Telescopic Needle Pipe for Precise Wellbore Lateral Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating lateral openings in well formations using acid treatment are inefficient, often resulting in undesired gas and water production due to acid following natural fractures or breaking down the formation matrix, and previous solutions like deflecting shoes or multiple narrow pipes have limitations such as limited reach and excessive passage creation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a telescopically displaceable needle pipe that penetrates the motherbore tubular's wall at a distance from the end, hydraulically forced towards the formation under differential pressure, equipped with nozzles and a drill motor, allowing for precise and simultaneous creation of multiple tiny lateral openings with reduced fluid consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a deflecting shoe with jetting hose is used to direct acid into the formation, then the acid reaches the desired formation section, but large passages are created unnecessarily and lateral openings are jetted sequentially reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the lateral opening creation process by using multiple needle pipes with multiple nozzles arranged at different positions and angles. This allows simultaneous creation of multiple openings in different directions, converting the sequential jetting process into a parallel operation that significantly improves productivity while maintaining precise acid delivery to targeted formation sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of multiple needle pipes and nozzles into a single integrated assembly that can be deployed together. This combination allows simultaneous jetting of acid through multiple nozzles in different directions, creating multiple lateral openings concurrently rather than sequentially, thereby resolving the productivity contradiction.
2Loss of substance
If multiple narrow pipes are positioned on the motherbore tubular to create tiny openings, then fewer large passages are created, but the reach of the narrow pipes into the formation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The needle pipes are nested within the motherbore tubular, with the nozzles positioned at the end of the needle pipes that can extend beyond the motherbore tubular wall. This nested configuration allows the system to maintain a compact structure while achieving extended reach into the formation, as the needle pipes can be positioned deep within the wellbore and still project nozzles forward to create lateral openings at the desired depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds spatial dimensionality by arranging nozzles at different positions and angles around the needle pipe axis. This multi-directional nozzle arrangement enables the system to create lateral openings in multiple directions from a single needle pipe position, effectively increasing the reach and coverage area without requiring longer pipe extensions, thus resolving the reach limitation while maintaining fluid efficiency.
3Reliability
If acid is pumped in large quantities for treatment, then the formation matrix breaks down and natural fractures are stimulated, but undesired gas and water production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by directing acid through multiple nozzles positioned at specific locations and angles on the needle pipes. Each nozzle targets a specific zone in the formation, allowing localized acid treatment rather than broad-area application. This precision targeting ensures acid reaches only the desired formation sections, breaking down the formation matrix locally without stimulating distant natural fractures, thereby improving treatment effectiveness while preventing undesired gas and water production.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/physical process of large-volume acid pumping with a targeted fluid injection system using high-pressure acid delivery through multiple nozzles. This substitution allows precise control of acid placement and reduces the total acid volume required, converting an inefficient bulk treatment approach into an efficient targeted treatment that achieves the same formation modification effects with reduced fluid consumption and minimal harmful side effects.
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 enables precise and efficient creation of lateral openings in the well formation, reducing fluid consumption and ensuring targeted acid delivery, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the acid treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one pipe section of the needle pipe be exposed to a differential pressure between the motherbore tubular and the annular pressure in the wellbore and thus hydraulically forced towards the formation
Implementation Method 2
a jetting hose is then fed from the surface and deflected through the opening in the motherbore tubular and further on into the formation as the acid dissolves the formation
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for making lateral openings out of a wellbore in a well formation where fluid is made to flow through a motherbore tubular like a completion or production pipe and then through a needle pipe that is aimed at the formation, and where the method includes positioning a needle pipe that comprises at least one pipe section inside or outside a motherbore tubular; and arranging the at least one pipe sections to be telescopically displaceable with regard to an other pipe.