Degradable Plugs for High Flow Screen Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oil and gas operations, existing completion systems face challenges such as fluid communication issues during installation, erosion of screens, and clogging due to excessive fluid velocity and formation fines, which hinder efficient well completion and production.
Innovation Solution
A high flow screen system with degradable plugs is introduced, where the plugs form a fluid and pressure tight seal during installation and degrade at an appropriate time to allow fluid flow, reducing the risk of screen erosion and clogging by controlling fluid velocity and preventing the washout of proppant and fines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If degradable plugs are used to seal openings during installation, then fluid communication is prevented during installation, but fluid flow is blocked until the plugs degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The degradable plugs are pre-installed in the openings before the filter assembly is positioned in the wellbore. This preliminary action ensures that the openings are sealed during installation and transport, preventing fluid communication at the wrong time. The plugs are designed to degrade automatically under downhole conditions, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring timely fluid flow establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The plugs are made of degradable material that changes its physical or chemical parameters under specific downhole conditions (such as exposure to formation fluids, temperature, or pressure). This parameter change causes the plugs to transition from a sealed state during installation to a degraded state that allows fluid flow, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining seals during installation and enabling flow during production.
2Productivity
If high velocity fluid flow is allowed through the screen, then production efficiency is improved, but screen erosion and clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The degradable plugs are installed beforehand to control and regulate fluid flow through the screen. By preventing high-velocity flow during critical installation and gravel packing operations, the plugs protect the screen from erosion. After the plugs degrade, controlled fluid flow is established that maintains productivity while minimizing erosive forces on the screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The plugs serve as a protective cushion that absorbs the harmful effects of high-velocity fluid flow before it can damage the screen. During installation and gravel packing, the plugs cushion against erosive forces. Once they degrade, the screen is already protected by the established gravel pack, providing ongoing cushioning against fluid flow while maintaining production efficiency.
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 system enhances the efficiency of well completion and production by ensuring proper fluid communication and minimizing screen damage and clogging, thereby maintaining the integrity of the filter assembly and preventing debris entry into the completion string.
Implementation Method 1
the plugs are adapted to degrade when exposed to a downhole fluid so that fluid flow is permitted through the plurality of openings
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method according to which a zone of a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation is completed. The apparatus includes a flow joint including a first internal flow passage, and a plurality of openings formed radially therethrough, a plurality of plugs disposed within the plurality of openings to form a fluid and pressure tight seal with the flow joint, thus impeding fluid flow through the plurality of openings, and a screen disposed exteriorly about the flow joint and axially along the plurality of openings, and thus also along the plurality of plugs, wherein, when the plurality of plugs are exposed to a downhole fluid, the plurality of plugs are adapted to degrade so that fluid flow is permitted through the plurality of openings. The plurality of plugs may include protective layers adapted to be damaged or removed to expose the plurality of plugs to the downhole fluid.