Packed-Bed Pressure Reduction for Polymer Flooding Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for reducing the pressure of polymer solutions in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, such as polymer flooding, often result in mechanical degradation of high molecular weight polymers when passing through valves, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for additional polymer compensation.
Innovation Solution
A pressure reducing device utilizing a packed bed or structured packing material with a conduit containing a large number of small passages, allowing for a variable pressure drop with minimal polymer degradation, and a mechanism to adjust the amount of packing material through which the liquid flows, enabling precise pressure adjustment without the need for multiple valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If conventional valves (choke valves) are used to reduce polymer solution pressure, then pressure reduction is achieved, but mechanical degradation of high molecular weight polymers occurs due to excessive fluid strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous plug or packed bed containing porous particles through which the polymer solution flows. The porous structure provides numerous small passages that reduce fluid strain on polymer chains while maintaining effective pressure reduction. The porous material acts as a gentle flow distributor that avoids the high shear stresses encountered in conventional valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous plug or packed bed serves as an intermediary device between the high-pressure pump and the injection well. Instead of directly passing polymer solution through a choke valve, the solution flows through the porous medium which mediates the pressure reduction process, distributing flow through many small channels that minimize mechanical degradation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If low-shear valves are used to reduce pressure without polymer degradation, then polymer integrity is maintained, but the device becomes large and heavy making it impractical for subsea reservoirs
Solution Approach 1:
The use of porous particles in a compact packed bed configuration creates an effective pressure reducing device that is both small and lightweight. The porous structure provides sufficient surface area and flow paths for gentle pressure reduction without requiring large valve mechanisms, making the device suitable for subsea applications where weight and size are critical constraints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are used to achieve variable pressure drop, then pressure adjustment capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a variable geometry mechanism where a movable element (such as a piston or adjustable plug) changes the flow area through the porous bed or packed column. This dynamic adjustment of flow geometry allows continuous pressure reduction control without requiring multiple discrete valves, simplifying the overall device while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single porous plug or packed bed device performs multiple functions: it reduces pressure, controls flow rate, and provides variable pressure adjustment capability all in one component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate valves for each function, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
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 effectively reduces polymer solution pressure by several bar with negligible degradation, allowing for efficient polymer flooding with reduced costs and improved oil recovery, and can be applied to both subsea and land-based reservoirs using a single conduit and adjustable pressure reducing device.
Implementation Method 1
a conduit containing a packing material, such that a large number of small passages are formed in the packing material; and passing the liquid through the conduit and the packing material contained within the conduit
Implementation Method 2
the amount of packing material through which the liquid flows can be varied to vary the pressure drop experienced by the liquid passing through the packing material
Data Source
AI summary
A method of reducing the pressure of a liquid includes the steps of providing a conduit containing a packing material, such that a large number of small passages are formed in the packing material, and passing the liquid through the conduit and the packing material. The amount of packing material through which the liquid flows can be varied to vary the pressure drop experienced by the liquid passing through the packing material. The reduction in pressure achieved may be stepwise (discrete) or continuous. The method may be used to reduce the pressure of an aqueous polymer solution for use in a polymer flood technique for oil extraction, and allows the pressure to be reduced without damage to the polymer.