Conformance control through stimulus-responsive materials

A technology of flow control and flow, which is applied in the field of "spread control" and can solve problems such as not being disclosed

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-09-09
EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RES CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, there is no disclosure of materials that swell when acted upon by other media, coating well tools with such polymers, reversing the swelling process, or intentionally shrinking particles for water surge purposes

Method used

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  • Conformance control through stimulus-responsive materials
  • Conformance control through stimulus-responsive materials
  • Conformance control through stimulus-responsive materials

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment 1

[0059] [0041] The exemplary embodiment is based on the concept of diverting the flow from "normal" radial flow with low pressure drop (from the surface of the drilled production zone, through the gravel pack, through the screen) to high pressure drop much more restrictive linear flow path through the screen outer annulus, which can be referred to Figure 7 was further explained. This embodiment requires a method of placing the sand face or casing-by-gravel packscreen annulus and gravel-packed screen-by-gravel packscreen annulus in the drilled production zone. packscreen-by-base pipe annulus) The flow path separation between the two. Blocking any of these annulus allows the use of plugs and / or straddle packers within the basepipe's inner diameter (ID) to control the production (or injection) profile. This method of blocking the flow path involves the use of consolidated sand composites (comprising a fraction of stimuli-responsive polymer beads or gravel coated with stimuli-re...

Embodiment 2

[0061] [0042] An alternative illustrative embodiment includes pumping a plurality of particulate solids, wherein a first portion comprises particles coated with a polymer that swells in the presence of formation water, and wherein a second portion comprises particles coated with "Shrink" the particles of the polymer. This "dual-action" gravel pack can increase permeability in oil-producing wellbore regions and decrease permeability in water-producing wellbore regions.

[0062] [0043] The exemplary embodiments described in Examples 1 and 2 may be used in any gravel pack application where the gravel is tightly packed and the gravel pack is substantially free of voids. Eliminating voids in gravel packs or adding excitation-responsive particles that swell in the presence of water eliminates unrestricted annular flow paths by ensuring flow is forced through low-permeability gravel packs. The flow velocity is then controlled by the length of the flow path, the permeability of the g...

Embodiment 3

[0076] Example 3 : Natural sand filling (NSP)

[0077] [0053] In an alternative embodiment, the sand control screen may also be installed without a gravel pack. In these installations, over time, unconsolidated sand from the formation fills the annulus as the well produces. This technique can be used to control inflow profiles in a manner similar to that discussed above, as long as the natural sand fill has no voids between installation of exciter-responsive particles or materials according to the technique and intervals where profile control is beneficial.

[0078] B) Sealing of water or gas by well completion design: excitation-responsive coatings

[0079] [0054] In these embodiments, water or gas ingress is expected during well operation prior to completion installation. These embodiments may also be used for natural sand-pack completion types, open hole gravel-pack completion types, or cased hole gravel-pack completion types.

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PUM

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Abstract

The name of the invention is conformance control through Stimulus-presponsive materials. The present invention describes a method, apparatus and production well system that utilize stimulus- responsive materials for 'conformance control' and profile control along the fluid flow path in a well as part of a gravel pack or a coating on a well tool. The stimulus- responsive materials are also known as intelligent or smart polymers and are typically polymeric materials that reversibly or irreversibly swell or collapse in the presence of stimulus such as changes in concentration of a fluid media in contact with the stimulus-responsive material, pH or polarity of the media the stimulus-responsive material is in contact with, salinity, current; or temperature. The stimulus-responsive materials may swell upon contact with a first stimulus and shrink or collapse upon contact with a second stimulus or vice-versa. The changes between production and injection profiles may be automatic with the application of the stimulus-responsive materials and may occur without user intervention.

Description

[0001] Related Application Cross Reference [0002] [0001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 60 / 772,087, filed February 10, 2006. technical field [0003] [0002] The present invention generally relates to controlling the production of sand, water and hydrocarbons from a wellbore. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to the application of stimulus-responsive materials to control the production and injection profiles in a wellbore, commonly referred to as "conformance control." Background technique [0004] [0003] This section is intended to introduce various aspects of art, which may be related to the exemplary embodiments of the technology. This discussion is believed to help provide a framework within which specific aspects of the technology can be better understood. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section is to be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art. [000...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): E21B43/04
CPCC09K8/5751C09K8/88C09K8/887C09K8/5083E21B43/32E21B43/04C09K8/80C09K8/5756C09K8/512
Inventor D·L·耶格F·D·布内尔S·R·克林曼D·H·克P·Y·黄
Owner EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RES CO
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