Synchronized Valving System for Selective Chemical Injection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrocarbon recovery and other applications, downhole flow control valves often require separate chemical injection lines, leading to chemical wastage and formation damage due to uncontrolled chemical injection, especially when multiple producing zones share a common injection line.
Innovation Solution
A valving system with operable communication between flow control valves and chemical control valves, allowing for synchronized actuation between the two, enabling selective halting of chemical injection by closing the chemical control valves when flow control valves are closed, using hydraulic or mechanical linkage systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple chemical injection valves share a common injection line, then device complexity is reduced, but chemical wastage increases and formation damage occurs due to uncontrolled injection
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical injection valve is linked to the flow control valve through hydraulic or mechanical communication, creating a feedback mechanism where the state of the flow control valve automatically controls the chemical injection valve. When the flow control valve closes to stop production, the chemical injection valve also closes to prevent chemical wastage and formation damage, eliminating the need for separate control while maintaining chemical injection control.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical injection valve system uses the operational state of the flow control valve to automatically control its own operation. The hydraulic or mechanical linkage allows the flow control valve's position to directly actuate the chemical injection valve, making the system self-regulating without requiring external control signals or additional complexity.
2Reliability
If chemical injection continues when flow is shut in, then chemical distribution coverage is maintained, but formation damage increases due to precipitate formation
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively closes the chemical injection valve before or simultaneously with the flow control valve closure. By anticipating the need to stop chemical injection when production is halted, the system prevents the harmful effect of chemical precipitates forming in the formation, eliminating formation damage while maintaining reliable chemical distribution when production is active.
3Measurement precision
If separate injection lines are used for each zone, then chemical injection control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common injection line serves multiple zones simultaneously, but the hydraulic or mechanical linkage provides zone-specific control through the flow control valves. Each flow control valve's operational state controls the corresponding chemical injection valve, enabling precise chemical injection control for each zone while using a shared injection line infrastructure, thus achieving control precision without the complexity of separate injection lines.
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
This solution prevents chemical wastage and formation damage by ensuring chemicals are only injected where production is active, optimizing chemical distribution and reducing potential damage to the formation.
Implementation Method 1
Both valves are actuated by a common hydraulic control system
Implementation Method 2
mechanical linkage systems
Data Source
AI summary
A valving system includes, a plurality of flow control valves, and a plurality of chemical control valves in operable communication with a plurality of the plurality of flow control valves such that each of the plurality of chemical control valves is actuated between closed and open positions when the flow control valve it is in operable communication with is actuated between closed or open positions.