Swellable Packer Sealing Systems for High-Temperature Brine Environments

Solution Overview

Problem

The swelling performance of downhole packers is adversely affected by the presence of multivalent ions in high-temperature and high-pressure downhole fluids, leading to reduced swelling efficiency and rate, particularly in brines based on halides of multivalent cations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an ion reducing material, such as a chelating agent, cation precipitating agent, or anion precipitating agent, into the swellable composition to remove undesirable ions, thereby enhancing the swelling efficiency of the packers. This material can include sodium citrate, ethylenediamine, or silver nitrate, which effectively binds or precipitates ions, improving the packers' performance in challenging fluid conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If swellable packers are used in high temperature and high pressure applications with heavy brines, then the packers can operate in challenging downhole environments, but the swelling efficiency and swelling rate decrease due to multivalent cations in the brines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to high temperature and high pressure applicationsVSAvoidswelling efficiency and swelling rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (chelating agent or ion-exchange resin) that mediates between the multivalent cations in the brine and the swellable polymer. The chelating agent binds to multivalent cations, preventing them from interfering with the swelling process, while ion-exchange resins exchange multivalent cations for monovalent cations, thereby protecting the swellable material and maintaining swelling efficiency in challenging downhole environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional swellable packers are exposed to heavy brines with multivalent cations, then they can be deployed in various downhole conditions, but the amount of swelling and swelling rate are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployability in various downhole conditionsVSAvoidamount of swelling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (chelating agent or ion-exchange resin) that mediates between the multivalent cations in the brine and the swellable polymer. The chelating agent binds to multivalent cations, preventing them from interfering with the swelling process, while ion-exchange resins exchange multivalent cations for monovalent cations, thereby protecting the swellable material and maintaining swelling efficiency in challenging downhole environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional swellable packers are exposed to heavy brines with multivalent cations, then they can be deployed in various downhole conditions, but the swelling rate is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployability in various downhole conditionsVSAvoidswelling rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (chelating agent or ion-exchange resin) that mediates between the multivalent cations in the brine and the swellable polymer. The chelating agent binds to multivalent cations, preventing them from interfering with the swelling process, while ion-exchange resins exchange multivalent cations for monovalent cations, thereby protecting the swellable material and maintaining swelling efficiency in challenging downhole environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 use of ion reducing materials significantly enhances the swelling efficiency and volume of the swellable packers, maintaining up to 85% of the overall volumetric expansion in water free of polyvalent ions, and provides reinforcement in the pre-swollen state, effectively sealing boreholes even in harsh downhole environments.

Implementation Method 1

the ion reducing material comprising one or more of the following: a chelating agent; a cation precipitating agent; or an anion precipitating agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 2

the ion reducing material comprising one or more of the following: a chelating agent; a cation precipitating agent; or an anion precipitating agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 3

swelling the article responsive to the flow of fluid thus sealing the borehole with the sealing system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 4

a flow of fluid diffused into the sealing system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS9702217B2Swellable sealing systems and methods for increasing swelling efficiency

Publication Date: 2017.07.11 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A sealing system comprises an article including a swellable composition comprising an elastomer and a super absorbent material; and an ion reducing material disposed with the swellable composition, the ion reducing material comprising one or more of the following: a chelating agent; a cation precipitating agent; or an anion precipitating agent.