and how to deal with potentially contradictory requirements. The advantages of using 3D reservoir simulation versus static modeling are listed and workflows making 3D dynamic methods faster and more accessible explained. The most common ICD design strategies are associated with the reservoir challenges they can address and the quality of the data required. Workflows are introduced for building fit-for-purpose simulation models depending on the data and time availability, and the reservoir challenges being faced. Finally, optimizers are discussed as an aid to ICD completion design.