Radial Jet Tunnels for Wellbore Conformance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High water cut in oil production leads to increased costs and poor conformance control, particularly in reservoirs dependent on injection water, due to inefficient sweeping efficiency and water channeling, necessitating improved conformance control methods for both high and low permeability formations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving radial jet drilling to form tunnels in both high and low permeability formations, followed by injection of chemical fluids such as gels and swellable particles to alter permeability and enhance sweeping efficiency, using a well system with a drilling assembly and fluid injection system to treat both zones simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical fluid is injected into high permeability formation to reduce water intake, then water channeling is reduced, but sweeping efficiency in low permeability zones deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The formation is segmented into high permeability zones and low permeability zones, with separate tunnel systems created for each zone. Chemical fluid is selectively injected into high permeability zones through first tunnels to reduce water channeling, while separate second tunnels are created in low permeability zones to maintain sweeping efficiency, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing water channeling and maintaining sweeping efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different treatment strategies are applied to different zones: high permeability zones receive chemical fluid injection to reduce water intake, while low permeability zones receive mechanical tunneling to enhance fluid distribution. This localized differentiation allows each zone to be treated according to its specific characteristics, resolving the contradiction between water channeling reduction and sweeping efficiency.
2Productivity
If tunnels are formed in low permeability formation to increase water intake, then sweeping efficiency improves, but water intake capacity in high permeability zones increases
Solution Approach 1:
The formation is divided into high permeability zones and low permeability zones with separate tunnel systems. First tunnels are formed in high permeability zones for chemical fluid injection, while second tunnels are formed in low permeability zones for enhanced fluid distribution. This segmentation allows independent control of water intake in each zone, resolving the contradiction between improving sweeping efficiency and controlling water intake capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zone characteristics are addressed with localized treatments: high permeability zones receive chemical fluid to control water intake, while low permeability zones receive mechanical tunneling to improve fluid distribution. This local differentiation enables sweeping efficiency improvement in low permeability zones without proportionally increasing water intake capacity in high permeability zones.
3Ease of operation
If conventional injection methods are used, then operation simplicity is maintained, but conformance control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Tunnels are formed in advance in both high and low permeability zones before chemical fluid injection. This preliminary mechanical preparation creates dedicated pathways that ensure reliable conformance control during subsequent chemical fluid injection, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and conformance control reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Mechanically formed tunnels serve as intermediary structures that facilitate controlled chemical fluid injection. These tunnels act as mediators between the injection system and the formation, enabling precise conformance control while maintaining operational simplicity through a systematic two-step process.
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 method increases water intake capacity in low permeability zones while reducing it in high permeability zones, effectively enhancing sweeping efficiency and reducing water intake capacity, thereby improving overall oil production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
forming, with a radial jet drilling assembly, a first plurality of tunnels in the high permeability formation from the wellbore
Implementation Method 2
the chemical fluid includes a gel
Implementation Method 3
the chemical fluid includes swellable particles
Implementation Method 4
expanding a sweep area of the injected chemical fluid by injecting the chemical fluid into the high permeability formation through the first plurality of tunnels
Implementation Method 5
forming, with the radial jet drilling assembly, a second plurality of tunnels in the low permeability formation from the wellbore
Implementation Method 6
increasing a contact area of an injection fluid in the low permeability formation with the second plurality of tunnels
Data Source
AI summary
A conformance control method includes identifying a target location of a wellbore formed from a terranean surface to two subterranean formations that include a high permeability formation having a first permeability and a low permeability formation having a second permeability that is equal or less than one-third of the first permeability. The method includes forming a first plurality of tunnels in the high permeability formation from the wellbore; injecting, into the high permeability formation and the low permeability formation, a chemical fluid from the wellbore through the first plurality of tunnels; expanding a sweep area of the injected chemical fluid by injecting the chemical fluid into the high permeability formation through the first plurality of tunnels; forming a second plurality of tunnels in the low permeability formation from the wellbore; and increasing a contact area of an injection fluid in the low permeability formation with the second plurality of tunnels.