Producing Well Breakthrough Detection Using Flow and Composition Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to efficiently detect and mitigate gas and water breakthroughs in producing wells, leading to reduced efficiency in oil recovery due to displaced in-situ oil and altered fluid paths.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system analyzes flow rate and composition data of produced fluids to detect gas or water breakthroughs by identifying trends in gas oil ratio (GOR), mole fractions of lighter carbon numbers, and salinity changes, enabling targeted adjustments to enhance oil recovery by altering injection paths and drilling new wells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas or water injection is performed to maintain reservoir pressure, then oil recovery is enhanced, but gas or water breakthrough occurs reducing injection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors flow rate and composition data from producing wells, comparing actual measurements against expected values to detect breakthrough conditions. This feedback mechanism allows real-time identification of breakthrough events and triggers appropriate responses to maintain injection efficiency while continuing oil recovery enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical detection methods with computer-implemented data analysis systems that process flow rate and composition measurements. This substitution enables more precise and continuous monitoring of breakthrough conditions, allowing for timely detection and response without the limitations of mechanical sensors in harsh reservoir environments.
2Measurement precision
If breakthrough detection is performed using traditional methods, then some detection capability is provided, but detection accuracy and timeliness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous real-time monitoring with immediate comparison of measured data against breakthrough criteria. This feedback loop enables rapid detection of breakthrough events as they occur, significantly reducing detection response time compared to periodic or manual detection methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors multiple parameters simultaneously (flow rate, gas composition, water composition) and detects breakthroughs by identifying characteristic changes in these parameters. This multi-parameter approach increases detection accuracy by cross-validating signals across different measurements, reducing false positives while maintaining rapid response capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Example computer-implemented methods and systems for gas and water breakthrough detection in producing wells. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving flow rate measurement data of produced gas and produced oil of a producing well in a subsurface reservoir. Composition measurement data of the produced gas and the produced oil are received. An occurrence of a producing well breakthrough of gas injected into the subsurface reservoir from one or more injection wells is detected based on the received flow rate measurement data and the received composition measurement data.