Single-Well EOR System With Pressure-Controlled Valves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods are excessively expensive, especially in ultra-tight reservoirs like shale and small offshore oil fields, requiring a high number of wells, which is economically unfeasible for substantial oil recovery.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for EOR that installs production and injection segments within a single well, utilizing packers and valves to enable fluid communication between these segments, allowing for cyclic or continuous injection and production, reducing the need for multiple wells and lowering operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional multi-well EOR methods are used, then oil recovery efficiency is improved, but investment cost and operational cost increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines injection and production functions into a single well system. The well is equipped with both injection valves and production valves, allowing it to perform both injection and production operations. This merging of functions reduces the number of wells needed, thereby decreasing investment costs while maintaining oil recovery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The well is designed as a multi-functional unit that can serve both as an injection well and a production well. By incorporating both injection and production capabilities in one well, the system achieves versatility, reducing the need for multiple dedicated wells and lowering overall operational costs.
2Productivity
If conventional multi-well EOR methods are used, then oil recovery efficiency is improved, but the number of wells required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges injection and production operations into a single well system. By integrating both functions in one well, the number of wells required is significantly reduced, simplifying the overall system complexity while maintaining effective oil recovery.
3Reliability
If injection and production segments are isolated by packers, then fluid communication control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The well is divided into distinct injection segments and production segments separated by packers. This segmentation allows independent control of fluid communication in different zones, ensuring reliable operation while managing complexity through modular design.
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 efficient oil recovery with reduced investment and operational costs, achieving high recovery rates similar to conventional multi-well EOR methods while utilizing a single well, making it viable for previously unprofitable fields like shale and offshore marginal fields.
Implementation Method 1
The production valve is configured to open when the pressure within the production segment is at or below an ambient pressure and to close when the pressure within the production segment exceeds the ambient pressure
Implementation Method 2
The injection valve is configured to open when the pressure within the injection segment exceeds the ambient pressure and to close when the pressure within the injection segment is at or below the ambient pressure
Implementation Method 3
A downhole injection packer and a downhole production packer prevent a fluid flow between the string sections
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for enhanced oil recovery comprises a vertical and/or lateral string section configured for installation in a wellbore. A production segment with an uphole production packer and a production valve allows a fluid flow into the string section and prevents a fluid flow in the reverse direction. An injection segment with an uphole injection packer and an injection valve allows a fluid flow out from the string section and prevents a fluid flow in the reverse direction. The production segment and the injection segment are configured to be installed in fluid communication with each other through a reservoir within one well. The production valve is configured to open when the pressure within the production segment is at or below an ambient pressure and to close when the pressure within the production segment exceeds the ambient pressure.