Uniform Bore Downhole Completion System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Intelligent wells equipped with extensive lines and electronics face challenges in maintenance and expansion, as they can only support up to eight production zones and require larger base structures, making them costly and risky to intervene with tools for adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A downhole completion system involving drilling a main bore and lateral bores with uniform inner diameters, allowing for the use of identical components for all production casings, which reduces material demand and costs, and enables service in lateral production casings during main production casing maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intelligent wells are equipped with extensive lines and electronics to adjust and enhance production, then production control capability is improved, but device complexity and risk of intervention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex electronics and control lines from the well completion system. Instead of using intelligent wells with extensive equipment, the patent employs a simple mechanical completion system where production zones are controlled through physical isolation using packers and flow control through simple valves or chokes, eliminating the need for electronic control infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses simple, inexpensive, and easily replaceable mechanical components such as packers, valves, and chokes that can be quickly installed and removed without complex electronic infrastructure. These components are designed to be straightforward to intervene with and replace if needed, contrasting with the permanent, complex electronic systems of intelligent wells.
2Adaptability or versatility
If intelligent wells are designed to support multiple production zones, then production zone coverage is improved, but base structure size and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the well into multiple independent production zones, each equipped with its own packer and flow control mechanism. This segmentation allows each zone to be independently managed and controlled, enabling flexible production optimization without requiring a large base structure or complex electronic infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the base structure horizontally to accommodate multiple production zones, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by stacking multiple production zones along the wellbore depth. Each zone is isolated vertically by packers, allowing comprehensive reservoir coverage while maintaining a compact surface footprint.
3Ease of operation
If main production casing inner diameter is enlarged to allow lateral casing entry, then lateral drilling capability is improved, but material demand and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a nested casing configuration where the lateral production casing is inserted inside the main production casing. The main casing has a standard inner diameter, and the lateral casing is sized to fit within it, eliminating the need to enlarge the main casing. This nesting approach enables lateral drilling capability while maintaining standard casing dimensions and minimizing material usage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a completion method for completing a uniform inner bore downhole completion system in a reservoir in a formation, comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the formation, inserting a surface casing having an inner surface casing diameter, cementing an outer face of the surface casing to the hole, inserting a drilling head in the surface casing, drilling a main bore extending from the surface casing, the main bore having a first part and a second part, the second part comprising an end of the main bore, and the main bore having an inner main bore diameter which is substantially the same as the inner surface casing diameter of the surface casing, retracting the drilling head from the main bore and the surface casing, inserting a lower production casing in the second part of the main bore, the lower production casing having annular barriers and an inner diameter, setting at least one of the annular barriers of the lower production casing, inserting the drilling head into the first part of the main bore below the surface casing, drilling a lateral bore from the first part of the main bore, the lateral bore having an inner lateral bore diameter which is substantially equal to the inner main bore diameter, retracting the drilling head from the lateral bore, inserting a lateral production casing fully in the lateral bore, the lateral production casing having annular barriers and an inner diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the lower production casing providing a uniform inner bore completion having the same inner diameter in all production casings, enabling service also in the lateral production casing while service of the main production casing is performed, setting at least one of the annular barriers of the lateral production casing, inserting a main production casing in the first part of the main bore, so that the main production casing is fluidly connected with the lower production casing, the main production casing having annular barriers and an inner diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the lower production casing, setting the annular barriers of the main production casing, and providing an opening in the main production casing opposite the lateral production casing fluidly connecting the lateral production casing with the main production casing, so that the lower production casing, the main production casing and the lateral production casing is in fluid communication. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a downhole completion system for enhancing hydrocarbon-containing fluid production in a reservoir.