Tackifying Fluid for Injection Well Sand Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Injection wells in hydrocarbon recovery face issues such as particulate migration and loss of consolidation due to injection fluid pressures, leading to reduced sweep efficiency and mechanical failures, especially in weak formations and during rapid shut-down cycles.

Innovation Solution

Introducing a tackifying treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a tackifying agent into the injection well to stabilize formation particulates, either as a continuous or intermittent process, which helps prevent particulate migration and consolidation loss by forming a cohesive coating on formation surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If injection fluids are introduced at high pressure to drive hydrocarbons, then production energy is improved, but formation consolidation is worsened leading to particulate migration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction energyVSAvoidformation consolidation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A tackifying treatment fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance between the injection fluid and formation particulates. This treatment fluid contains a tackifying agent that forms a cohesive coating on formation surfaces, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact and interaction between the high-pressure injection fluid and the formation particles, thereby preventing particulate migration while maintaining production energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The tackifying treatment fluid is introduced into the injection well before the high-pressure injection fluid reaches the formation. This preliminary action establishes a protective coating on the formation surfaces in advance, creating a barrier that prevents particulate migration during subsequent high-pressure injection operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If rapid shut down cycles are used to control injection rates, then operational flexibility is improved, but water hammer effects worsen causing mechanical failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidmechanical failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tackifying treatment fluid is introduced beforehand to create a cushioning protective layer around the injection well bore and formation particulates. This beforehand cushioning absorbs and mitigates the water hammer effects generated during rapid shut down cycles, preventing mechanical failure while allowing operational flexibility to be maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If high injection rates are maintained to improve sweep efficiency, then hydrocarbon recovery is improved, but formation weakening worsens leading to sand production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon recoveryVSAvoidformation strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tackifying treatment fluid serves as an intermediary protective barrier between the high-rate injection fluid and the formation. The tackifying agent in this treatment fluid forms a cohesive coating that strengthens the formation matrix, allowing high injection rates to be maintained for improved hydrocarbon recovery without causing formation weakening or sand production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional completion methods are used in weak formations, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability worsens due to high failure rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidfailure rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tackifying treatment fluid is introduced as a preliminary strengthening action before conventional completion methods are applied. This preliminary action consolidates the weak formation matrix and creates a more reliable structure, thereby reducing failure rates while maintaining the ease of installation provided by conventional completion methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 tackifying treatment fluid effectively reduces the likelihood of particulate production and consolidation loss, enhancing the stability of the formation and preventing erosion, thereby improving sweep efficiency and extending the lifespan of injection wells.

Implementation Method 1

The tackifying treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a tackifying agent. The tackifying treatment fluid effectively reduces the likelihood of particulate production and consolidation loss, enhancing the stability of the formation and preventing erosion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCohesion: Cohesion

Data Source

PatentUS8875786B2Methods and compositions for sand control in injection wells

Publication Date: 2014.11.04 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Methods of preventing or reducing migration of particulates in injection wells. Some embodiments of the present invention describe methods of introducing a tackifying treatment fluid through an injection well and into a portion of a subterranean formation surrounding the injection well, wherein the tackifying treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a tackifying agent. Other embodiments include a step of introducing a resin treatment fluid to the injection well before the tackifying treatment fluid.