Expandable Truss Sealing for Inflow Control Device Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Horizontal wells face challenges with uneven influx of reservoir fluid leading to early water and gas breakthrough due to uneven permeability and fluid mobility, which existing inflow control devices (ICDs) may not adequately address, especially in heterogeneous reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A downhole completion system featuring an expandable sealing structure and internal truss structure that can be run through existing production tubing, expanded to seal ICDs and restrict unwanted fluid influx, using a hydraulic inflation tool to support and seal the ICDs, thereby balancing fluid drawdown and preventing premature breakthrough.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing inflow control devices (ICDs) are used to balance drawdown, then fluid distribution is improved, but water and gas breakthrough still occurs prematurely in heterogeneous reservoirs
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is deployed inside the production tubing to isolate and seal off specific ICD sections from the annulus, effectively removing the harmful fluid influx pathway while preserving the ICD's drawdown control function in other sections
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure provides localized sealing at specific ICD sections where water or gas coning occurs, allowing different sections of the same well to have different fluid flow characteristics - sealed sections prevent breakthrough while unsealed sections maintain production
2Reliability
If the wellbore is sealed to prevent water and gas coning at the heel, then breakthrough is delayed, but production from deeper zones must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure can be deployed as discrete segments at specific ICD locations rather than sealing the entire wellbore, allowing selective isolation of problematic zones while preserving production capacity in other sections
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure applies localized sealing only where water or gas coning occurs, maintaining different flow characteristics in different well sections - sealed zones prevent breakthrough while unsealed zones continue to produce oil
3Reliability
If an expandable sealing structure is deployed inside production tubing, then ICD sections can be sealed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is nested inside the existing production tubing and ICD system, utilizing the existing wellbore infrastructure rather than requiring separate external sealing mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure transitions from a compact transport configuration to an expanded sealing configuration through hydraulic actuation, allowing the same structure to serve both deployment and sealing functions
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 system effectively restricts the influx of undesired formation fluids, extending the well's life, increasing oil production, and reducing operational expenditures by ensuring more even fluid distribution and preventing water and gas coning.
Implementation Method 1
conveying a hydraulic inflation tool into the production tubing and expanding the truss and sealing structures from their contracted configurations to an expanded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole system and method is disclosed for sealing an inflow control device installed in a subterranean formation along a length of production tubing adjacent a productive zone of the subterranean formation. The system includes a truss structure radially expandable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration and a sealing structure disposed radially external to the truss structure. The truss structure and the sealing structure are set in their expanded configurations so that the sealing structure is put into engagement with the inflow control device so as to restrict the flow of fluids from the subterranean formation into the production tubing at the location of the inflow control device.