Degradable Diversion Agents for Well Stimulation Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current degradable diversion agents for hydrocarbon well stimulation lack optimization in engineering and geo-mechanical design, leading to inefficient fluid diversion and pressure build-up, as they rely heavily on timely workflows and job-specific data without accurate assessment of downhole conditions.

Innovation Solution

Customized processes using engineered diverting agents with proprietary proportions of analytical and numerical techniques to optimize particle size, shape, concentration, and flow rate, combined with computational fluid dynamics and discrete element methods for precise control of fluid diversion and pressure build-up, ensuring effective sealing and jamming in hydrocarbon production operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If degradable diversion agents are used for fluid diversion, then mechanical intervention is reduced, but diversion efficiency and pressure build-up are insufficient due to lack of optimization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereduction of mechanical interventionVSAvoiddiversion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically optimizing multiple parameters of degradable diversion agents including particle size distribution, concentration, injection rate, and chemical composition. These parameter adjustments enable the diversion agents to achieve both high diversion efficiency and adequate pressure build-up while maintaining the advantage of reduced mechanical intervention through degradable materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by formulating degradable diversion agents as composite systems containing multiple particle sizes, polymers, and additives working together. This composite approach allows the diversion agents to provide effective jamming and sealing while degrading over time, thus improving diversion efficiency without requiring mechanical removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of repair

If degradable diversion agents are used, then removal of diversions is simplified, but accuracy of assessing downhole conditions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval of diversionsVSAvoidassessment of downhole conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms by incorporating real-time monitoring of pressure build-up, flow rate changes, and other downhole parameters during the diversion process. This feedback enables accurate assessment of downhole conditions and diversion effectiveness, allowing operators to adjust injection parameters dynamically while maintaining the ease of removal inherent in degradable agents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If optimization workflows are implemented, then diversion efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediversion efficiencyVSAvoidoptimization workflows

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by conducting extensive pre-job planning and optimization workflows that include reservoir characterization, parameter selection, and simulation modeling before field implementation. This preliminary optimization establishes the optimal diversion agent parameters and injection strategy in advance, improving diversion efficiency while reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making during actual operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The proposed solution enables dynamic creation of strong diversion seals that withstand high pressures and degrade controllably, optimizing fluid diversion efficiency and pressure build-up, thereby enhancing hydrocarbon production and reducing mechanical intervention.

Implementation Method 1

injecting a tracer into the fracturing fluid... the tracer may be transported by the fracturing fluid into the formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdvection: Advection

Implementation Method 2

temporary degradable diversion systems... capable of degrading (e.g., with time) from a solid polymer state into a fluid, such as a clear non-damaging liquid monomer solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition (biological): Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS10597982B2Systems and methods for evaluating and optimizing stimulation efficiency using diverters

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

The disclosure pertains to the determining the efficiency of stimulation operations in a hydrocarbon well. Stimulation is performed in a hydrocarbon well and various data is obtained therefrom. The data is used to develop a simulation of fluid flow in the well and the simulation is used to model a synthetic tracer log, which corresponds to a modeled level of efficiency. Numerous synthetic tracer logs may be generated in this way so that tracer logs are available for a variety of different stimulation efficiencies. In order to determine the efficiency of an actual stimulation, the real tracer log of the stimulated well may be compared to the synthetic tracer logs in search of a match. When the real tracer log matches a synthetic tracer log the modeled efficiency of the synthetic log may be used as the actual or true efficiency of the real well stimulation.