Propellant Sleeve Casing for Heterogeneous Formation Pressure Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional secondary recovery techniques, such as water injection, often perform poorly in re-pressurizing under-pressured hydrocarbon formations due to the heterogeneous nature of producing formations, especially when using vertical injection wells in conjunction with lateral wellbores.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a production casing string with propellant sleeves, identifiable markers, and selective bi-directional valves in deviated branch wellbores, where propellant is ignited to break up cement and configure valves for optimized fluid flow, allowing for enhanced pressure management and hydrocarbon displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If vertical injection wells are used for secondary recovery, then the injection well structure is simple and easy to implement, but the effectiveness of re-pressurizing heterogeneous formations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wellbore into multiple zones using packers, allowing independent treatment and injection in different formation intervals. This enables targeted pressurization of specific heterogeneous zones rather than treating the entire formation uniformly, thereby improving re-pressurizing effectiveness while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements zone-specific injection strategies by placing injection packers at different depths and controlling injection parameters independently for each zone. This local quality approach addresses the heterogeneous nature of formations by tailoring injection characteristics to specific local conditions, improving overall recovery effectiveness
2Device complexity
If conventional water injection is used in heterogeneous formations, then the injection process is simple, but the displacement efficiency of petroleum is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of injection parameters including variable injection rates, adjustable bottom hole pressures, and real-time monitoring of formation responses. This dynamic approach allows optimization of displacement efficiency by adapting injection conditions to changing formation characteristics and pressure conditions throughout the recovery process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates monitoring systems that track injection performance, formation pressure changes, and production responses. This feedback information is used to adjust injection strategies, optimize water flooding patterns, and improve displacement efficiency by responding to actual formation conditions rather than relying on fixed injection protocols
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
This approach improves the efficiency of hydrocarbon production by selectively managing pressure in heterogeneous formations, enhancing the displacement of petroleum towards production wells and optimizing the use of lateral wellbores in secondary recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
selectively igniting propellant in the propellant sleeve
Implementation Method 2
igniting propellant in the propellant sleeve of step (c); and opening at least one of the discharge-only valve or intake-only valve
Data Source
AI summary
A production casing string including a plurality of propellant sleeves positioned on an exterior of the production casing string, and each propellant sleeve includes a firing mechanism and a firing sleeve for selectively covering and uncovering the firing mechanism. The casing string also includes an identifiable marker associated with each propellant sleeve and at least one selective bi-directional valve assembly associated with each propellant sleeve.