Inflow Control Devices Regulate Thermal Conformance in SAGD Wells

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the resource recovery industry, particularly in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) systems, gas breakthrough into production wells reduces liquid resource recovery efficiency and leads to uneven heat distribution in formations, resulting in suboptimal production and recovery rates.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a tubular system with inflow control devices (ICDs) that regulate thermal conformance by choking liquids with a subcool lower than a predetermined level at a selected drawdown pressure, using features like nozzles, baffles, and helical paths to control mass flow rates and direct heat to adjacent zones with higher subcool conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If steam is injected into the formation to heat the oil, then the oil viscosity is reduced and production is enhanced, but uneven heat distribution occurs in heterogeneous formations resulting in suboptimal recovery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil production rateVSAvoidheat distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing zone-specific flow control through ICDs with adjustable restrictions. Different sections of the horizontal wellbore receive customized flow resistance based on local formation characteristics and thermal conformance needs, enabling targeted heat distribution to areas requiring it most while maintaining overall system productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics through adjustable ICDs that can modify flow restrictions in response to changing thermal conformance conditions. The system dynamically adapts to formation heterogeneities and production changes by adjusting flow distribution along the wellbore, ensuring optimal heat utilization throughout the steam chamber development process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If conventional ICDs are used to control flow distribution, then production from different wellbore sections is equalized, but gas breakthrough cannot be prevented and thermal conformance remains poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction distribution uniformityVSAvoidthermal conformance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by using ICDs that respond to liquid subcool conditions to dynamically adjust flow restrictions. When liquids have insufficient subcool, the ICDs automatically increase resistance to prevent gas breakthrough, while maintaining production distribution uniformity through coordinated control across multiple wellbore sections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where ICD flow control is based on real-time liquid subcool conditions and thermal conformance status. The system continuously monitors and adjusts flow restrictions to prevent gas breakthrough while maintaining optimal production distribution, creating a self-regulating control loop that responds to formation conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If pump rates are increased to maintain production, then liquid recovery is enhanced, but gas breakthrough is accelerated and thermal efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid recovery rateVSAvoidthermal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using ICDs to preemptively prevent gas breakthrough before it can occur. By controlling liquid subcool and adjusting flow restrictions in advance, the system prevents the conditions that lead to gas coning and breakthrough, allowing sustained high pump rates without the associated thermal efficiency losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 reduces gas breakthrough, enhances liquid resource recovery, and achieves more uniform heat distribution, leading to increased overall production and recovery efficiency while maintaining constant pump rates.

Implementation Method 1

regulating thermal conformance in a formation by transferring heat from the liquids to adjacent zones having a greater subcool than the liquids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

reducing a mass flow rate of liquids having a subcool less than a predetermined subcool at a selected drawdown pressure by engaging the liquids with the feature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11441403B2Method of improving production in steam assisted gravity drainage operations

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A method of improving production in a steam assisted gravity drainage operation, the method including positioning a tubular system within a borehole, the tubular system including a plurality of inflow control devices; injecting steam into a formation to assist in drainage of targeted resources from the formation; receiving fluids at an inlet of the inflow control devices; and regulating thermal conformance in the formation by choking liquids at the inflow control devices when the liquids have a subcool lower than a predetermined subcool at a selected drawdown pressure.