Multilateral Well Flow Control Valve Array Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and optimizing production from multilateral wells is challenging due to commingled production from multiple legs, which can lead to issues like early water or gas breakthrough, affecting overall production and reservoir management.
Innovation Solution
A system with a multilateral flow control valve array that includes flow control valves located uphole of each well completion, allowing independent adjustment of valve settings based on production targets and real-time monitoring, using a computerized reservoir-well simulation to optimize production by adjusting valve sizes and settings to manage production from each lateral leg.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flow control valves are installed at each lateral leg to enable independent production management, then production optimization and reservoir management capability are improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multilateral well into separate controllable segments by installing individual flow control valves at each lateral leg. This segmentation enables independent management of production from each leg, allowing operators to optimize reservoir drainage patterns and prevent early water or gas breakthrough by controlling flow rates from specific zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control valve system serves multiple functions: it enables independent production optimization from each lateral leg, prevents early water/gas breakthrough, manages reservoir pressure distribution, and provides flexibility for future production strategies. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by delivering comprehensive reservoir management capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If flow control valves are positioned uphole of completion components, then ease of operation and maintenance are improved, but risk of interference with completion components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valves are extracted from the completion components themselves and positioned separately in the tubular string uphole of the completion. This separation allows the completion components to function optimally without interference from valve mechanisms, while still enabling independent flow control from each lateral leg through the upstream positioning of valves.
3Measurement precision
If computerized reservoir-well simulation is used to optimize valve settings, then production optimization precision is improved, but time and computational resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary reservoir-well simulation to establish initial optimal valve settings before actual production begins. This preliminary action allows operators to pre-determine the best configuration for each lateral leg based on reservoir characteristics and production targets, reducing the need for extensive trial-and-adjustment during actual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring actual production performance and comparing it against simulation predictions. This feedback loop allows operators to refine valve settings over time, improving precision while reducing computational requirements as the model becomes more accurate based on real-world data.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methodologies and systems employing an array of independently operated flow control valves at an uphole location in each of a plurality of legs of a multilateral well to facilitate resolution and effective execution of efficient production plan and to improve performance. Along each leg of the multilateral well, a flow-control valve may be located downhole of a confluence between the respective leg and another leg and uphole of the well completion portion (production and/or injection component) of the respective leg. Each valve is operable independently of each other and of any valving in the completion component. Data regarding the nature and rate of production from each leg may be acquired from downhole sensors located at or about each flow control valve. The acquired data may be processed through a reservoir-well computerized model to resolve optimal valve settings across the valve array.