Fluid Injection System Polymer Degradation Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chemical injection systems often cause degradation of polymers due to shear and acceleration forces when injecting polymers into wells, leading to reduced viscosity and effectiveness of the polymer-water mixture.

Innovation Solution

The system injects polymers in an incompletely inverted state through a choke valve, allowing for gradual inversion and mixing with water, reducing exposure to high pressure drops and shear forces, thereby minimizing polymer degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polymers are injected through a choke valve to deliver chemicals into wells, then the polymer can be delivered to the wellbore, but shear and acceleration forces cause polymer degradation and reduced viscosity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymer delivery to wellboreVSAvoidpolymer viscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The injection system is divided into multiple independent injection lines (first injection line for polymer, second injection line for water) that merge at the choke valve. This segmentation allows the polymer to be injected separately from water, enabling gradual mixing after the choke valve rather than before, thereby reducing shear forces on the polymer during injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer is injected in an incompletely inverted state through the choke valve before complete mixing with water occurs. This preliminary injection approach allows the polymer to bypass the high-shear zone of the choke valve in its original formulation state, preserving its viscosity and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If polymers are completely inverted and mixed with water before injection, then homogeneous polymer-water mixture is achieved, but polymer degradation increases due to exposure to shear forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymer-water mixture homogeneityVSAvoidpolymer degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conventional approach is inverted: instead of mixing polymer and water completely before injection through the choke valve, the system injects them separately and allows mixing to occur after the choke valve. This reverse approach eliminates exposure of the inverted polymer to high shear forces during the critical injection phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The choke valve serves as an intermediary device that receives separately injected polymer and water streams and facilitates their mixing downstream. This intermediary function allows the polymer to be delivered in a protected state while still achieving the necessary mixing for effective treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If polymer is exposed to high pressure drops across the choke valve, then injection into the well is achieved, but polymer degradation and loss of effectiveness occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymer injection into wellVSAvoidpolymer effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The injection system segments the polymer and water delivery into separate lines that converge at the choke valve. This segmentation ensures that the polymer experiences minimal shear and pressure drop exposure during injection, preserving its effectiveness while still achieving delivery into the wellbore.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 maintains the viscosity and effectiveness of the polymer-water mixture by reducing polymer degradation, ensuring improved flow and performance in mineral formations.

Implementation Method 1

Chemical injection systems often cause degradation of polymers due to shear and acceleration forces when injecting polymers into wells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear forces: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 2

Chemical injection systems often cause degradation of polymers due to shear and acceleration forces when injecting polymers into wells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration forces: Inertia

Implementation Method 3

The choke valve subjects the mixture to large pressure changes, shear forces, and/or acceleration forces, and thus, such fluid injection systems may cause degradation of the polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentUS10190383B2System and method for fluid injection

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 CAMERSON INT CORP

AI summary

A fluid injection system includes a choke valve having at least one inlet. The system also includes a water injection line extending between a water supply and the choke valve, and the water injection line is configured to flow water from the water supply into a first inlet of the at least one inlet of the choke valve. The system also includes a polymer injection line extending from a polymer supply toward the choke valve, and the polymer injection line is configured to flow a polymer in a substantially non-inverted state from the polymer supply toward the choke valve. The choke valve is configured to receive the water and the polymer and to facilitate inversion of the polymer as the water and the polymer flow through the choke valve.