US 11,922,103 B2
Algorithm for optimal ICD configuration using a coupled wellbore-reservoir model
Andrey Filippov, Houston, TX (US); and Vitaly Khoriakov, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to Landmark Graphics Corporation, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Landmark Graphics Corporation, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/134,090.
Application 17/134,090 is a division of application No. 14/890,581, granted, now 10,907,449, previously published as PCT/US2013/053263, filed on Aug. 1, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0115763 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. E21B 41/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); G06F 17/10 (2006.01); G06F 30/28 (2020.01)
CPC G06F 30/28 (2020.01) [E21B 41/00 (2013.01); E21B 43/12 (2013.01); G06F 17/10 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer implemented method for improving production of an oil well, the method comprising:
generating a wellbore model representing an actual wellbore within a reservoir formation;
initializing an inflow control device (ICD) distribution function associated with the generated wellbore model according to a uniform ICD distribution, the ICD distribution function representing inflow control devices at different points along a portion of the generated wellbore model corresponding to a horizontal portion of the actual wellbore;
simulating a flow of reservoir fluid from the reservoir formation into the portion of the generated wellbore model corresponding to the horizontal portion of the actual wellbore via the inflow control devices represented by the ICD distribution function, wherein the simulation of the flow of the reservoir fluid is performed over a plurality of iterations until it is determined that a distribution of the simulated flow of the reservoir fluid yields a uniform approach time for the reservoir fluid across all of the different points along the portion of the generated wellbore model corresponding to the horizontal portion of the actual wellbore, and wherein each iteration of the plurality of iterations comprises:
modifying the ICD distribution function based on a determined point along a portion of the generated model, wherein the determined point represents a point of a maximum approach time;
determining one or more optimal parameters for actual inflow control devices along the horizontal portion of the actual wellbore to yield the uniform approach time of the reservoir fluid during a production operation within the reservoir formation, based on the ICD distribution function as modified at the end of the plurality of iterations of the simulation; and
using the one or more optimal parameters to configure the actual inflow control devices to control an actual flow of the reservoir fluid from the reservoir formation into the actual wellbore during the production operation.