Surge Flow Mitigation Tool Ball Seat Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well management systems fail to effectively mitigate surge flow issues in subterranean wells, leading to inefficient pumping and increased formation back pressure, which affects well production.
Innovation Solution
A surge flow mitigation tool that utilizes a ball and seat mechanism to allow upward fluid flow while preventing downward flow, creating a pumping reservoir that minimizes backflow and allows for targeted hot oil treatment and chemical injection below the packer, thereby reducing formation back pressure and enhancing production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a ball and seat mechanism is used to prevent downward fluid flow, then backflow is reduced and formation back pressure decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the surge flow mitigation function from the existing well management system by introducing a dedicated ball and seat mechanism. This separate component specifically addresses backflow prevention without requiring redesign of the entire system, thereby reducing harmful backflow effects while adding only the necessary minimal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball and seat mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the upward and downward fluid flows. The ball serves as a passive mediator that automatically responds to flow direction changes, enabling surge flow mitigation without requiring active control systems or complex machinery.
2Productivity
If a pumping reservoir is created to capture surge energy, then well production increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping reservoir utilizes the kinetic energy of surge flows itself to perform the pumping function. The surge flow automatically fills the reservoir and creates the pressure differential needed for fluid movement, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex pumping mechanisms while increasing well production.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful surge flows and backpressure into beneficial pumping action. By capturing the surge energy that would otherwise cause problems, the system transforms these adverse conditions into useful work that enhances well production without requiring additional energy input.
3Reliability
If chemical injection and hot oil treatment are enabled below the packer, then treatment effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ball and seat mechanism is pre-configured to automatically respond to injection pressure changes. When chemical injection or hot oil treatment is initiated, the mechanism preemptively controls flow direction, ensuring that treatments are delivered effectively below the packer without requiring complex control systems during the actual treatment process.
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 tool effectively captures surge energy to increase well production, reduce backflow, and facilitate targeted treatments, improving overall well profitability and efficiency in both horizontal and vertical well orientations.
Implementation Method 1
a ball and seat mechanism that allows upward fluid flow while preventing downward flow
Implementation Method 2
increasing a differential pressure across the surge flow valve to greater than a first predetermined level, thereby opening a bypass flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A surge flow mitigation tool can include a surge flow valve that permits one-way fluid flow through a flow passage, and a bypass flow path that opens when a differential pressure across the surge flow valve is greater than a predetermined level. A method of mitigating surge flow in a well can include producing fluid through a tubular string with a bottom hole assembly including a surge flow mitigation tool connected downhole of a packer, the surge flow mitigation tool including a surge flow valve that permits the fluid to flow toward surface via the tubular string, but prevents the fluid from flowing into the well via the tubular string, and increasing a differential pressure across the surge flow valve to greater than a predetermined level, thereby opening a bypass flow path that permits injection flow from the tubular string into the well downhole of the packer.