Large Well Bore Gas Extraction for Low Pressure Reservoirs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas extraction methods become economically impractical when reservoir pressure drops below 200 PSI, leading to reduced flow rates and increased water-to-gas ratios, causing wells to be abandoned despite remaining gas reserves, as existing technologies struggle to maintain efficient production at low pressures.
Innovation Solution
A large well bore apparatus with a cross-sectional area optimized for target flow rates and connected to a surface flow line with compression stages that maintain inlet pressure near or slightly lower than the well bore pressure, along with a vacuum at the well bore's proximal end, to enhance gas extraction from low-pressure reservoirs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If natural pressure extraction is used, then gas extraction is economical at high pressures, but extraction becomes impractical when reservoir pressure drops below 200 PSI
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the well bore cross-sectional area variable rather than fixed. The large well bore apparatus allows the flow path area to dynamically adapt to changing reservoir pressures, maintaining economical extraction by adjusting the effective flow area as pressure declines below traditional limits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of well bore cross-sectional area to resolve the contradiction. By increasing the well bore area from conventional sizes to large dimensions, the system maintains economical extraction at lower reservoir pressures where traditional wells would become impractical
2Productivity
If compression is applied to maintain flow at low pressures, then gas extraction continues, but water to gas ratios increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of well bore cross-sectional area to resolve the contradiction. By increasing the well bore area from conventional sizes to large dimensions, the system maintains economical extraction at lower reservoir pressures where traditional wells would become impractical
3Productivity
If conventional well bore sizes are used, then equipment complexity is low, but flow rates decrease at low pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of well bore cross-sectional area to resolve the contradiction. By increasing the well bore area from conventional sizes to large dimensions, the system maintains economical extraction at lower reservoir pressures where traditional wells would become impractical
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 solution increases gas recovery rates and extends the economic viability of gas extraction from reservoirs with pressures below 200 PSI, allowing for the recovery of additional gas that would otherwise be uneconomical to extract using existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum at the well bore's proximal end
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum at the proximal end of the well bore configured to reduce pressure within the well bore at the proximal end of the well bore
Implementation Method 3
at least one stage of compression connected to the surface flow line and configured to compress contents of the surface flow line as the contents pass distally away from the well bore
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for extracting gas from a reservoir including a well bore having a large cross sectional area which may be determined by dividing a target flow rate of the reservoir by an actual sustained flow rate and multiplying a result by a flow path area for the actual sustained flow rate. A method of converting a well of a low pressure gas reservoir is further provided.