Distributed Fluid Injection System for Horizontal Wellbores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid injection systems for horizontal wellbore sections are inadequate for longer sections, as they fail to treat large portions of formation fluids, leading to issues with production tubing that may require multiple clean-out operations.
Innovation Solution
A downhole fluid injection system comprising a first fluid line connected to a fluid source and extendable along a wellbore portion, with a second fluid line extending at an angle and featuring a plurality of fluid injectors along its intermediate section, allowing for comprehensive chemical injection from the heel to the toe portion of the horizontal section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If chemical injection is performed at the heel portion of the horizontal section, then the injection system is easy to withdraw, but large portions of formation fluids remain untreated in longer horizontal sections
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid injection system is segmented into multiple sections with injectors distributed at different locations along the horizontal section. Instead of a single injection point at the heel, the system divides the injection function across multiple segments (first fluid line and second fluid line with intermediate sections), allowing chemicals to be delivered to both heel and toe portions of the horizontal wellbore.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system transitions from a single-point injection approach to a distributed multi-point injection approach along the horizontal dimension. The second fluid line extends at an angle relative to the first fluid line, creating a spatial distribution of injectors that covers the entire horizontal section from heel to toe, effectively adding a longitudinal dimension to the injection coverage.
2Device complexity
If a single point injection system is used, then the device complexity is low, but multiple clean out operations are required for production tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The injection system is divided into multiple functional segments with distributed injectors along the horizontal section. This segmentation allows chemicals to be injected at multiple locations simultaneously, providing comprehensive treatment of formation fluids throughout the wellbore, thereby preventing issues that would require cleanout operations and maintaining continuous productivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If chemical injection is limited to heel portion, then the injection system is simple to implement, but treatment coverage is insufficient for longer horizontal sections
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends treatment coverage by introducing a second fluid line that branches at an angle from the first fluid line, creating a two-dimensional distribution network. This dimensional expansion allows injectors to be positioned along the entire length of the horizontal section, significantly increasing the treatment coverage area from a single point to the full horizontal extent of the wellbore.
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole fluid injection system comprising: a first fluid line including a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the first end being connected to a fluid source, the first fluid line being extendable along a first portion of a wellbore; and a second fluid line including a first end section, a second end section, and an intermediate section, the second fluid line being extendable along a second portion of the wellbore that extends at an angle relative to the first portion and includes a plurality of fluid injectors arranged along the intermediate section.