Steam Injection Nozzle Choked Flow Hydrocarbon Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
In subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs, there is a challenge in preferentially introducing hydrocarbons into production tubing over steam due to steam's lower density and higher mobility, leading to uneven distribution of steam injection and preferential production in certain regions, which affects the overall hydrocarbon production rate.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design with specific geometrical features, including converging, throat, and diverging regions, is used to control the flow of fluids between the production tubing and the reservoir, achieving choked flow during steam injection and preferential hydrocarbon production by regulating the flow of steam and hydrocarbons, ensuring even steam distribution and reducing steam interference with hydrocarbon production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If steam is injected into the reservoir to heat and reduce viscosity of hydrocarbon materials, then the mobility of hydrocarbons is improved, but steam preferentially enters production tubing due to its lower density and higher mobility, leading to uneven steam distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area along its length, creating different flow conditions at different locations. The varying geometry (converging section, throat, diverging section) provides locally optimized flow control to regulate steam injection and achieve uniform steam distribution along the tubing length.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle geometry parameters (cross-sectional area, diameter) are specifically designed and varied along the length to control flow characteristics. By changing the geometric parameters of the nozzle, the flow rate and distribution of steam can be regulated to prevent preferential entry into production tubing.
2Productivity
If steam injection is used to stimulate hydrocarbon flow, then hydrocarbon mobility increases, but steam preferential production occurs in discrete locations, reducing the hydrocarbon to steam ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle's geometric parameters are specifically designed to create choked flow conditions at the throat, which provides inherent flow control. This geometric design allows regulation of steam injection rates and prevents preferential steam production, thereby improving the hydrocarbon to steam ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle acts as an intermediary device between the steam source and the reservoir/tubing system. It mediates the steam flow by controlling expansion and regulating the rate at which steam enters the production tubing, preventing preferential steam production.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional tubing with ports is used for steam injection, then steam can be introduced into the reservoir, but steam preferentially enters production tubing due to higher mobility, requiring additional flow control measures
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is integrated with the tubing system, merging the flow control function with the existing tubing structure. The nozzle is positioned at ports along the tubing, combining steam injection capability with flow regulation in a single integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle design serves multiple functions: it controls steam expansion, regulates flow rate, prevents preferential steam production, and maintains uniform steam distribution. This multi-functional device reduces the need for additional separate flow control measures.
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 nozzle effectively regulates steam flow during injection, ensuring uniform steam distribution and limits steam production during hydrocarbon extraction, thereby enhancing the hydrocarbon-to-steam ratio and improving overall production efficiency by maintaining critical flow conditions and separating steam from hydrocarbons.
Implementation Method 1
achieve critical, or choked, flow of steam and thereby regulate and evenly distribute the mass of steam along the length of the well
Implementation Method 2
a converging region adjacent to and downstream of the first opening, the converging region having a decreasing cross-sectional area extending in the first direction; a throat downstream of the converging region, the throat having a diameter d2
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle for controlling the flow of fluids into and/or out of a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprises a fluid passage extending between first and second openings. The passage comprises a flow adjusting region for increasing the velocity of fluids injected into the reservoir and for choking steam produced from the reservoir.