An operator used RGL’s Q-Selector™ flow control device to maintain oil production, well length, and cSOR. The outcome ended thermal loading issues by eliminating crossovers and increased profitability. 

THE CHALLENGE

Thermal well completion designs are important to ensure the reservoir is heated as efficiently as possible. The use of flow control devices (FCDs) can help to further improve conformance, which in turn can improve oil production and decrease steam/oil ratios. In cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), each well must consider the effects of steam injection and production.

By completing thousands of wells with FCDs in recent decades, this operator doubled oil production, doubled well length, and maintained similar cumulative steam/oil ratios (cSORs) over less cycles. However, innovation is a constant process. These tools had issues handling extreme thermal loads and multiple cycles.

RGL’s challenge was to create a new tool design that met the same capabilities but would also be simpler to operate, more robust, and of higher quality.

THE SOLUTION

The solution was the Q-Selector™. It was deemed the best choice as it embodies the following attributes:
 

• Simpler overall design
• Monobore joint provided a larger ID and smaller OD than the previous version
• RGL’s proWRAP™ direct wire-wrapped screen for the sand control or debris barrier was selected over the previous carbon steel proSLOT® straight slotted liner to better handle the corrosion and scaling potential faced by CSS applications
• Elimination of crossover. The new, simpler, monobore design did not require crossovers, thus the pipe threads were selected to match the thermal cycles
• End cap design. The end caps were design and tested for simplicity and thermal cycling, and are now RGL standard

THE RESULTS

Due to wellbore hydraulics, the results were similar (as expected) to the historical tools in terms of oil production, well length, and cSOR, since there were no major changes made to the outflow or inflow fluid mechanics. However, with the design solutions, there have been no thermal loading issues. The design proved to be a more economical solution.