Nanocompletions Versus Intelligent Well Completions, Investigating the Future of Nanotechnology in Well Completions - A Case Study

Abstract The oil and gas industry continues to face different challenges in the field of exploration and production. From field exploration to exploitation, including survey methods, drilling techniques, completion systems, production to reservoir monitoring, operations and processes are not only cost intensive but also technologically demanding. Hence, the potential for applications of nanotechnology in the Oil and Gas Industry is huge. However, despite several research efforts, few “nano-breakthroughs” have been achieved in the industry due, in part, to its high cost of application. This paper investigates the application of a specific nanotechnology- polymer supported nano-particles (PSNPs) in production tubing/completions of stacked reservoirs and compares this to Intelligent Well Completions (IWC) using a Niger Delta Case Study- Well X. It also employs the novel idea: nanocompletions- the integration or, better still, the adaptation of known applications of potentially viable nanostructures to the development of the major components and functionality of well completion systems/options. The lower costs, high sensitivity and fast response speeds achievable with PSNPs make them viable alternatives to IWCs, and most recently developed completions systems in the independent monitoring of flow properties and downhole data gathering for future field development plans and precise reservoir modelling. Cost benefit analysis of the proposed nanocompletions in solving challenges of downhole measurements and Intelligent Well Completions is presented. This paper shows that the application of nanotechnology in monitoring Well X and by inference any other well, in similar geological zones, can provide higher efficiencies and cost- savings.