Selective Conformance Treatment Placement in Multi-Zone Well Completions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating subterranean wells to maximize hydrocarbon production while minimizing unwanted fluid production, such as water or gas, are inefficient due to 'bullheaded' chemical conformance treatments and mechanical conformance methods that leave valuable hydrocarbons in the reservoir.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selectively injecting a relative permeability modifier into specific zones of a wellbore, optimizing fluid production by adjusting flow control devices between fully open and closed configurations, and identifying zones for chemical conformance treatments to enhance desired fluid production and restrict undesired fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If chemical conformance treatments are bullheaded into multiple zones, then treatment coverage is achieved, but treatment effectiveness is reduced due to waste and inability to preferentially flow into target zones
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple discrete zones with individual flow control devices, allowing selective treatment of specific zones rather than treating all zones simultaneously. This segmentation enables precise control over where conformance treatment is injected, improving zone selectivity and preventing waste in non-target zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow control devices are used to dynamically adjust and control the flow of conformance treatment into different zones during the injection process. This dynamic control allows the treatment to preferentially flow into zones that need it most, rather than being passively distributed throughout all zones.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If mechanical conformance is used to close or restrict flow from reservoir to wellbore, then undesired fluid production is reduced, but valuable hydrocarbons are left in the reservoir
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying uniform mechanical conformance across all zones, the invention applies conformance treatment selectively to specific zones where undesired fluid production is problematic. This local application preserves hydrocarbon production from zones that do not require conformance treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical conformance methods with chemical conformance treatments (relative permeability modifiers). This substitution allows for more nuanced control of fluid flow based on fluid properties rather than physical blocking, enabling selective restriction of undesired fluids while maintaining hydrocarbon flow paths.
3Quantity of substance
If relative permeability modifier is injected into zones, then conformance treatment is achieved, but non-uniform distribution occurs leading to ineffective treatment of some zones
Solution Approach 1:
The injection system is segmented into zone-specific injection points with individual flow control devices. This allows the relative permeability modifier to be injected into each zone separately, ensuring uniform distribution within each treated zone while allowing different zones to receive appropriate treatment levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses flow control devices to monitor and adjust the flow of relative permeability modifier into each zone in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that the treatment is distributed uniformly within each zone and allows operators to respond to changing flow conditions during injection.
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 optimizes the ratio of desired to undesired fluids produced, maximizing hydrocarbon recovery while minimizing the production of water or gas, thereby improving well performance over its life.
Implementation Method 1
a relative permeability modifier is injected into a zone, and then fluid production from the zone is optimized
Data Source
AI summary
Selective placement of conformance treatments in multi-zone well completions. A method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into a zone and optimizing a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid produced from the zone, including adjusting at least one flow control device between fully open and fully closed configurations. Another method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into multiple zones, one at a time, via respective flow control devices, and then producing fluid from each of the zones. Another method includes identifying which of the zones to treat by, for each of the zones: a) closing flow control devices corresponding to the other zones, and b) evaluating fluid produced from the zone; and injecting a conformance treatment into the zones identified as the zones to treat.