How to optimise
well design for
better recovery.
Oil demand is still growing globally,
and as governments and authorities
become ever more concerned with
maximising economic recovery,
newer ways of developing and
maximising return from reservoirs
and fields is necessary. This white
paper looks at how using
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
can produce better production and
better injection, which leads to
maximised recovery from fields, not
just daily but over the entire field life.
Many of the existing methods, such
as; conventional well and reservoir
models overlook the real cross flow
between reservoir layers, and the
flow of fluids through the entire well
length. Instead they rely on trying to
fit core, physical layer and well data -
gathered from tests and logs – into
general analytical solutions.
One of the key challenges of well
completion and well design is
understanding what wells can deliver
in terms of injectivity and productivity
to the field. Therefore, well design has
traditionally been optimised on the
cost of the
Lloyd’s Register
well, rather than the value derived
from it, as the latter is difficult to
estimate.
Computational Fluid dynamics
(CFD)
CFD is a branch of fluid mechanics
that uses numerical analysis and
data structures to analyse and solve
problems that involve fluid flows.
CFD modelling is not anything new;
many industries including, the
aerospace industry, and Formula
One have been using CFD to
optimise performance for decades.
The application of CFD is also
proven in oil and gas, and is already
used in areas such as design
modelling.
3D View of Velocity Profile into the base pipe
How to optimise well design for better recovery | 01
The fuel efficiency of modern jet
planes uses roughly 80% less fuel per
passenger-mile than in the 1950s.
This is due to a large part because of
the application of CFD. The physics
of flight was applied to maximise
what already existed. Now the same
can be done for well completions.
Existing well completions aren’t
broken, they’re working for their
intended use but by using CFD you
can take what already exists, and
optimise your wells to the best of
their capacity. Transforming your
fields from great to extraordinary.
However, now with even more
advanced improvement in
computational fluid dynamic
modelling software this can now
also be used to better analyse and
optimise your well completions.
Well Fluid Flow Performance
Modelling
Measuring well flow is an essential
element to assess well performance,
and indicate the production
behaviour. The accurate
predication of well performance
helps with appraisal of
development prospects, well
planning and reliable prediction of
true well and field value. By modeling
with CFD, fluid dynamics can be
modelled on a cell by cell basis: the
passage of fluid and its transmission
of physical forces can be simulated in
almost any resolution or scale and in
3D. So unlike conventional well
modelling, by including full geometry
of the reservoir, there is no
compromise on the geometry.

Computational Fluid Dynamics in

Pressure-Inside-the-Tubing Comparison
oil and gas production
Measuring complex geometry
Within the Oil and Gas industry CFD
CFD can more accurately measure Capturing the simultaneous flow of
has principally been used to model
the geometry of reservoirs, including; fluids in the reservoir and well is
fluid flow in surface pipelines and to
formation damage sensitivity in the essential, especially in wells and
examine fluid flow through and
form of multiple layers, measure reservoirs with complex geometry.
around tubing and equipment. For
turbulence and spot potential Cross flow between reservoir layers
example; CFD is used in the design
erosion sites in advance. CFD models and the flow of fluids through and
and development of new drill bits and
different completion for each well, along the well length are real
in the development of Inflow Control
including the full reservoir phenomena which if ignored can lead
Devices (ICDs). More recently CFD has
characteristics for each individual to poor prediction of well
been applied to more diverse
field. performance. CFD modelling relies on
challenges such as sand transport,
fundamental physical properties and
mechanical modelling of failing
enables changes in flow restriction to
wellbores and gas well cleanup.
be captured. Complex events such as,
sand failure, the impact of changing
How much more productive could wellbore shape on fluid flow and
your wells and fields become? geometrics can be modelled and
used to asssit design.
Every oil and gas well has unique
characteristics, which deepens the In field success
challenge of designing the ideal
completion for each one. The Improved completion design was
traditional focus to well completions experienced recently on a Norwegian
does not fully focus on the reservoir Field development. The modelling
and the well combined, but rather revealed that in order to optimise well
focuses on the reservoir and well as clean-up, a key value driver, the
separate components. optimum production well
completions should include
By accurately modelling and restriction in the form of Inflow
predicting the well and reservoir as Control Devices (ICDs) to balance long
one unit, you can find the best horizontal well inflow. In addition, the
completion for your individual field. CFD simulations revealed that the
CFD is ideally suited as it can measure Near Wellbore Pressure Iso-Surface of 1579.5 psi addition of ICDs would improve
the flow of fluids through reservoirs, overall well efficiency (or productivity
completions and wells. This bridges indices).
the gap between wells and the
reservoirs, which is often seen in
existing reservoir or well modelling.
By modelling in this way, you can
test- drive ideas in advance,
modelling the fluid flow rate in each
completion option.

Lloyd’s Register How to optimise well design for better recovery | 02


Flow Line & Wall Shear Stress Corner
The concept is counter intuitive
as “traditional” well simulations
will not show the benefit of flow
restriction. The traditional
approach to well design
dictates that if restriction is
added to the flow path,
increased pressure drop will
lead to PI decrease. This
method contradicts this belief
and clearly demonstrates that
completions can be improved
by adding sufficient restriction.
Conclusion
Many factors are considered prior
to deployment of well completions.
However, by using CFD modelling
you can accurately predict how the
fluid will react when in the well,
giving you a chance to road test
your well completions, and makes
adaptations prior to deployment.
This not only gives you a better
understanding of your predicted
well performance but also ensures
maximised recovery from every
reservoir. By using CFD you can
find the perfect completion for
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• Near Wellbore Surface Mesh
each individual reservoir,
maximising recovery, not just
daily but over the entire field
life.
Get in touch
Please visit www.lr.org/oilandgas
for more information
Or call +44(0)1224 398 398
email oilandgas@lr.org
field1 success
ft pay, 5 m Drainage Radius
Near Wellbore Surface Mesh
LR Rock Properties expertise
At LR, we’re passionate about
improving the performance and
optimisation of your wells. Our
Computational Fluid Dynamic
(CFD) modelling of wells is an
industry first and we’re the only
commercial provider to do this.
Through WellscopeTM , our
revolutionary way to model and
interpret your wells, we can
find the ultimate completion
for your well, ensuring
increased production, which in
some cases has been up to
100% improvement of
traditional completion design.
WellscopeTM our unique,
patented process for modelling
well performance, improves
well design, completion value,
and ensures maximum value
from your wells. Used in over 30
projects in the last five years,
WellscopeTM has helped our
clients save millions of pounds.
For more information or to
speak to one of our experts get
in touch at oilandgas@lr.org or
visit www.lr.org.
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