Downhole Injector Insert Apparatus for Heavy Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial lift methods, such as gas lift, are ineffective for heavy oil recovery as they disrupt the thermal steam process, requiring major interventions and reducing oil production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An injector insert apparatus with an annular chamber and orifice system is integrated into a downhole system, allowing for the delivery of high-velocity thermal gas medium to inject into the oil flow, acting as a downhole jet pump to enhance oil production without major workovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas lift is used to increase oil flow rate, then head losses are decreased, but the thermal steam process is disrupted and oil viscosity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thermally insulated gas lift line acts as an intermediary conduit that allows gas injection while preventing thermal energy loss from the steam process, thus maintaining oil temperature despite gas injection
Solution Approach 2:
The gas lift injection point is extracted and separated from the main steam injection system, allowing independent control of gas injection while preserving the thermal steam process integrity
2Productivity
If steam injection is performed to reduce oil viscosity, then oil can be pumped out, but major intervention or workover is required
Solution Approach 1:
The completion is designed to perform multiple functions - both steam injection for thermal recovery and gas lift for artificial lift - eliminating the need for workover to switch between modes
Solution Approach 2:
The steam injection system and gas lift system are merged into a single completion configuration, allowing both processes to occur simultaneously through the same wellbore without requiring intervention
3Stress or pressure
If gas is injected to decrease fluid density, then pressure at well bottom is reduced, but thermal benefits are negated
Solution Approach 1:
A thermally insulated gas lift line acts as an intermediary conduit that allows gas injection while preventing thermal energy loss from the steam process, thus maintaining oil temperature despite gas injection
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 solution increases oil production efficiency by transferring momentum to the oil, reducing static pressure, and allowing continuous operation of the well without major interventions, thereby reducing costs and maintaining production.
Implementation Method 1
injecting a high velocity thermal gas medium... transferring momentum to the oil
Implementation Method 2
acting as a downhole jet pump to enhance oil production
Implementation Method 3
reducing static pressure, and allowing continuous operation
Data Source
AI summary
An injector insert apparatus includes a body that has an inner oil passage that is configured and arranged to allow oil to pass therethrough. The body further has an annular chamber formed around the inner oil passage. The annular chamber has a chamber opening that is configured to be coupled to receive a flow of thermal gas medium. The body also has at least one injector orifice that provides a passage between the annular chamber and the inner oil passage. The at least one injector orifice is configured to inject the thermal gas medium into oil passing through the inner oil passage.