Spiral Groove ICD
The original inflow control device
These ICDs were the first inflow control technology to reach the market, a significant milestone in the evolution of well completions. Introduced in the early 1990s, they were first implemented on the Troll field in the North Sea by Norsk Hydro engineers, including Flowpro Dynamics founder Kristian Brekke.
They utilise a spiral-shaped flow path to create a controlled pressure drop between the annulus and the base pipe, effectively balancing inflow along the length of the wellbore.
This innovation addressed critical challenges in horizontal and multilateral wells, such as uneven drainage due to frictional pressure losses and high-permeability zones dominating production. By delaying water and gas breakthrough through more uniform reservoir drainage, ICDs demonstrated the value of inflow control and laid the foundation for more advanced designs.
Key characteristics
Simulated in Insight
Insight models this device type in full, including annulus phase segregation and valve interaction effects that standard simulators cannot capture.
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