Spiral Flow Conduits for Polymer-Safe Water Injection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water injection systems for enhanced oil recovery face issues with poor macroscopic sweep efficiency due to high water mobility compared to oil mobility, leading to unstable fronts and viscous fingering, which results in incomplete oil recovery and significant polymer degradation in traditional choke valves.
Innovation Solution
A water injection flow control device featuring spiral-shaped conduits with alternating cross-section areas and serpentine or wave shapes is designed to minimize polymer degradation by controlling pressure drop and flow rate, reducing strain rates and turbulence, thereby promoting elongational viscosity without extending polymer chains beyond breakage points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional choke valves are used to control flow rate and pressure drop, then flow control is achieved, but polymer degradation increases significantly (60-70%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spiral-shaped flow conduits with curved geometry instead of straight or angular passages. The spiral configuration with specific radius ratios (R1/R2 between 1.05-10) creates smooth flow transitions that reduce strain rates and turbulence, thereby minimizing polymer chain breakage while maintaining effective flow control and pressure drop management
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates alternating cross-section areas along the spiral conduits, creating dynamic flow conditions that promote elongational viscosity without excessive strain rates. The varying cross-section (with ratios between 1.05-10) allows the flow to adapt continuously, reducing turbulent eddies and polymer degradation while maintaining control over flow rate and pressure drop
2Stress or pressure
If high water mobility is used to maintain pressure difference and ensure oil flow, then injection pressure is maintained, but macroscopic sweep efficiency deteriorates due to unstable fronts and viscous fingering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the flow parameters within the device by using spiral geometry with specific radius ratios and alternating cross-section areas. These parameter changes create flow conditions that promote elongational viscosity and reduce strain rates, transforming the flow regime to minimize viscous fingering and improve macroscopic sweep efficiency while maintaining effective pressure control
3Force
If very high molecular weight polymers are used to maximize viscosifying power, then viscosity enhancement is improved, but polymer degradation becomes more severe
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral-shaped conduits with optimized radius ratios create curved flow paths that reduce strain rates on polymer chains. This curved geometry minimizes the mechanical stress on high molecular weight polymers, allowing them to maintain their viscosifying power without severe degradation that would otherwise occur in traditional valve geometries
4Ease of operation
If choke valves with high pressure drop are used to control injection flow, then flow rate control is achieved, but turbulence and strain rates increase causing polymer chain breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating cross-section areas along the spiral conduits create dynamic flow conditions that promote elongational viscosity without excessive strain rates. This dynamic configuration allows the device to achieve effective flow rate control and pressure drop while minimizing turbulence and polymer chain breakage through continuous flow adaptation
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 device achieves a significant reduction in polymer degradation from 60-70% to 10-20%, enhancing oil recovery efficiency and maintaining viscosity, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design capable of withstanding high pressures.
Implementation Method 1
promoting elongational viscosity without extending polymer chains beyond breakage points
Implementation Method 2
Increasing the viscosity of the injected water enables to decrease the mobility ratio between water and oil
Implementation Method 3
minimize polymer degradation by controlling pressure drop and flow rate, reducing strain rates and turbulence
Data Source
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AI summary
Water injection flow control device, distinctive in that it comprises: a stack of discs or cone-like plates, the discs or cone-like plates as stacked or per se comprises in substance spiral shaped flow conduits, the spiral shaped flow conduits comprises at least one revolution, the spiral shaped flow conduit being turned about a central point or axis and departing or approaching said central point or axis for each revolution, at least some of said spiral shaped flow conduits comprises at least one of sections in series with alternating cross section area for flow and a section with serpentine-type shape for flow along the in substance spiral shaped flow conduits, said spiral shaped flow conduits has a fluid conduit length of at least 0.2 meter, an inlet operatively coupled to an inner or outer end of the spiral shaped flow conduits, an outlet operatively coupled to the other end of said conduits than the inlet, and a control member. The invention also provides a system comprising said device and use of said device.