Silicate Barrier for Water Shut-Off Flowback Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water shut-off treatments in oil wells face challenges with flowback of water shut-off materials, which compromises their integrity and effectiveness in blocking water production, especially in high temperature and pressure zones where gelation/solidification times are prolonged, leading to potential failure in maintaining reduced water cut.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the injection of a silicate solution into the wellbore to form a layer between the water shut-off material and the wellbore, followed by the application of a high-powered energy source, such as a laser, to induce crystallization of the silicate into a glassy sealant, creating a solid barrier that shields the water shut-off material and prevents flowback during its solidification and potential degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water shut-off material is injected into the wellbore to block water production, then water cut is reduced, but the material may flowback into the wellbore during solidification, compromising treatment integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater shut-off effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A gel material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the water shut-off material and the wellbore. This gel layer acts as a protective barrier that prevents the water shut-off material from flowing back into the wellbore during the solidification process, while allowing the water shut-off material to maintain its water-blocking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gel material is injected into the wellbore before the water shut-off material is introduced. This preliminary action creates a protective barrier in advance, ensuring that when the water shut-off material is subsequently injected and begins to solidify, it is already protected from flowing back into the wellbore.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If high temperature and pressure conditions are present in the wellbore, then oil production can be maintained, but gelation time of water shut-off material is prolonged, increasing risk of flowback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil production rateVSAvoidgelation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gel material serves as a protective intermediary that remains stable under high temperature and pressure conditions. It provides continuous protection during the extended gelation period caused by these conditions, preventing flowback without requiring acceleration of the gelation process itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gel material's properties are selected to remain effective under the specific temperature and pressure parameters of the wellbore environment. By choosing a gel that maintains its protective function under these conditions, the system accommodates the high temperature and pressure without compromising prevention of flowback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional water shut-off materials are used without protective measures, then injection process is simple, but material integrity is compromised due to flowback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection process simplicityVSAvoidtreatment integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gel material is introduced as a protective intermediary layer between the water shut-off material and the wellbore environment. This gel barrier prevents flowback of the water shut-off material during solidification, thereby maintaining treatment integrity while adding only one more injection step to the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively prevents flowback of water shut-off materials, allowing them to solidify and remain in place, thereby maintaining the integrity of the water shut-off operation and reducing water production in oil wells, enhancing the reliability and longevity of the treatment.

Implementation Method 1

directing an energy source to the layer of silicate until the layer of silicate solidifies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 2

induce crystallization of the silicate into a glassy sealant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVitrification: Vitrification

Data Source

PatentUS11739610B2Methods and systems for water shut-off

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A system and method for a treatment of a subterranean formation. The treatment may include pumping a water shut-off material into a wellbore and to a target zone in the subterranean formation. The treatment may also include pumping a silicate to the target zone behind the water shut-off material, thereby forming a layer of silicate between the water shut-off material and the wellbore. An energy source may be directed to the layer of silicate until the layer of silicate solidifies to yield a solid barrier between the water shut-off material and the wellbore.