Explosive-free Perforation for Selective Water Shut-off in ICD Wells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrocarbon wellbore production, water influx from high-permeable zones reduces hydrocarbon production rates, and existing mechanical and chemical water shut-off methods are ineffective or impractical due to the small openings of passive Inflow Control Devices (ICDs), leading to limited duration and inefficiency in water isolation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an explosive-free perforation tool to create larger openings in the production string and passive ICDs within wet intervals, allowing for the injection of sealing compositions into the annulus and subterranean formation, which are then cured to prevent water flow, thereby restoring hydrocarbon production while maintaining well integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If chemical water shut off techniques are used to increase the lifespan of water shut off installation, then the duration of water isolation is improved, but the implementation becomes challenging and impractical due to small ICD openings
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the water shut off process into two distinct phases: first creating larger access openings in the production string using an explosive-free perforation tool, then injecting sealing composition through these new openings into the annulus and formation. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, resolving the contradiction between duration improvement and implementation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The explosive-free perforation tool acts as an intermediary device that creates intermediate openings (larger than the original ICD nozzles) through which the sealing composition can be injected. These intermediate openings serve as a mediator between the injection equipment and the formation, enabling chemical water shut off implementation that would otherwise be impossible through the small ICD openings.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical water shut off techniques are used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the duration of water isolation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The solution merges the simplicity of mechanical water shut off techniques with the extended duration benefits of chemical water shut off techniques. The explosive-free perforation tool provides mechanical ease of operation, while the subsequently injected sealing composition provides long-term isolation duration, combining the advantages of both approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The explosive-free perforation tool performs a preliminary action by creating larger openings in the production string before chemical injection. This preliminary mechanical action prepares the system for the subsequent chemical water shut off, enabling the chemical treatment to be implemented easily and effectively, thereby extending the duration of water isolation while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If larger openings are created in the production string, then the ease of injection of sealing composition is improved, but the wellbore structure may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive-free perforation tool creates localized, temporary openings in the production string that are sufficient for the duration of the sealing composition injection. These openings serve their purpose during the treatment process and are acceptable as temporary modifications, enabling easy injection without compromising long-term wellbore integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the parameter of opening size locally and temporarily in the production string using the explosive-free perforation tool. By creating larger openings only where and when needed for sealing composition injection, the method enables easy injection while maintaining the overall integrity and reliability of the wellbore structure throughout the rest of the system.
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 enables safe and integral chemical water shut-off of wet intervals, prolongs well lifespan, maximizes oil recovery, and reduces water production, allowing continued hydrocarbon production without requiring a drilling rig, thus reducing costs and extending the well's high production plateau.
Implementation Method 1
perforating the wet interval portion of the production string with an explosive-free perforation tool to produce a plurality of openings in the production string
Implementation Method 2
injecting a sealing composition through the plurality of openings into an annulus in the wellbore in the wet interval
Implementation Method 3
curing the sealing composition in the annulus of the wellbore in the wet interval
Data Source
AI summary
A method for shutting off a wet interval of a wellbore includes producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation through a production string installed in the wellbore, identifying the wet interval of the wellbore, perforating the production string in the wet interval using an explosive-free punch tool to produce a plurality of openings in the production string, isolating the production string in the wet interval, treating the wet interval with a sealing composition injected through the plurality of openings into an annulus of the wellbore in the wet interval, and restoring a fluid flow path through the production string in the wet interval. The restored fluid flow path through the wet interval enables continued production of hydrocarbons from downhole intervals, while the sealing composition cured in the annulus provides a barrier to prevent fluid flow from the wet interval into the production string.