Time Delay Valve System for Wellbore Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long deviated wells experience a heel-toe effect due to frictional pressure losses, leading to uneven fluid inflow rates and inefficient oil sweep efficiency, as well as challenges in well clean-up, where the filter cake is cleaned from the heel first, limiting pressure drop needed for proper toe cleaning.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a time delay valve system in well flow control devices that stages the opening and closing of flow control devices along the wellbore, allowing flow to begin at the toe and progress towards the heel, facilitating controlled fluid exchange and filter cake cleaning by using a controller with sensors to manage the timing and flow restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If flow control devices are opened simultaneously along the wellbore, then production starts quickly, but the heel-toe effect causes uneven fluid inflow and poor oil sweep efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple zones with individual flow control devices (packers and chokes) that can be opened independently. This segmentation allows progressive opening of zones from toe to heel, ensuring uniform fluid inflow distribution while maintaining rapid production start through automated sequencing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If flow control devices are opened progressively from toe to heel, then fluid inflow uniformity improves, but the process takes more time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action through automated sequential opening of flow control devices. Multiple zones are opened in predetermined sequences at controlled intervals, achieving uniform fluid inflow distribution while minimizing total time through efficient automated progression rather than manual step-by-step operation.
3Productivity
If the well is cleaned from the heel first, then early production begins, but the filter cake at the toe cannot be properly cleaned due to insufficient pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by first opening flow control devices at the toe zone to establish proper pressure drop for filter cake removal before opening heel zones. This ensures thorough cleaning of the toe filter cake while maintaining early production capability through staged opening of subsequent zones.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple flow control devices are used to address heel-toe effect, then fluid inflow uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by using identical packer-choke assemblies throughout the wellbore that perform multiple functions: zonal isolation, flow control, and pressure management. Each standardized unit can be opened independently while following a unified automated sequence, achieving uniform fluid inflow without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A well screen assembly includes a valve configured to control flow between the interior and exterior of the well screen assembly, and in certain instances control flow through a flow control device (e.g., inflow control device and/or other). The valve can be operated in response to a signal detected by an in-well sensor.