What is a Correct Resistance Pre- and Post-Flashing: Application of EQUALIZER DART

Summary Flow Control Devices (FCDs) have emerged as promising tools for enhancing recovery in Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) production wells. Initially, it was hypothesized that FCDs delayed steam breakthrough by homogenizing injection and production, equalizing flow, and compensating for pressure changes along the wellbore. However, recent advancements in Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) featuring internal flashing have shown potential for superior performance. Internal flashing, characterized by self-boiling of water due to pressure reduction, has become a focal point in ICD design, with the prevailing belief in the SAGD industry that increased flashing enhances performance, leading many vendors to extend the flashing zone. Contrary to common belief, excessive choking can impede flow rates without necessarily improving performance. This paper introduces the concept of sandface subcool, defined as the subcool at the sandface calculated based on temperature and pressure. When sandface subcool reaches zero, conditions are conducive to steaming, potentially leading to severe steam coning. The role of ICDs is to elevate upstream pressure, increasing sandface subcool and halting steam flashing at the sandface. However, excessive choking can hinder flow rates, rendering it unnecessary to raise sandface subcool above zero degrees. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of Athabasca McMurray oil sands reservoirs significantly impacts SAGD recovery outcomes. In response, the implementation of ICDs has become pivotal in enhancing SAGD performance. This study delves into the variation of permeability and temperature along the wellbore, emphasizing the importance of resistance before and after flashing in understanding producer performance. Through comparative analysis of ICD systems with varying resistance profiles, this study identifies optimal resistance parameters for different geological structures. This study introduces a novel model designed to accurately simulate flashing under thermal conditions, demonstrating its efficacy by matching C-FER (Continuous Flow Extraction Rate) data. Subsequently, this model is integrated into a comprehensive wellbore model to replicate well performance pre- and post-flashing. Specifically, the performance of EQUALIZER Dart, featuring various resistance profiles, is modeled and contrasted with previously deployed EQUALIZER Select wells. The findings reveal that EQUALIZER Dart can enhance oil production rates by 40% and reduce steam consumption by 20% compared to baseline scenarios, highlighting its potential for optimizing SAGD operations.