In a long horizontal well, friction along the completion means the heel sees a larger drawdown than the toe, so the heel produces more and waters out first. Where permeability varies along the well, the effect is stronger still. The result is uneven sweep, early breakthrough and unrecovered oil in sections that never produced their share.

Inflow control devices balance this by adding a designed pressure drop at each inflow point, so that flow is distributed more evenly along the completion. Autonomous devices go further and increase resistance when the lower-viscosity phase, typically water or gas, arrives. Interval control valves take the active approach, allowing zones to be choked or shut from surface in response to what downhole gauges show.

These technologies add cost, complexity and failure modes. They need annular isolation to work, they need reliable modelling to be sized correctly, and control lines and valves can fail in wells that cannot be intervened easily. The decision to use them should rest on a clear view of the flow problem, a credible production gain and an honest assessment of reliability. This course covers both the engineering and that judgement.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the flow problems that arise in long horizontal and multi-zone completions.
• Describe the physics and performance characteristics of nozzle, orifice, channel and autonomous inflow control devices.
• Size and place inflow control devices along a completion.
• Specify the annular isolation required for inflow control to work.
• Model inflow control completions and predict production and breakthrough behaviour.
• Describe interval control valve types, actuation and control systems.
• Design intelligent well completions, including gauges, control lines and surface control equipment.
• Plan installation, testing and commissioning of advanced completions.
• Assess reliability, failure modes and the value case for advanced completion technology.

The course is instructor-led. Device physics is explained from first principles and applied through sizing and placement examples. Modelling of inflow control and intelligent completions is taught conceptually, with emphasis on the input data and assumptions that drive results. Field cases cover installations that worked, installations that failed and what was learned. Participants are encouraged to bring their own well conditions for discussion.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Improve sweep and delay water and gas breakthrough in long horizontal wells.
• Base advanced completion decisions on quantified value rather than technology preference.
• Reduce failures through better specification, installation and testing.
• Improve reservoir management through downhole monitoring and zonal control.
• Build consistent design and evaluation practice for advanced completions.

Participants will:

• Understand how inflow control devices and interval control valves work.
• Be able to size and place devices along a completion.
• Understand the modelling behind advanced completion design.
• Know the reliability issues and how to manage them.
• Be able to judge when advanced completions are justified.

• Completion engineers
• Production engineers
• Reservoir engineers working on horizontal and multi-zone wells
• Well engineering and project engineers
• Field development engineers
• Operations engineers responsible for intelligent wells

Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.

Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.