Electro-osmotic Cathode for Formation Damage Remediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drilling and hydraulic fracturing often result in formation damage due to brine invasion, leading to underestimation of hydrocarbon reservoir permeability and reduced hydrocarbon production, as water-based muds invade the formation, impeding hydrocarbon flow and causing errors in permeability evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a cathode to produce a static electric field in the formation, inhibiting water flow from the borehole and reducing water saturation in the invaded zone, thereby increasing hydrocarbon permeability, which includes a bottomhole assembly with a cathode to drill and evaluate earth formations, and a method to estimate permeability using a processor for further reservoir development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water-based drilling mud is used to drill boreholes and conduct hydraulic fracturing, then drilling operations can be performed effectively, but brine invades the formation and causes formation damage that reduces hydrocarbon permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electro-osmosis by introducing an electric field to change the physical parameters of the invaded zone. By applying a direct current between a surface electrode and a downhole electrode, the patent creates electro-osmotic flow that removes brine from the formation, thereby restoring permeability without changing the drilling mud composition or drilling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical removal methods (such as physical cleaning or chemical treatment) with an electric field-based electro-osmotic process. The electric field induces movement of brine through the formation's pore structures, substituting mechanical or chemical intervention with an electromagnetic approach to restore formation permeability
2Ease of operation
If brine invasion is allowed to occur during drilling, then drilling fluid can effectively cool and lubricate the drill bit, but hydrocarbon flow is impeded and permeability measurements become inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electro-osmosis preliminarily during or immediately after drilling operations to prevent permanent formation damage. By removing brine invasion while the formation is still accessible, the patent restores permeability before conducting accurate measurements, ensuring both drilling effectiveness and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses permeability measurements to monitor the effectiveness of electro-osmotic treatment. By measuring permeability before and after applying the electric field, the system provides feedback on whether the brine removal was sufficient, allowing operators to adjust treatment parameters to achieve accurate permeability evaluations
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 method effectively reduces formation damage and improves hydrocarbon permeability by removing water from the invaded zone, providing more accurate permeability measurements and enhancing hydrocarbon flow, thus optimizing reservoir development operations.
Implementation Method 1
A method and apparatus utilize a cathode to produce a static electric field in a formation and remove water from an invaded zone in the formation
Implementation Method 2
A number of downhole devices placed in close proximity to the drill bit measure certain downhole operating parameters associated with the drill string. Such devices typically include sensors for measuring downhole temperature and pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A bottomhole assembly is provided with a cathode. The cathode produces a static field in the earth formation and by the electroosmotic effect, inhibits the invasion of the formation by borehole fluids and reduces formation damage. The cathode also results in improved estimates of formation permeability using flow tests. A cathode on a wireline string may be used to reduce water saturation in an invaded zone near a borehole.