Chemically Degradable Inflow Control Device for Water Breakthrough
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inflow control devices in well completions fail to autonomously manage water breakthrough and high Gas-Oil Ratio (GOR) events, leading to inefficient hydrocarbon recovery and production issues in reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A chemically degradable inflow control device is introduced, featuring a tubular body with an eccentric portion that includes a chemically degradable component which degrades in the presence of unwanted fluids, activating a sealing mechanism to restrict flow paths and prevent water entry into the wellbore, while allowing hydrocarbon fluids to pass through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional inflow control devices are used, then production control is achieved through manual intervention, but the devices fail to autonomously respond to water breakthrough and high GOR events
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes changes in fluid composition parameters (water breakthrough, high GOR) to trigger autonomous response. The chemically degradable component responds to specific fluid parameters by degrading, which automatically activates the sealing mechanism without requiring manual intervention or complex sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflow control device performs self-service through the chemically degradable component that automatically degrades in response to unwanted fluids, thereby self-activating the sealing mechanism. This eliminates the need for external control systems, sensors, or manual operation, achieving autonomous response while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
2Productivity
If inflow control devices are installed to manage water breakthrough, then hydrocarbon recovery is enhanced, but the devices cannot selectively isolate zones with water breakthrough or high GOR
Solution Approach 1:
The chemically degradable component provides local quality differentiation by responding specifically to unwanted fluids (water, high GOR) in particular zones. This allows selective isolation of zones experiencing water breakthrough or high GOR while maintaining production from zones producing acceptable hydrocarbon fluids, thereby enhancing hydrocarbon recovery through targeted zone management.
3Extent of automation
If chemically degradable components are used to detect unwanted fluids, then autonomous activation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces complex mechanical sensing and actuation systems with a chemically degradable component that automatically responds to fluid composition changes. This chemical mechanism substitutes for elaborate mechanical sensors, processors, and actuators, achieving autonomous activation while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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 device effectively shuts off unwanted fluid production, enhancing hydrocarbon recovery by selectively isolating zones with water breakthrough or high GOR, thereby optimizing well production and reducing pressure drop and sanding issues.
Implementation Method 1
a chemically degradable component which degrades in the presence of unwanted fluids
Implementation Method 2
The hydrophobic material is positioned within the housing... allowing hydrocarbon fluids to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
A chemically-activated inflow control device. The inflow control device comprises a tubular body configured to be connected in series to joints of sand screen in a wellbore. The tubular body forms a bore that receives a slotted base pipe. At the same time, the tubular body is fluidly connected with the sand screen joints, forming an annular flow path between the slotted base pipe and surrounding sand screen. Production fluids moving into the sand screen pass across a component that degrades in the presence of water. If the well begins producing water, the degradable component will dissolve, activating a sealing mechanism within the inflow control device and closing a restricted flow path. In this way, production fluids are not able to travel from the annular flow path into the bore of the slotted base pipe. A method for completing a wellbore having a chemically-activated inflow control device is also provided.