Full-Diameter Well Simulation for Natural Gas Hydrate Exploitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well simulation schemes for natural gas hydrates are limited by small sizes, lack of sand-control simulation, absence of sensors for heated pipe flow and wellbore temperature, and inability to perform tiered drainage, making it difficult to transfer experimental results to practical applications.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for simulating natural gas hydrate exploitation in full-sized production wells, featuring a reactor with a full-diameter well, heating circulation tube, temperature sensor tube, and perforations with sand control units, allowing for horizontal and vertical sand-control experiments and simulating geologically layered structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If small-sized well simulation schemes are used, then experimental cost and complexity are reduced, but the experimental results cannot be transferred to practical applications due to scale differences
Solution Approach 1:
The full-diameter well is divided into multiple sections with different permeability zones simulated by layered porous media. The well structure is segmented into upper and lower sealing units with separate discharge functions. This segmentation allows complex full-scale simulation while maintaining manageable experimental complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a physical copy of actual full-diameter production wells using real well casing and perforation structures. The porous medium and liquid system copies the geological layered structure of hydrate reservoirs. This faithful copying enables direct transfer of experimental results to practical applications.
2Device complexity
If sand-control simulated wells are not included, then the simulation system remains simple, but it cannot assess sand-control screen performance
Solution Approach 1:
The full-diameter well is designed with multi-functionality: it can simulate production flow, sand control, temperature monitoring, and tiered drainage simultaneously. The sand control screen installed in the well serves multiple assessment functions including sand production control and fluid flow regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sand control screen is nested within the full-diameter well structure. The screen is positioned inside the well casing, creating a nested configuration that allows assessment of sand-control performance while maintaining the overall well simulation system.
3Device complexity
If a single simulation well is used, then the experimental setup is simple, but it takes longer to assess multiple sand-control screens
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sand-control screens are assessed within a single well by utilizing the vertical dimension. Different screens can be installed at different depths or positions within the full-diameter well, allowing parallel assessment of multiple screens without requiring multiple separate well simulations.
4Device complexity
If sensors for heated pipe flow and wellbore temperature are not included, then the device structure is simpler, but comprehensive monitoring of exploitation conditions is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors are installed within the full-diameter well to provide real-time feedback on wellbore temperature conditions. This feedback enables monitoring and control of thermal conditions during hydrate exploitation simulation, ensuring accurate representation of actual field conditions.
5Device complexity
If tiered drainage is not designed into the simulation well, then the well structure is simpler, but it cannot simulate multi-level water discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The lower sealing unit incorporates a water discharging passage that enables tiered drainage functionality. The discharge system is segmented to allow controlled water removal at different stages of the simulation process.
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
Enables simulation of sand-control techniques, optimizes well design, and allows evaluation of different sand control screen mesh sizes, with heat control and monitoring, facilitating the transfer of technical solutions to actual natural gas hydrate exploitation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating circulation tube...configured to prevent hydrate formation inside the full-diameter well
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor tube...temperature sensors are provided inside the temperature sensor tube, wherein the temperature sensors are configured to obtain temperature data from inside of the full-diameter well
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for experimental exploitation of natural gas hydrates in full-sized production wells are provided. The device includes a full-diameter well, and the full-diameter well includes a heating circulation tube, a temperature sensor tube, an upper sealing unit and a lower sealing unit. Perforations are provided along a body of the full-diameter well. A reactor includes an upper cover, a lower cover, and a reactor body. The method is conducted by using the device and the reactor. The device and method allow simulation of sand-control wellbores in actual exploitation of natural gas hydrates, and realize horizontal and vertical sand-control experiments.