Gel Barrier Wellbore Zone Isolation Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrocarbon recovery methods involving wellbore drilling require multiple trips and high rig time expenses due to the need for isolating and fracturing multiple zones in a wellbore annulus, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to generate a consolidated gel barrier within the wellbore annulus by combining a silicate solution with an aqueous hardener solution, allowing for isolation, fracturing, and gravel packing in a single trip by forming a gel barrier between adjacent zones, using containers that rupture or dissolve to release the solutions for reaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional packers are used to isolate zones in the wellbore annulus, then zone isolation is achieved, but the number of trips into and out of the wellbore increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the isolation function from mechanical packers that require multiple trips and replaces it with a chemical gel barrier formed in-situ. The gel barrier is created by combining silicate solution and aqueous hardener solution within the annulus, eliminating the need to run and set physical packers for each zone isolation, thereby reducing trips while maintaining reliable zone separation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical isolation system (packers requiring multiple trips for setting and removal) with a chemical system (gel barrier formed by chemical reaction between silicate and hardener solutions). This substitution transforms the isolation mechanism from mechanical to chemical, enabling single-trip operations while achieving the same zone separation functionality
2Reliability
If mechanical packers and screens are left in the wellbore for gravel packing, then zone isolation is maintained, but device complexity and removal difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the isolation function from complex mechanical assemblies (packers with screens and wash pipes) and implements it through a simple chemical gel barrier. This removes the need for complex apparatus configurations that must be carefully set and removed, replacing them with a straightforward chemical injection process that forms the barrier in-situ
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses disposable containers for holding the silicate and hardener solutions that are injected into the annulus. These containers are discarded after use, and the gel barrier they produce provides the isolation function without requiring any permanent mechanical apparatus to remain in the wellbore, thereby reducing device complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple trips are made to isolate and gravel pack each zone, then thorough zone treatment is achieved, but rig time expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by forming the gel barrier in-situ before gravel packing operations begin. The silicate and hardener solutions are injected and allowed to react, creating the isolation barrier in advance, which eliminates the need for multiple trips to set packers between zones, thereby reducing rig time while ensuring complete zone treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple operations (zone isolation, fracturing, and gravel packing) into a single trip by using the gel barrier to isolate zones in advance. This allows all necessary equipment to be run into the wellbore once, with the gel barrier providing the isolation function that previously required sequential packer operations, thereby combining multiple trips into one while maintaining treatment completeness
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 reduces the number of trips and rig time expenses by creating a permanent or semi-permanent gel barrier that effectively isolates adjacent zones within the wellbore annulus, enabling efficient multi-zone fracturing and gravel packing.
Implementation Method 1
combining at least two solutions within the annulus... Upon combining the two solutions, the first solution may react with the second solution to cause the formation of a gel barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A gel barrier may be created within an annulus in a one-step operation by combining two or more solutions within the annulus. The two solutions may include a first solution, such as a silicate solution, and a second solution that may be an aqueous hardener solution. Once the two solutions are combined and subsequently reacted together, the forming of a gel barrier may occur between a plurality of zones along the annulus. The gel barrier may then prevent a fluid from traveling between adjacent zones of the wellbore annulus.