Layered Water Injection via Pressure Wave Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current layered water injection technologies face challenges such as complicated manual construction, difficulty in measurement and adjustment, and poor reliability due to issues with cable damage and unreliable communication, particularly in directional wells and closed downhole environments.
Innovation Solution
A layered water injection system utilizing an intelligent control valve and wireless communication to form pressure wave codes for controlling water flow, allowing for automatic and reliable layered water injection control by interpreting these codes to adjust valve openings and monitor flow rates in real-time, thereby improving automation and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical downhole water distribution structures are used, then layered water injection can be realized, but construction becomes complicated and adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical downhole water distribution structures with an intelligent control system that uses electromagnetic signals transmitted through the wellhead to control downhole valves. This substitution eliminates the need for complex manual construction and adjustment of mechanical distribution structures, while maintaining reliable layered water injection control through electronic actuation of downhole valves based on formation pressure feedback.
2Extent of automation
If cable-based automatic measurement and adjustment is used, then automation is improved, but cable damage risk increases and communication reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the vulnerable cable component from the automatic control system. Instead of using cables to transmit control signals and data between the wellhead and downhole instruments, the system uses electromagnetic signals transmitted through the wellhead structure itself, removing the source of cable damage and communication interference while maintaining full automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the wellhead structure as an intermediary medium for signal transmission. Rather than using separate cables that are susceptible to damage, the wellhead itself serves as the transmission medium for electromagnetic signals, providing a protected and reliable communication path between the control system and downhole instruments.
3Extent of automation
If preset cable installation is used, then automatic control is achieved, but cable protection becomes difficult and damage is severe in directional wells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable installation system with an electromagnetic signal transmission system through the wellhead. This eliminates the need for careful cable handling, protection, and installation in directional wells, as signals are transmitted through the wellhead structure itself without requiring physical cable routing through the wellbore.
4Extent of automation
If electromagnetic communication in closed downhole space is used, then automatic control is achieved, but communication success rate decreases due to water quality and pipe string interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two parts: electromagnetic signal transmission through the wellhead (above ground) and acoustic/pressure wave transmission through the water column (downhole). This segmentation allows each communication method to operate in its optimal environment, avoiding the interference problems that would result from attempting to use electromagnetic signals alone in the conductive downhole environment.
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 system enables stable and reliable automatic control of layered water injection, reducing cable damage and communication issues, and enhancing the success rate of water injection operations by using pressure wave codes for communication and control between the ground and downhole systems.
Implementation Method 1
converting the water injection control instruction into a switching action of the intelligent control valve to control water flow pressure fluctuation in a water injection string, so as to form a first pressure wave code in the water injection string
Implementation Method 2
a water distributor for collecting the first pressure wave code, interpreting the first pressure wave code as a corresponding water outlet switch instruction
Data Source
AI summary
A layered water injection system and a layered water injection method. The system comprises: a ground water injection valve group configured with an intelligent control valve, for receiving a water injection control instruction sent by a remote control center, and for converting the water injection control instruction into a switching action of the intelligent control valve to control water flow pressure fluctuation in a water injection string, so as to form a first pressure wave code in the water injection string; a water distributor for collecting the first pressure wave code, interpreting the first pressure wave code as a corresponding water outlet switch instruction, and performing layered water injection control according to the water outlet switch instruction. The embodiments of the application can improve the automation level of layered water injection and the reliability of layered water injection control.