Deviated Wellbore Drilling Through Impermeable Strata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy oil and bitumen extraction is hindered by impermeable layers that compartmentalize reservoirs, limiting the effectiveness of recovery methods like cyclic steam stimulation and steam assisted gravity drainage, as these methods rely on vertical fluid flow which is obstructed by such layers.
Innovation Solution
Drilling deviated production wellbores that traverse impermeable layers to establish fluid communication between stratified reservoirs, allowing for horizontal fluid flow and enabling recovery from multiple reservoirs separated by less permeable strata.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vertical wells are used to contact stratified reservoirs, then contact with each reservoir is achieved, but production rates are not economic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical wellbores to horizontal wellbores, changing the spatial dimension of production. Horizontal wellbores expose a larger areal extent of the reservoir to the wellbore, enabling recovery corresponding to the areal extent rather than limited vertical contact, thereby increasing production rates while maintaining contact with multiple reservoirs
2Productivity
If horizontal wells are used to expose areal extent of reservoir, then recovery corresponding to areal extent is enabled, but impermeable layers still isolate reservoirs and limit economic production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces drilled bores as intermediary structures that penetrate through impermeable layers. These bores create artificial fluid communication pathways between stratified reservoirs, allowing injectants and produced fluids to traverse across the impermeable layers and connect multiple reservoirs, thereby overcoming the isolation problem while maintaining horizontal well productivity
3Stability of the object's composition
If impermeable layers are present in the formation, then reservoir compartmentalization is achieved, but recovery processes like CSS, SAGD, VAPEX, and ISC are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses drilled bores as intermediary pathways that cut through impermeable layers, enabling fluid communication between previously isolated reservoirs. This allows recovery processes such as cyclic steam stimulation, steam assisted gravity drainage, vapor extraction, and in-situ combustion to operate across multiple stratified reservoirs, thereby increasing productivity while preserving the natural compartmentalization structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates vertical fluid communication pathways through the impermeable layers via drilled bores, adding a vertical dimension to fluid flow that complements the horizontal wellbores. This multi-dimensional flow pathway enables recovery processes to access multiple reservoirs simultaneously, overcoming the limitations imposed by impermeable layer compartmentalization
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 enhances hydrocarbon recovery by creating fluid flow paths through impermeable layers, facilitating gravity drainage and injection processes, thereby increasing the economic viability of hydrocarbon production from formations with vertically separated reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
Gravity drainage of the reservoirs once the products are made mobile relies on ability to have vertical fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
the traversing at least one of the impermeable layers by the conditioning wellbore permits fluid communication of the stratified reservoirs separated by the impermeable layer
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons from within formations in which hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs are separated from one another by a fluid flow obstructing natural stratum. Relative to the reservoirs, the stratum inhibits or blocks vertical fluid flow within the formation. Drilled bores arranged to intersect the stratum provide an array of fluid flow paths through the stratum. Fluid communication established by the drilled bores enables production utilizing a producer borehole deviated from vertical and processes that rely on techniques such as gravity drainage through the fluid flow paths and/or injection through the fluid flow paths.