Conformance Control Through Stimulus-Responsive Materials

a technology of conformance control and materials, applied in the direction of drinking water installation, borehole/well accessories, construction, etc., can solve the problems of fewer wells being operated, increasing the cost of individual wells, and challenging the production of hydrocarbons from some subterranean formations

a technology of conformance control and materials, applied in the direction of drinking water installation, borehole/well accessories, construction, etc., can solve the problems of fewer wells being operated, increasing the cost of individual wells, and challenging the production of hydrocarbons from some subterranean formations

US20100038086A1Inactive Publication Date: 2010-02-18EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RES CO
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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

example 1

[0059]This exemplary embodiment is based on the concept of diverting flow from “normal” radial flow (from the sand face, through the gravel pack, through the screen) where pressure drops are small, to a restricted linear flow path through the annular space outside the screen where the pressure drops are much larger, which may be further explained with reference to FIG. 7. This embodiment entails a method for isolating flow paths in both the sand face or casing-by-gravel pack screen annulus and the gravel pack screen-by-base pipe annulus. Blocking either of these annuli allows control of the production (or injection) profile using plugs and / or straddle packers in the base pipe's inner diameter (ID). The present methods for blocking the flow paths include filling the spaces with consolidated sand composites (containing some fraction of stimulus-responsive polymer beads or gravel coated with stimulus-responsive polymer) or other fluid (hydrocarbon or water) sensitive materials designed...

example 2

[0060]An alternate exemplary embodiment includes pumping a pack of particulate solids, a first portion of which comprises a particulate coated with a polymer that swells in the presence of formation water, and a second portion of which comprises a particulate coated with a polymer that “shrinks” when contacted with crude oil. This “double acting” gravel pack may improve permeability in the areas of the wellbore that produced oil and reduce permeability in the areas of the well bore that produced water.

[0061]The exemplary embodiments described in Examples 1 and 2 may be utilized in any gravel pack application where gravel is tightly packed and the gravel pack is substantially free of voids. The elimination of voids in the gravel pack or addition of stimulus-responsive particles that swell in the presence of water eliminate unrestricted annular flow paths by ensuring that flow is forced through low permeability gravel packs. The flow rate is then controlled by the length of the flow p...

example 3

Natural Sand Packs (NSP)

[0075]In an alternative example, sand control screens may also be installed without a gravel pack. In these installations, unconsolidated sand from the formation fills in the annular space as the well is produced over time. The present techniques may be utilized in a manner similar to the discussion above, to control inflow profiles as long as the natural sand pack is free of voids (i.e., has sufficiently low permeability) between the installation of stimulus-responsive particles or materials according to the present techniques and the interval where profile control is beneficial.[0076]B) Water or Gas Shut-Off via Completion Design: Stimulus-Responsive Coatings.

[0077]In these examples, water or gas ingress may be expected during the operation of the well prior to the installation of the completion. These examples may also be applicable for natural sand pack, open-hole gravel pack or cased-hole gravel pack completion type.

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Abstract

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 rust 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

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 772,087, filed 10 Feb. 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates generally to managing sand, water, and hydrocarbon production from a wellbore. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to the application of stimulus-responsive materials for controlling production and injection profiles in wellbores, commonly known as “conformance control.”[0004]2. Discussion of Background Information[0005]This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present techniques. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions o...

Claims

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Application Information

Patent Timeline
18 Feb 2010
Publication
US20100038086A1
IPC
E21B43/267; E21B43/04; E21B43/26
CPC
C09K8/5083; C09K8/512; C09K8/5751; C09K8/5756; E21B43/32; C09K8/88; C09K8/887; E21B43/04
Inventors
BUNNELL, FRANZ D.; CLINGMAN, SCOTT R.