Subsea Chemical Injection Choke Trim for Polymer Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chemical injection systems for wells face challenges in maintaining the effectiveness of long-chain polymers due to degradation from fluid shear and acceleration forces during injection, leading to reduced viscosity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A subsea chemical injection system with a low shear choke trim that adjusts the cross-sectional area and length of the flow path independently to reduce shear forces and acceleration, featuring a tapered inlet section and adjustable components like concentric cylinders and plates to minimize polymer degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If long-chain polymers are injected to improve water viscosity and increase yield, then the extraction rate is improved, but the polymer degrades due to fluid shear and acceleration forces during injection
Solution Approach 1:
The choke trim components are designed with movable elements that allow dynamic adjustment of the flow path cross-sectional area and length. This enables optimization of flow conditions to reduce polymer degradation while maintaining extraction rates, resolving the contradiction between productivity and polymer reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the flow path (cross-sectional area, length, geometry) to reduce shear and acceleration forces. By adjusting these parameters, the polymer maintains its viscosity and effectiveness while still achieving high extraction rates
2Power
If the flow path cross-sectional area is reduced to increase injection pressure, then the injection efficiency is improved, but the shear forces on the polymer increase causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces additional geometric dimensions to the flow path design, including tapered sections and variable cross-sectional profiles. These dimensional changes allow pressure increase without proportional increases in shear force, as the gradual geometry transitions distribute the stress more evenly across the polymer chains
3Device complexity
If the injection system uses conventional choke designs, then the system complexity is low, but the polymer degradation is severe reducing injection efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The choke trim is divided into multiple adjustable components including separate elements for controlling cross-sectional area and length. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each parameter to minimize polymer degradation while maintaining relatively simple overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable choke trim components act as intermediaries between the injection system and the polymer flow. These components mediate the flow conditions, reducing harmful shear and acceleration forces while maintaining injection effectiveness
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 system effectively reduces polymer degradation, maintaining viscosity and enhancing the flow of production fluids by minimizing shear and acceleration forces, thereby extending the life of wells and improving extraction rates.
Implementation Method 1
the cross-sectional area and length are each adjustable independent from one another... minimize polymer degradation
Implementation Method 2
the polymer may degrade if subject to fluid shear and/or fluid acceleration during the injection process
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system includes a subsea chemical injection system configured to inject a chemical into a well, wherein the choke trim comprises a first cylinder comprising a first plurality of spiral flow paths, a second cylinder comprising a second plurality of spiral flow paths, wherein the first cylinder is disposed within the second cylinder, and an outer portion comprising a plurality of axial passages, wherein the second cylinder is disposed within the outer portion.