Caprock breach determination technique
Inactive Publication Date: 2017-01-12
SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP
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- Application Information
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Benefits of technology
The patent describes a method and system for detecting when fluid is injected into an oil well and reaches the cap rock, which is the layer of rock that surrounds the well. This is important because it can help to prevent damage to the environment and to the oil well. The method involves using sensors placed near the cap rock to monitor changes in temperature during the injection. The system includes a control unit that analyzes these temperature changes to alert when there is a sudden and significant increase, which indicates that the fluid has reached the cap rock and caused a breach. The patent has various possible combinations of sensors and control units that can be used, and these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this patent as defined in the claims.
Problems solved by technology
Exploring, drilling, and completing hydrocarbon wells are generally complicated, time consuming, and ultimately very expensive endeavors.
Thus, maximizing recovery is a significant concern in any well operation.
However, others may be injection wells that do not “produce”.
Unfortunately, adding pressure to the reservoir as described above may involve a delicate balance that is often a challenge to tightly maintain.
For example, in circumstances where injection wells unintentionally overpressure the reservoir, the cap rock which isolates the underlying reservoir may be prone to becoming damaged.
On the other hand, too little pressure in the reservoir may also damage the cap rock in circumstances where the depleting reservoir is no longer able to support the cap rock.
In either circumstance, a damaged cap rock may have significantly adverse effects on the recovery efforts undertaken by the production wells.
Damage to the cap rock in the form of cracking means that water injected into the reservoir by injection wells is able to migrate beyond the intended reservoir target or “out of zone”.
At a minimum, injection fluids that migrate out of zone are unable to help enhance recovery efforts in the manner detailed above.
Worse, however, is the possibility that the cracked cap rock may damage the reservoir, for example, upon collapse of the cap rock.
In fact, this may even result in total loss of control over reservoir control.
That is, the migration of injection fluids across the damaged cap rock may be indicative of the catastrophic circumstance of cap rock inability to adequately retain other fluids as well, such as the targeted reservoir fluids.
Thus, production from the entire oilfield may be at risk.
As with most other potentially hazardous issues, the earlier the detection, the more likely it is that damage may be kept to a minimum.
Unfortunately, there is a significant time lag between the time of injection and the corresponding reservoir pressure.
Indeed, it may take months before OOZI is actually detected in this manner.
By this time, the opportunity to prevent significant, if not catastrophic, damage to the cap rock may no longer be available.
Furthermore, even if detected in time, where several injection wells are utilized, the specific location of the injection well and corresponding cap rock damage may remain unknown.
Of course, this means that the full degree of potential injection pressure is not utilized.
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[0022]In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the system and / or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.
[0023]In the specification and appended claims: the terms “connect”, “connection”, “connected”, “in connection with”, and “connecting” are used to mean “in direct connection with” or “in connection with via one or more elements”; and the term “set” is used to mean “one element” or “more than one element”. Further, the terms “couple”, “coupling”, “coupled”, “coupled together”, and “coupled with” are used to mean “directly coupled together” or “coupled together via one or more elements”. As used herein, the terms “up” and “down”, “upper” and “lower”, “upwardly” and downwardly”, “upstream” and “downstream”; “above”...
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A technique for determination of out of zone injection. The technique may include taking temperature readings of the well at locations adjacent the cap rock during injection of injection fluid into the injection well at temperatures that are below that of the cap rock. Analysis of the rate of change in temperatures adjacent the cap rock may be used to monitoring effects of the injection application including deciphering cap rock breach of injection fluid when the rate of change substantial enough.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 189,006, which was filed on Jul. 6, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]Field[0003]The present disclosure relates to techniques for completing a reservoir. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to tools and methods for intelligent completions and monitoring systems.[0004]Description of the Related Art[0005]Exploring, drilling, and completing hydrocarbon wells are generally complicated, time consuming, and ultimately very expensive endeavors. Thus, maximizing recovery is a significant concern in any well operation. Along these lines, over the years, wells have tended to become deeper and deeper, perhaps exceeding 30,000 feet in depth, and of fairly sophisticated architecture to help ensure greater access to the reservoir. Similarly, increased attention has also been paid to monitoring and maintaining the...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): E21B47/10E21B47/06E21B43/20
CPCE21B47/1005E21B47/065E21B43/20E21B47/07E21B47/103
InventorMANIN, YVESLOVELL, JOHN
OwnerSCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP