Solidified Nitrogen Lift for Wellbore Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for enhancing hydrocarbon production from hydrocarbon reservoirs, particularly in wells with diminished wellbore pressure, are costly and inefficient, requiring capital-intensive equipment like pumps and compressors.
Innovation Solution
The use of solidified nitrogen encapsulated in an emulsifying agent, deployed downhole in a wellbore, which sublimates into nitrogen gas upon exposure to downhole fluids, reducing hydrostatic pressure and boosting production without the need for rotating equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional nitrogen lifting techniques using pumps and compressors are used, then hydrocarbon production can be boosted, but capital and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical lifting equipment (pumps and compressors) with a chemical/physical system using solidified nitrogen that sublimates to provide lift. The solidified nitrogen is delivered downhole and converts to gas, creating pressure differential to lift hydrocarbons without requiring rotating mechanical equipment at the wellsite.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of nitrogen from gaseous or liquid form (conventional methods) to solidified form. This solidified nitrogen is then delivered downhole where it sublimates (solid to gas phase change), providing a controlled parameter change that generates the necessary pressure differential for lift while avoiding the need for complex mechanical equipment.
2Volume of moving object
If solidified nitrogen is used instead of conventional nitrogen lifting, then volume efficiency improves, but handling and deployment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nitrogen is pre-solidified and pre-packaged in a container before deployment. This preliminary action allows the nitrogen to be stored in a compact, volume-efficient form during transport and handling, then released at the target location where it sublimates to provide the desired lift effect.
Solution Approach 2:
A container or delivery mechanism serves as an intermediary between the solidified nitrogen and the wellbore environment. This intermediary protects the solidified nitrogen during handling and deployment, then releases it at the appropriate location and time, managing the complexity of working with solidified material.
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 method efficiently and cost-effectively revives and boosts hydrocarbon production by reducing hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore, using denser and more volume-efficient solidified nitrogen, thereby reducing capital, operating, and maintenance costs compared to conventional nitrogen lifting techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The emulsifying agent is configured to dissolve in response to exposure to a downhole fluid
Implementation Method 2
The solidified nitrogen is allowed to sublimate into nitrogen gas within the wellbore, thereby reducing hydrostatic column in the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
Solidified nitrogen is placed at a downhole location within a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation. The solidified nitrogen is encapsulated by an emulsifying agent. The emulsifying agent is configured to dissolve in response to exposure to a downhole fluid. The solidified nitrogen encapsulated by the emulsifying agent is exposed to the downhole fluid at the downhole location within the wellbore, thereby dissolving the emulsifying agent and releasing the solidified nitrogen. The solidified nitrogen is allowed to sublimate into nitrogen gas within the wellbore, thereby reducing hydrostatic column in the wellbore. The downhole fluid is produced from the wellbore to a surface location.