Optimization of the number of openhole packers in horizontal wells completed by inflow control devices for different types of reservoirs

Openhole packers are completion hardwares that are deployed as a part of the ICDs completion system to produce a more uniform inflow profile. From the perspective of the operability and the economy of the ICDs completion system, the number of openhole packers needs to be optimized in order to achieve the most cost-effective completion solution for different types of reservoirs. In this study, both steady-state approach and transient-state approach are used to evaluate the effects of the ICDs completion with openhole packers on the inflow equalization and the well performance optimization. The steady-state approach employs a semianalytical model that considers reservoir heterogeneity and pressure drops in the annulus, tubing, and ICDs. The transientstate approach employs an advanced multisegment well model of the reservoir simulator EclipseTM. The simulation results indicate that: (i) For a high-permeability homogeneous reservoir, the most cost-effective completion solution should not use openhole packers in the ICDs completion system; (ii) For a heterogeneous sand reservoir, the simulation needs to be performed in order to find the optimum number of openhole packers depending on the degree of reservoir heterogeneity; (iii) For a fractured carbonate reservoir, the number of openhole packers needs to be maximized in order to guarantee that there is only one ICD joint per compartment.