Artificial Produced Water Filtration for Sandface Plugging Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating sandface plugging in produced water re-injection wells are inaccurate due to the impracticality of laboratory-scale filtration experiments with treated produced water, leading to uncertainties in fracture length predictions and potential loss of injectivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of artificial produced water with increased concentrations of solids and oil, allowing for laboratory-scale filtration testing to determine the areal spurt loss coefficient and Carter's leak-off coefficient, which are then used to evaluate sandface plugging over time and specify treatment facility specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If produced water is re-injected to improve oil recovery and provide environmental benefits, then oil recovery factor increases and environmental benefits are achieved, but sandface plugging occurs due to solids and oil in the produced water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting laboratory-scale filtration experiments before field injection to evaluate sandface plugging characteristics. The method determines areal spurt loss coefficient and Carter's leak-off coefficient through preliminary testing, allowing optimization of injection parameters and treatment facility specifications before actual re-injection operations begin, thereby preventing injectivity loss while maintaining recovery benefits
2Reliability
If produced water is treated to remove oil droplets and solid particles to prevent sandface plugging, then injectivity is maintained, but treatment facility complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by determining specific treatment facility specifications based on evaluated sandface plugging characteristics. The method calculates required removal efficiencies for oil droplets and solid particles, and specifies appropriate treatment technologies (such as hydrocyclones, centrifuges, or filtration systems) based on the determined areal spurt loss coefficient and Carter's leak-off coefficient, optimizing treatment complexity to match actual field requirements rather than using overly complex systems
3Measurement precision
If laboratory-scale filtration experiments are conducted with treated produced water to evaluate sandface plugging, then accurate evaluation is achieved, but the experiments become impractical due to space and weight limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing laboratory experiments on measuring specific local parameters (areal spurt loss coefficient and Carter's leak-off coefficient) rather than attempting to replicate entire field conditions. The method uses laboratory-scale filtration to determine these localized plugging characteristics, which can then be scaled to predict field performance, making experiments feasible within laboratory constraints while maintaining evaluation accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables more accurate evaluation of sandface plugging and maintains injectivity by determining optimal pump capacities and fracture extensions, ensuring efficient and cost-effective well injection programs.
Implementation Method 1
measurement of cumulative volume filtrated through a filtration medium with respect to time
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a well injection program in which an evaluation of plugging of the sandface over time is included to more accurately determine the water treatment facility specifications and well injection parameters for a produced water re-injection well. An artificial produced water is provided which includes both water wet solids and oil wet solids being representative of the treated produced water to be injected, at solids and oil content concentrations magnitudes of order greater than the treated produced water. This allows filtration testing on small injected volumes suitable for standard laboratory equipment. The areal spurt loss and Carter's Leak-Off coefficient are then determinable for use in evaluating the plugging of the sandface over time.