# US 12,180,827 B2 · Transient pressure data analysis to determine contributing inflow control devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,827 B2 - Document ID: US12180827B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/689,689 - Filed: 2022-03-08 - Published: 2023-09-14 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-08 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Mohammed H. Al Madan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180827B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) - E21B 47/09: Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes - E21B 47/12: Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A computer-implemented method, medium, and system for determining contributing inflow control devices (ICDs) using transient pressure data from a permanent downhole monitoring system (PDHMS) in a wellbore is disclosed. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving transient pressure data from a PDHMS in the wellbore. Multiple ICDs are installed in the wellbore and include multiple contributing ICDs that contribute to fluid flow in the wellbore. Curve fitting of multiple composite exponential signals is performed to match the transient pressure data. A total number of the multiple contributing ICDs is determined based on a result of performing the curve fitting. A respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the multiple contributing ICDs is determined. A depth of a last ICD in the multiple contributing ICDs is determined. A list of all contributing ICDs is generated based on the determination of the depth of the last ICD. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving transient pressure data from a permanent downhole monitoring system (PDHMS) in a wellbore, wherein the transient pressure data is a function of time, wherein a plurality of inflow control devices (ICDs) are installed in the wellbore, wherein the plurality of ICDs include a plurality of contributing ICDs that contribute to fluid flow in the wellbore, and wherein n is a total number of the plurality of ICDs; performing curve fitting of m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data, wherein m is less than or equal to n, and wherein m is determined during the curve fitting; determining, based on a result of performing the curve fitting of the m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data, a total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs in the plurality of ICDs; determining, based on the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs, a respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs; determining a depth of a last ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs based on the determined respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs; determining, based on the determination of the depth of the last ICD, one or more ICDs in the plurality of ICDs that contribute to the fluid flow of the wellbore; and performing production logging operations of the wellbore using the one or more ICDs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein each of the m composite exponential signals is represented by a formula of f=[(Pr−Pf)eλ1t+Pf]*(1−eλ2t), where Pr is reservoir pressure, Pf is bottom hole pressure at flowing conditions, λ1 and λ2 are exponential decline rates that are specific to each of the m composite exponential signals, and t is time in seconds. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein performing the curve fitting of the m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data comprises: changing λ1 and λ2 for each of the m composite exponential signals; and taking the maximum value across the m composite exponential signals as combination of the m composite exponential signals at each time instant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein determining the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining that the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs is equal to m. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein determining the respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining, for each of the plurality of contributing ICDs, a respective ratio represented by a formula of ratio i = log ⁢ ( λ 1 ⁢ ICDi ) ∑ log ⁢ ( λ 1 ⁢ ICDi ) , wherein i is a respective index of each of the plurality of contributing ICDs, and wherein when i is less than the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs, the respective ratio represents the respective normalized distance between an ith ICD and an (i+1)th ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method according to claim 5, wherein determining the depth of the last ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining a first ICD based on (i) the last ICD and (ii) the determined total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein a depth of an intermediate ICD between the first ICD and the last ICD is determined by a formula of depthintermediateICD=(depthfirstICD−depthlastICD)*ratiointermediateICD+depthpreviousICD, where depthfirstICD represents a depth of the first ICD, depthlastICD represents a depth of the last ICD, ratiointermediateICD represents the respective ratio of the intermediate ICD, and depthpreviousICD represents a depth of an ICD immediately before the intermediate ICD. ### Claim 8 A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising: receiving transient pressure data from a permanent downhole monitoring system (PDHMS) in a wellbore, wherein the transient pressure data is a function of time, wherein a plurality of inflow control devices (ICDs) are installed in the wellbore, wherein the plurality of ICDs include a plurality of contributing ICDs that contribute to fluid flow in the wellbore, and wherein n is a total number of the plurality of ICDs; performing curve fitting of m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data, wherein m is less than or equal to n, and wherein m is determined during the curve fitting; determining, based on a result of performing the curve fitting of the m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data, a total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs in the plurality of ICDs; determining, based on the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs, a respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs; determining a depth of a last ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs based on the determined respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs; determining, based on the determination of the depth of the last ICD, one or more ICDs in the plurality of ICDs that contribute to the fluid flow of the wellbore; and performing production logging operations of the wellbore using the plurality of candidate ICDs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein each of the m composite exponential signals is represented by a formula of f=[(Pr−Pf)eλ1t+Pf]*(1−eλ2t), where Pr is reservoir pressure, Pf is bottom hole pressure at flowing conditions, λ1 and λ2 are exponential decline rates that are specific to each of the m composite exponential signals, and t is time in seconds. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein performing the curve fitting of the m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data comprises: changing λ1 and λ2 for each of the m composite exponential signals; and taking the maximum value across the m composite exponential signals as combination of the m composite exponential signals at each time instant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein determining the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining that the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs is equal to m. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein determining the respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining, for each of the plurality of contributing ICDs, a respective ratio represented by a formula of ratio i = log ⁢ ( λ 1 ⁢ ICDi ) ∑ log ⁢ ( λ 1 ⁢ ICDi ) , wherein i is a respective index of each of the plurality of contributing ICDs, and wherein when i is less than the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs, the respective ratio represents the respective normalized distance between an ith ICD and an (i+1)th ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein determining the depth of the last ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining a first ICD based on (i) the last ICD and (ii) the determined total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein a depth of an intermediate ICD between the first ICD and the last ICD is determined by a formula of depthintermediateICD=(depthfirstICD−depthlastICD)*ratiointermediateICD+depthpreviousICD, where depthfirstICD represents a depth of the first ICD, depthlastICD represents a depth of the last ICD, ratiointermediateICD represents the respective ratio of the intermediate ICD, and depthpreviousICD represents a depth of an ICD immediately before the intermediate ICD. ### Claim 15 A computer-implemented system, comprising: one or more computers; and one or more computer memory devices interoperably coupled with the one or more computers and having tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media storing one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more computers, perform one or more operations comprising: receiving transient pressure data from a permanent downhole monitoring system (PDHMS) in a wellbore, wherein the transient pressure data is a function of time, wherein a plurality of inflow control devices (ICDs) are installed in the wellbore, wherein the plurality of ICDs include a plurality of contributing ICDs that contribute to fluid flow in the wellbore, and wherein n is a total number of the plurality of ICDs; performing curve fitting of m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data, wherein m is less than or equal to n, and wherein m is determined during the curve fitting; determining, based on a result of performing the curve fitting of the m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data, a total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs in the plurality of ICDs; determining, based on the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs, a respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs; determining a depth of a last ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs based on the determined respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs; determining, based on the determination of the depth of the last ICD, one or more ICDs in the plurality of ICDs that contribute to the fluid flow of the wellbore; and performing production logging operations of the wellbore using the plurality of candidate ICDs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented system according to claim 15, wherein each of the m composite exponential signals is represented by a formula of f=[(Pr−Pf)eλ1t+Pf]*(1−eλ2t), where Pr is reservoir pressure, Pf is bottom hole pressure at flowing conditions, λ1 and λ2 are exponential decline rates that are specific to each of the m composite exponential signals, and t is time in seconds. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-implemented system according to claim 16, wherein performing the curve fitting of the m composite exponential signals to match the transient pressure data comprises: changing λ1 and λ2 for each of the m composite exponential signals; and taking the maximum value across the m composite exponential signals as combination of the m composite exponential signals at each time instant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented system according to claim 15, wherein determining the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining that the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs is equal to m. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented system according to claim 15, wherein determining the respective normalized distance between each pair of adjacent ICDs of the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining, for each of the plurality of contributing ICDs, a respective ratio represented by a formula of ratio i = log ⁢ ( λ 1 ⁢ ICDi ) ∑ log ⁢ ( λ 1 ⁢ ICDi ) , wherein i is a respective index of each of the plurality of contributing ICDs, and wherein when i is less than the total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs, the respective ratio represents the respective normalized distance between an ith ICD and an (i+1)th ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented system according to claim 19, wherein determining the depth of the last ICD in the plurality of contributing ICDs comprises determining a first ICD based on (i) the last ICD and (ii) the determined total number of the plurality of contributing ICDs.