Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) Technology Challenges the Conventional Approach for Critical Lower Completion Isolation

Abstract Eliminating intervention operations during lower completion deployment whilst mitigating risk and associated costs has become a significant challenge in the Oil & Gas industry. Demonstrating innovative solutions which provide alternatives to conventional ball drop or dart-based systems for reservoir isolation has been a must for many operators. This paper focuses on the adoption of an intervention-less Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Reservoir Isolation Valve (RIV) for critical lower completion installations. Utilizing standard isolation methods such as balls/seats, darts, and indeed e-line conveyed intervention plugs has been shown to introduce complexity, risk and cost implications on the types of operations required to isolate the lower completion. These complexities can manifest themselves in the form of increased intervention time along with associated technical challenges in circulating balls/darts onto seats, depending on the chosen isolation method. To mitigate these risks, an RFID remotely activated Reservoir Isolation Valve (RIV) was developed, which was shown to alleviate the concerns by providing multiple built-in downhole contingencies considered to be standard across the platforms. Following a thorough review of the operation requirements along with the associated historical challenges compared to conventional isolation methods, the intervention-less RFID RIV solution was developed, manufactured, tested, and subsequently deployed in a horizontal well. The technology is installed in the open position and is activated by specifically engineered RFID tags encased in a transportation carrier which allows it to be introduced to the flow stream and pumped to the toe of the well, even in highly deviated/horizontal reservoir sections. Once the RFID tag has reached the onboard electronics in the RIV, it passes a pre-programmed command to the RIV instructing it to close after a pre-determined time interval and isolate the lower completion. The programming logic also allows for built-in "timer" contingencies in the unlikely event that the RFID tags do not reach the tool as intended. The RIV was deployed successfully and provided "on-demand" reservoir isolation at the first attempt by circulating the RFID tags to depth. Subsequent operations, such as liner hanger/OH (open-hole) packer setting and the remote opening of the sand screens, were then performed against the closed liner system enabled by the RFID RIV. This paper details the novel approach taken by the application of RFID isolation systems and explains the benefits demonstrated when an RFID RIV was installed as part of a lower completion system for a critical application. What drove the success of this trial was the focus on risk mitigation compared with conventional systems designed to provide positive toe isolation, which ultimately provided a reservoir barrier and means to complete as per program.