Inflow Control Device Nozzle Optimization for Water Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In hydrocarbon production wells, existing technologies face challenges in effectively regulating fluid flow to prevent water or gas coning, minimize unwanted fluid production, and maximize oil production due to inhomogeneous reservoir properties and varying fluid characteristics.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of variable flow resistance systems, such as inflow control devices with adjustable nozzle diameters and distribution functions, which are optimized through production simulations to balance fluid production across different zones and reduce water production, thereby increasing oil production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If variable flow resistance systems with adjustable nozzle diameters are implemented, then fluid production regulation is improved and water production is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid production regulationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inflow control devices incorporate adjustable nozzle diameters that can be dynamically modified to regulate fluid flow. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to varying reservoir conditions and optimize production by controlling water and oil flow rates independently, directly resolving the contradiction between improved fluid regulation and increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes adjustable parameters including nozzle diameter, distribution functions, and flow resistance characteristics of inflow control devices. By changing these parameters based on production simulations and reservoir properties, the system achieves optimized fluid production regulation while managing device complexity through parameter optimization rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If production simulations are performed to optimize inflow control device parameters, then water production is reduced and oil production is increased, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil productionVSAvoidtime for production simulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Production simulations are performed in advance to determine optimal parameters for inflow control devices before actual deployment. By conducting these simulations beforehand, the system establishes optimized nozzle diameters, distribution functions, and flow resistance parameters that will maximize oil production and minimize water production, thereby reducing time losses during actual production operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system accelerates the optimization process by using production simulations to quickly identify optimal parameters without extensive trial-and-error field testing. This allows the design process to rush through the simulation and analysis phase efficiently, minimizing time loss while achieving optimized production parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS10851626B2System and method to reduce fluid production from a well

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORP

AI summary

A method to reduce fluid production in a well includes performing a production simulation of a reservoir model comprising a production tool with an inflow control device, and determining a parameter for the inflow control device to reduce fluid production through the inflow control device based upon the production simulation.