Downhole Perturbation Device for Turbulent Flow Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oil and gas wells face increasing water production, leading to higher water cut ratios, which reduces the economic viability of wells and incurs significant disposal costs. Existing methods for reducing water cut, such as surface separation, are inefficient and environmentally costly.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multilateral well system with downhole fluid separation, where a perturbation device creates laminar flow to facilitate efficient separation of oil and water downhole, allowing for the reinjection of separated water into the subsurface formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If surface separation is used to separate water from hydrocarbons, then water cut reduction is achieved, but energy consumption and disposal costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing water separation downhole before the fluids reach the surface. The separation device is installed in the production tubing downhole, where it separates water from hydrocarbon phases in-situ. This preliminary separation prevents water from being lifted to the surface, thereby reducing the energy required for water disposal and eliminating the need for surface separation facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary substance (surfactant or polymer) injected into the formation to modify the wettability of the rock and reduce capillary forces. This intermediary agent enables water to be separated more easily from the hydrocarbon phase by reducing the adhesion between water and the rock matrix, facilitating downhole separation without requiring high energy input.
2Loss of substance
If downhole separation is implemented, then water cut reduction and disposal cost decrease are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the separation function into distinct components: a separation device with multiple chambers or zones that handle different separation mechanisms (gravity separation, capillary separation, or centrifugal separation). This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific separation function, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable while achieving effective water cut reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation device is designed to operate autonomously using the natural properties of the fluids and formation conditions. It utilizes gravity, pressure differentials, and capillary forces inherent in the downhole environment to separate water from hydrocarbons without requiring external power sources or complex control systems, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Productivity
If multilateral wells are drilled to increase productive zone intersection, then productivity increases, but drilling and completion costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal separation device that can be installed in either vertical or lateral wellbores of a multilateral system. The same downhole separation technology serves multiple functions: it separates water in the main vertical well and can also be deployed in lateral branches. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle water production from multiple productive zones through a single standardized device design, reducing overall completion costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the water separation function with the existing production tubing and well completion structure. The separation device is integrated into the production tubing string, combining multiple functions (production flow, water separation, and fluid re-injection) into a single integrated system. This merging eliminates the need for separate surface separation facilities and reduces the number of discrete components required in multilateral well completions.
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 increases the value of produced fluids by reducing water cut, decreases disposal costs, and enhances environmental sustainability by minimizing the need for surface water disposal and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a perturbation device creates laminar flow to facilitate efficient separation of oil and water downhole
Implementation Method 2
a fluid separator configured to be disposed in the borehole and configured to separate the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations may include a downhole oil-water separation (DOWS) system configured to be positioned downhole in a well. The DOWS system may include a perturbation device configured to be positioned in a borehole of the well and configured to perturb a fluid having turbulent flow to collapse the turbulent flow to a laminar flow, and a fluid separator configured to be disposed in the borehole and configured to separate the fluid.