Pressurized Reactive Fluid Jet for Selective Reservoir Stimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing well stimulation techniques face challenges in effectively increasing permeability in subterranean formations due to poor fluid placement, as injected fluids tend to enter areas of higher permeability rather than damaged or low permeability zones, limiting the effectiveness of treatments.

Innovation Solution

A system and method involving the delivery of a reactive fluid as a pressurized jet downhole to create localized regions of enhanced permeability by targeting specific treatment sections, allowing for selective stimulation and improved fluid placement by eroding or dissolving low permeability areas, and repeated treatment of multiple zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional fluid injection techniques are used for well stimulation, then the treatment can be applied to the formation, but the fluid enters areas of higher permeability instead of damaged or low permeability zones, resulting in poor fluid placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid placement precisionVSAvoidstimulation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wellbore is divided into multiple treatment zones along its length, with each zone having specific perforations or injection points. This segmentation allows treating fluids to be injected at multiple locations simultaneously, enabling precise control over fluid placement in different formation zones and ensuring that damaged or low permeability areas receive adequate treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the wellbore are treated differently based on the specific characteristics of each formation zone. The system allows for variable injection rates, fluid compositions, and treatment parameters for different zones, enabling optimized fluid placement in each local area rather than uniform treatment throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If acidizing treatment is applied to increase permeability, then alternative flow paths are created, but the injected acid follows the path of least resistance and continues to invade zones that have already been treated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon flowVSAvoidfluid placement control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment zone is segmented into multiple discrete injection points along the wellbore. By controlling the timing and rate of acid injection at each segment independently, the system can ensure that acid is placed precisely in damaged zones rather than allowing it to propagate uncontrollably into already-treated areas or high permeability zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of formation zones to identify damaged or low permeability areas before initiating the acidizing treatment. This preliminary action allows for pre-positioning of injection points and optimization of injection parameters to ensure acid is directed toward the most needed zones rather than following paths of least resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If mechanical techniques such as ball sealers and packers are used to control fluid placement, then specific zone targeting is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone targeting accuracyVSAvoidstimulation tool complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes the natural pressure gradient and fluid dynamics to achieve zone targeting without requiring complex mechanical sealing devices. By strategically positioning injection points and controlling injection parameters, the treating fluids are directed toward damaged zones through pressure differential and flow dynamics, eliminating the need for ball sealers, packers, or other complex mechanical placement devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enables optimized fluid placement and increased permeability distribution along the wellbore, enhancing the success of subsequent treatments by creating pathways for hydrocarbons to flow through previously low permeability zones, thereby improving hydrocarbon extraction efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The jet is maintained until a localized region of enhanced permeability is created

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectErosion: Erosion

Implementation Method 2

reactive fluid that is directed at a specific treatment section... eroding or dissolving low permeability areas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution:

Data Source

PatentUS9915131B2Methods using fluid stream for selective stimulation of reservoir layers

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A technique enables stimulation of a subterranean formation. A reactive fluid is delivered downhole into a wellbore. The reactive fluid is under sufficient pressure downhole to create a jet of the reactive fluid that is directed at a specific treatment section. The jet is maintained until a localized region of enhanced permeability is created. One or more jets can be created or moved to treat a plurality of low permeability zones.