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A Performance Analysis of Smart Well Completion in a Gas Reservoir

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

A Performance Analysis of Smart Well Completion in a Gas Reservoir

Debasish Ghosh1, Abed Inan Chowdhury2, Md Mostafijul Karim3*
Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology,
Chittagong, Bangladesh1-3
*Corresponding Author: mostafijpme@cuet.ac.bd.com
Keywords: Gas Inflow, Groundwater Management, Production Management, Performance analysis, Smart Well Technology.

Abstract
The gas fields of Bangladesh are producing massive volume of groundwater along with the reservoir gas, which
is disposed as abandoned or waste-water. This phenomenon does not only disrupt the groundwater resources of the
country, but also pollutes the surface environment by sulfur, nitrogen and other toxic emissions from the untreated
disposal of groundwater by the gas fields. This problem ultimately demands an urgent geo-resource management
technology in the gas wells. Thus, in order to combat this critical hazard, the suitability of a smart well completion
technology that can alleviate groundwater inflow is studied in this paper. In addition, gas production optimization can
be achieved by reducing the water inflow of the gas wells by this technology. Smart wells are wells that have downhole
instrumentation such as sensors and valves on the production tubing, which is a reliable and cost-effective way for
better reservoir management. Although smart well completion technology has been used for oil fields, it has never
been considered for the gas fields. This study analyses the performance of the smart well completion technology for
the gas reservoirs of Bangladesh. Initially, this paper observes how gas production can be optimized and water
production can be minimized by installing the smart well completions for the gas reservoirs of Bangladesh, comparing
with conventional well by using the production data of the Shahbazpur gas field. Further, this study develops a gas
inflow equation by introducing modified permeability near the wellbore vicinity due to the influence of smart well.
Finally, the best combination is selected for production management considering all the scenarios. The result shows
that water production can be minimized nearly about 19% using smart well completion technology.

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1. INTRODUCTION
Almost all the wells of the gas reservoirs in Bangladesh produce a big amount of associated water
which leads to the environmental degradation through the contaminants of groundwater, wastage of the
groundwater resources of the country, and impairment of the gas production capacity of the wells [24-25].
A smart well completion mechanism can be employed in the gas wells of Bangladesh in order to combat
this serious issue.

Smart well is defined as the design, selection, and configuration of equipment and the technical
requirements of treatment and practices involved of the well into production and subsequently to produce
in a manner that fulfills the operator's having a field development goals [15]. Smart wells provide the
capacity to regulate heterogeneity-related uncertainties in the reservoir through the selective control of
various lateral production that is accomplished. Over the past two centuries, successful planning has
progressed from standard vertical wells to new non-conventional horizontal wells (NCWs) that use
directional drilling technology [1]. The latest advances in Saudi Arabia's petroleum and gas fields are
equipped with intelligent wells. They provide lesser capital and operational expenses for the required
production goal [8]. Several other mechanisms have been undertaken all over the world to eradicate water
production from hydrocarbon wells [26-28].

Problems of Water Production from Gas Reservoirs:

1.1 Production Loss of Gas

Since, the flow capacity of a gas well is limited, production of water impairs the gas inflow and
leads to financial loss. Smart well Technology employs automated valves in segmented manner that detects
any excessive encroachment of water and blocks the production from that region instantaneously [1]. Thus,
installing smart well will be the most intelligent way for ultimate recovery, obtaining production
optimization by reducing the production of water, and hence the cost will be minimized. But in Bangladesh
still, production is done with conventional well, and this smart well technology has not been applied so far
for production optimization though it has daily lacked in production compared with the demand. About
2380 MMSCFD gas is explored against the need of 3800 MMSCFD gas every day. Daily shortage of gas
production in Bangladesh was 600 MMCFD against an estimated lack of 3300 MMSCFD gas; moreover,
the demand has gone up to 3800 MMSCFD leading demand and supply disparity [7].

1.2 Environmental Pollution and Contamination

The aquifers associated with the gas reservoirs may contain different contaminants [18]. The
release of polluted and untreated groundwater from the gas reservoirs can lead to several health and

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environmental hazards [19]. Implications of smart well technology can prevent this pollution by restraining
water inflow in the gas wells.

Table 1: Contaminants found in the groundwater of Bangladesh.

Contaminants Effects
Arsenic Kidney and liver damage, derives acute and chronic toxicity, decreases
hemoglobin. Acts as a Carcinogen.
Iron Causes a bitter astringent taste to water.
Nickel Damages the liver and heart of animals exposed to it in large amounts.

Sulfate Adds a different taste to water, forms scales on heat exchangers and boilers.
Coliform bacteria Cholera, Infections, Polio, Dysentery through Parasites, Bacteria, and viruses.

1.3 Declining Water Tables and Water Wastage

The significant drawdown of water table because of production from gas wells and excessive
exploitation of groundwater in the last decade has been largely documented [21, 22]. From the Bangladesh
Water Development Board data, it has been determined that the drop has greatly increased in areas where
water table depth is 8 m or less. From 1999 to 2003, this area was approximately 4% of the country’s total,
but climbed to 11% and 13% in 2008 and 2013 respectively. The areas where this problem is most
significant lie in the north-central and north-west regions [23].

Under this condition, the wise usage of the groundwater of Bangladesh needs to be confirmed. And
smart well technology can contribute to this problem to a certain extent as the gas reservoirs of Bangladesh
has been producing a large amount of water (Figure-1).
12
10
Water Production

8
(Bbl/Day)

6
4
2
0

Date
Figure 1: Graphical presentation of water production rate of Well-1 in Shahbazpur gas field.

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

2. METHODOLOGY

At first, production and geological data have been collected. The calculations are done for several
bottom hole flowing pressures using pseudo-pressure method for gas inflow performance. Then bottom
hole flowing pressures are calculated for the vertical flow performance curve. Two curves are generated by
plotting bottom hole flowing pressure against flow rate, and optimized point is identified from the
intersection of the IPR and VFP curve for a conventional well. Several bottom hole flowing pressures are
calculated using the smart well equation by setting a specific wellhead pressure and changing the flow rate
for different times, and an optimized production point is identified for smart well. A new equation is
developed for IPR near the wellbore due to the influence of smart well; besides, the effect is analyzed in
the presence of water. Then the modified IPR curve is drawn, and finally the best combination of all IPR
and VFP is selected for production optimization.

Some limitations for this study need to be addressed, such as a lack of on-hands direct field application
to test the viability of the result under real-time conditions and the lack of proper feasibility study for the
gas fields considering several other factors related to the cost and viability.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Production Optimization For Conventional Well

Reservoir pressure is not uniform in every point due to the change of viscosity and compressibility
factor; therefore, pseudo-pressure is used for gas reservoirs. Although the calculation of this method is quite
complex, for the semi-steady state condition of reservoir the pseudo-pressure method is more accurate. The
inflow performance of the reservoir is evaluated by Eq. (1)

1422𝑄𝑇 𝑟𝑒 3 (1)
𝑚(𝑃) − 𝑚(𝑃𝑤𝑓 ) = (𝑙𝑛 − + 𝑆)
𝐾ℎ 𝑟𝑤 4
For the vertical flow of gas in the tubing, Eq. (2) is commonly used.

𝑓𝑓 (𝑍𝑇 𝑞)2 (2)

𝑝12 = 𝑒 −𝑠 𝑝22 - 2.685 X 10-3 (1 − 𝑒 −𝑠 )
sin 𝜃 𝐷 5

Figure-2 shows that, at the optimized point from the intersection of IPR and VFP curve, bottom
hole flowing pressure is 2650 psi and the production rate is 2350 MSCFD.

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

4000
3500

Bottomhole Flowing
3000

Pressure (Psia)
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Flow rate (MSCFD)
Pwf (Normal IPR) Pwf ( normal VFP)
Figure 2: Optimized production for conventional well.

3.2 Production Optimization For Smart Well

In intelligent well technology, a valve is set in the production well; hence, it controls the flow. The
vertical gas flow through the smart well valve follows the Eq. (3)
𝑞2 𝒫 (3)
𝑃𝑤𝑓 = 𝑃𝑤ℎ +
𝐶𝑣2
Figure-3 shows that, at the optimized point from the intersection of IPR and VFP curve, bottom
hole flowing pressure is 2100 psi and the production rate is 2900 MSCFD. For a conventional well the
production rate of gas was 2350 MSCFD (Figure-2).

4000
3500
Bottomhole Flowing

3000
Pressure (psia)

2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Flow rate(MSCFD)
Pwf (normal IPR) Pwf (smart well)

Figure 3: Optimized production for smart well.

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3.3 Comparison Of Optimized Production Of Conventional Well And Smart Well

The comparison shows that production optimization for smart well is far better than the conventional
well as the production is increased by approximately 550 MSCFD (Figure-4). It signifies that the production
of gas has increased, and at the same time the production of water has decreased due to smart well
completion as the ground equipment of the well is holding the water out of the well.

4000
Bottomhole flowing

3000
pressure (psia)

2000

1000

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Flow rate(MSCFD)
Pwf ( normal VFP) Pwf (smart well) Pwf (Normal IPR)

Figure 4: Optimized production for the conventional well and smart well.

3.4 Modified Gas Inflow Equation for IPR Curve

Due to the presence of smart well, an alteration in the formation properties around the wellbore can be
evident because of the regulating valves of the intelligent well allow a selective inflow of gas. Thus, a new
modified permeability is introduced here because the absolute permeability starts to reduce when water
accumulates near the wellbore, and the inflow equation becomes

1422QT re 3 (4)
m(P) − m(Pwf ) = (ln − + s)
Kαh rw 4

KƐKrw (1−fw )
Here, Kα =
fw

Figure-5 shows the impact of smart well on inflow performance of gas due to the presence of water.
Water begins to accumulate near the wellbore due to the restrictions of valve arrangement so there might
be an effect. From this figure, it is evident that the effect is certainly very little as two curves are nearly
merged. Moreover, optimized production is still quite the same for intelligent well (Figure-6).

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4000

Bottomhole flowing
3000

pressure (psia)
2000

1000

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Flow rate (MSCFD)
Pwf ( Normal IPR) Pwf (modified IPR)

Figure 5: Impact of the smart well on Inflow performance.

4000
Bottomhole flowing

3000
pressure (Psia)

2000

1000

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Flow rate (MSCFD)
Pwf ( Normal IPR) Pwf (modified IPR) Pwf (smart well)

Figure 6: Optimized production for the permeability alteration around the wellbore.

3.5 Production Optimization Considering Several Combinations

All the combinations of IPR and VFP are shown in Figure-7, which indicates the best point for the
selection of production optimization. It shows the overall importance of smart well completion by
minimizing water production and maximizing gas production.

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

4000
3500

Bottomhole Flowing
3000

Pressure (Psia)
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Flow rate (MSCFD)
Pwf (Normal IPR) Pwf (modified IPR)
Pwf ( normal VFP) Pwf (smart well)
Figure 7: Optimized production considering all IPR and VFP curves.

4. CONCLUSION
1. The production and untreated disposal of the groundwater in gas wells lead to gas production loss
from the wells, environmental pollution through the contaminants of the groundwater, and water
table declination of the aquifers.
2. This paper proposes a promising technology to prevent water production from the hydrocarbon
wells of Bangladesh. The study analyses the performance of smart well technology and compares
it with the performance of conventional wells in terms of Bangladesh. Shahbazpur gas field is
considered as an analogical representative of the gas fields of Bangladesh.
3. It is found that the smart well technology can reduce the water production rate by approximately
19%. Also, the gas production rate has relatively increased at a higher percentage using smart well
than conventional wells.
4. It is observed that a permeability alteration can occur as water will not be able to enter into the
smart well due to the presence of valves. In this regard, the study modifies the inflow equation of
a smart well to evaluate this effect. It reveals that still, the smart well technology can be successfully
implemented in the gas fields of Bangladesh without any significant alteration of permeability
around the wellbore region.
5. Considering the Environmental, PetroEconomic and Hydrological perspective of Bangladesh,
implementation of this technology is deemed to be urgent.

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[20] Shahid, S., 2011. Impact of climate change on irrigation water demand of dry season Boro rice northwest
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NOMENCLATURES
IPR Inflow Performance Relationship

VFP Vertical Flow Performance

m(𝑝) reservoir external pseudo-pressure

m(Pwf ) bottomhole pseudo-pressure

Q flow rate

T temperature
K permeability
H pay thickness
re reservoir external radius
rw wellbore radius
S skin
𝐾𝛼 modified permeability
Ɛ recoverability
𝐾𝑟𝑤 relative permeability of water
𝑓𝑤 fraction of water

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