Wave-Path Injection Well for Steam Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steam injection methods for heavy oil production, such as steam flooding, are limited by the need for multiple wells and high costs, with production declining as heat dissipates, requiring frequent well role reversals to maintain efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A single well with a wave-like pathway and alternating injection and production ports, utilizing directional drilling and swellable packers to enhance steam penetration and hydrocarbon recovery, allowing continuous steam injection and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple wells are used for continuous steam injection, then production efficiency is improved, but drilling and operation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (injection and production) into a single wellbore by creating a wave-shaped pathway with alternating injection and production ports. This merging approach achieves the productivity benefits of multiple wells while reducing the complexity and cost associated with drilling and maintaining separate injection and production wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by creating a wave-shaped well pathway that oscillates vertically and horizontally through the formation. This three-dimensional configuration allows a single well to access multiple zones and perform both injection and production functions, effectively replacing the need for multiple vertical wells.
2Productivity
If steam injection continues until heat dissipates, then hydrocarbon recovery is improved, but production efficiency declines
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shaped well design with alternating injection and production ports enables continuous useful action by allowing steam to be injected while hydrocarbons are simultaneously produced from different sections of the well. This continuous operation maintains production efficiency throughout the steam injection process rather than experiencing decline as heat dissipates.
Solution Approach 2:
The wellbore is segmented into multiple alternating injection and production zones along the wave pathway. This segmentation allows different sections to perform different functions simultaneously, enabling continuous hydrocarbon recovery while steam is being injected, thereby maintaining production efficiency over extended periods.
3Productivity
If well roles are reversed frequently to maintain efficiency, then production is maintained, but operation complexity and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating injection and production ports along the wave pathway enable simultaneous injection and production operations without requiring role reversals. This continuous operation eliminates the time loss and operational complexity associated with frequently switching well functions, while maintaining production efficiency throughout the steam injection process.
4Device complexity
If a single well is used for injection, then cost is reduced, but steam penetration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shaped well pathway extends in three dimensions through the formation, oscillating vertically and horizontally to reach multiple zones. This dimensional expansion allows a single well to achieve steam penetration equivalent to multiple wells by accessing a larger volume of the reservoir through its undulating path.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave pathway creates multiple segmented sections along the wellbore that can independently contribute to steam penetration. Each section of the wave can inject steam into different zones of the formation, collectively achieving extensive penetration coverage with a single wellbore.
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 approach reduces costs by utilizing a single well with enhanced steam penetration and hydrocarbon recovery, maintaining production efficiency by isolating injection and production zones with packers, enabling continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
Packers can be installed in the wellbore to isolate the injection and production ports. In one embodiment, the packers are swellable packers.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for completing an injection well, wherein the horizontally-extending portion of the well is drilled in a wave pattern. Injection and hydrocarbon recovery sections or alternatively spaced along the horizontally-extending portion and are isolated from each other by packers in the wellbore. The injection and hydrocarbon recovery sections are positioned at the opposed peaks of the wave pattern.