Jet Ultrasonic Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil Paraffin Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paraffin-control viscosity reduction devices for oil wells, particularly those with high paraffin content and deep or heavy oil wells, face limitations in paraffin control, viscosity reduction, and scale prevention due to insufficient sound wave intensity, limited heating gas flow, and inefficiencies in thermal recovery methods, leading to reduced oil pumping capacity and increased maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced jet ultrasonic device incorporating a hydrocyclone, multiple stages of jet ultrasonic oscillators, and an ultrasonic cavitation cavity with a dedicated oscillation cavity and hot gas flow channel, utilizing rotational flow, jet flow, and ultrasound technologies to generate strong oscillations that reduce viscosity and prevent scaling, while allowing for efficient gas injection and reduced electric heating needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If first-generation jet ultrasonic products are used for paraffin control, then the structure includes jet flow generator, ultrasonic oscillator, cavitation cavity, vortex director and vortex ejector, but the sound field intensity of ultrasonic wave is weak and paraffin control effect is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple functional modules: jet flow generator, ultrasonic oscillator, cavitation cavity, vortex director, and vortex ejector. Each module performs a specific function to collectively enhance ultrasonic treatment effectiveness. The segmentation allows optimization of each component's performance contribution to the overall sound field intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines jet flow technology with ultrasonic oscillation in a unified device structure. The jet flow generator creates high-velocity fluid streams that interact with the ultrasonic waves in the cavitation cavity, merging two physical mechanisms (jet flow and ultrasonic vibration) to amplify the overall treatment effect on paraffin and viscosity reduction.
2Productivity
If second-generation jet ultrasonic products are used, then paraffin control and viscosity reduction effects are greatly improved, but when daily output of crude oil is large, the intensity of sound waves is relatively insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic flow control through the jet flow generator and vortex director, allowing the ultrasonic treatment intensity to adapt to varying crude oil flow rates. The jet flow velocity and vortex strength dynamically adjust based on production conditions, maintaining effective sound wave intensity even at high daily outputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous jet flow and sustained ultrasonic oscillation ensure uninterrupted treatment of crude oil throughout the production process. The device maintains continuous cavitation and vortex formation, providing ongoing viscosity reduction and paraffin control without interruption, even during high-rate production periods.
3Quantity of substance
If second-generation jet ultrasonic products are used for high-paraffin-content wells with low water content, then certain paraffin control effect can be achieved, but the paraffin control effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic oscillator generates high-frequency mechanical vibrations that directly disrupt paraffin crystal formation and aggregation. This mechanical vibration mechanism is particularly effective in low-water-content crude oils where thermal methods are less effective, providing reliable paraffin control through physical disruption of paraffin structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The jet flow generator creates high-velocity fluid streams that enhance mixing and heat transfer in the crude oil flow. This hydraulic action complements the ultrasonic treatment by improving fluid circulation and distributing treatment effects more uniformly throughout the crude oil, particularly in high-paraffin-content wells with low water content.
4Length of stationary object
If second-generation jet ultrasonic products are used for oil wells with large depth, then the treatment can be provided, but the longer the distance for treatment of crude oil by ultrasonic waves, the weaker the sound field intensity is
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary ultrasonic treatment and viscosity reduction at the wellhead or surface location before oil enters the production pipeline. By treating the crude oil beforehand, the system ensures adequate sound field intensity is applied before the oil travels long distances through the wellbore and pipeline, preventing paraffin deposition during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional downhole heating mechanisms with surface-based jet ultrasonic treatment. This substitution eliminates the need for long-distance heat transmission through the wellbore, concentrating the treatment energy at the surface where sound field intensity can be maximized, then using the treated oil's improved flow properties for long-distance transport.
5Temperature
If thermal recovery or injection production methods are used for heavy oil wells, then viscosity reduction can be achieved, but the jet opening of jet nozzle is small and the amount of heating gas is limited, which greatly affects the viscosity reduction effect
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the treatment parameters from thermal heating to jet ultrasonic mechanical treatment. By using high-velocity jet flow and ultrasonic oscillation instead of thermal recovery, the system achieves viscosity reduction without being constrained by limited heating gas amounts, directly addressing the productivity limitation of thermal methods in heavy oil wells.
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
The solution significantly enhances paraffin control, scale prevention, and viscosity reduction, prolongs equipment service life, reduces energy consumption, minimizes chemical use and pollution, and maximizes oil yield, making it suitable for heavy oil wells and thermal recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
jet ultrasonic theory... ultrasonic oscillator, a cavitation cavity... ultrasonic treatment on pumped (extracted) crude oil mainly by ultra-strong sound waves
Implementation Method 2
ultrasonic oscillator... ultrasonic waves... ultrasonic treatment on pumped (extracted) crude oil
Implementation Method 3
hydrocyclone... rotational flow... separating and controlling paraffin and scale
Implementation Method 4
jet flow generator... jet nozzle... jet flow technologies to generate strong oscillations
Implementation Method 5
thermal recovery (thermal production)... injection production... injecting a certain amount of wet saturated steam, which is under a high temperature and a high pressure, into an oil layer to heat the crude oil... electric heating device
Data Source
AI summary
An energy-saving environment-friendly paraffin-control scale preventing ultra-strong viscosity reduction device comprises: a hydrocyclone, a first-stage jet ultrasonic signal generator, a second-stage jet ultrasonic oscillator and an ultrasonic cavitation cavity which are butted in sequence; the hydrocyclone serves as an inlet end, the outer end of the ultrasonic cavitation cavity serves as an outlet, a section of oscillation cavity is additionally arranged behind the second-stage jet ultrasonic oscillator and before the ultrasonic cavitation cavity, the tail part of the oscillation cavity is provided with a third-stage jet ultrasonic oscillator, and the ultrasonic cavitation cavity is then connected behind the third-stage jet ultrasonic oscillator.