Movable Screen-Lined Chamber for Downhole Particulate Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing fine particulate materials like silt and clay from petroleum production wells are inefficient, as they either fail to separate these materials effectively from the fluid stream or require costly and time-consuming coiled tubing interventions, leading to production tubing obstruction and maintenance challenges in deviated and horizontal wells.
Innovation Solution
A movable collecting device with a screen-lined chamber and a pump system that uses a combination of coarse and fine filters to separate and transport particulate matter, including silt, sand, and clay, from the production well, allowing for efficient retrieval of settled materials to the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If screens or slotted liners are used to prevent sand production, then sand grains are kept out of production tubing, but fine particulate material like silt and clay cannot be separated and migration into production tubing cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is divided into multiple segments or zones with different aperture sizes. Coarse screens with larger openings are positioned to handle sand particles, while fine screens with smaller openings are positioned to capture silt and clay particles. This segmentation allows each zone to specialize in removing specific particle size ranges, solving the contradiction between sand prevention and fine material separation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coiled tubing intervention is used to remove settled fine material, then production tubing obstruction is cleared, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary separation of fine particulate material from the fluid stream at the point of deposition, preventing obstruction before it occurs. By continuously or periodically removing silt and clay particles as they settle, the system avoids the need for time-consuming coiled tubing interventions to clear obstructions, thereby reducing maintenance time and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to automatically separate and remove fine particulate material without requiring external intervention equipment like coiled tubing. The screen-based separation mechanism operates autonomously within the production tubing, performing self-maintenance by continuously clearing deposited materials, thus eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming manual intervention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional screens are used, then sand production is controlled, but fine material settles and chokes production tubing in deviated and horizontal wells
Solution Approach 1:
The screen structure is segmented into zones with varying aperture sizes and densities. Upstream zones have coarser openings for sand removal, while downstream zones have finer openings for silt and clay separation. This segmentation enables continuous removal of fine materials that would otherwise settle and choke the tubing, maintaining production rate in deviated and horizontal wells while still controlling sand production.
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 device effectively separates and removes silt, sand, and clay from the production well, preventing tubing obstruction and simplifying maintenance by using a screen-lined chamber and pump system, enhancing production efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the wall comprising a screen in fluid communication with the collecting chamber and the exterior of the collecting device
Implementation Method 2
a means for transporting the particulate matter from the exterior of the collecting device to the interior of the collecting device through the external inlet
Implementation Method 3
The deposit will due to the gravitational force build up from the '6 o'clock' position inside the production tubing
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a movable collecting device (1) for downhole separation and removal of particulate matter (8) from a petroleum well, the collecting device (1) having a first end portion (11) and a second end portion (12), an exterior and an interior; the collecting device (1) comprising an outer wall (4) extending axially from the first end portion (11) and to the second end portion (12), a portion of the wall (4) surrounding a collecting chamber (5); a nose (2) at the first end portion (11) comprises at least one external inlet (23), the external inlet (23) being in fluid communication with the collecting chamber (5); a drive unit (3) positioned at the second end portion (12); and a means (6) for transporting the particulate matter (8) from the exterior of the collecting device (1) to the interior of the collecting device (1) through the external inlet (23), and a portion of the wall (4) comprises a screen in fluid communication with the collecting chamber (5) and the collecting device's (1) exterior. Use of a screen (40) to form at least a portion of a wall (4) surrounding a collection chamber (5) in a movable collection device (1) is described as well.