Well Injection Profile Estimation Using Surface Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating the depth injection profile of a well require inserting tools inside the well, which are costly and risky, and cannot be applied to wells with slanted or horizontal portions, and are not suitable for all cased wells with insufficient inner sections.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates the depth injection profile by injecting two fluids with different viscosities at the wellhead, measuring temporal injection profiles at the surface, and converting these profiles into depth profiles without using tools inside the well, applicable to any well configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tools are inserted into the well for measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from underground tools and relocates it to surface-level pressure sensors. By measuring pressure at the wellhead during fluid injection, the system derives depth injection profiles without requiring any tools to be inserted into the well or sensors to be placed underground, thus eliminating the complexity and risk associated with tool insertion while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses injected fluids as an intermediary medium to transmit information about well injectivity. The fluids carry pressure signals from different depths back to the surface sensors, allowing the system to indirectly measure depth-specific injection characteristics without physical contact between sensors and underground formations
2Measurement precision
If tools are inserted into the well, then measurement accuracy is improved, but operational risk and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is extracted from vulnerable underground tools and relocated to safe surface-level equipment. Pressure sensors are installed at the wellhead where they are easily protected and maintained, eliminating the operational risks associated with tool insertion, tool failure underground, and well contamination while preserving the ability to obtain accurate injection profile data
3Measurement precision
If traditional measurement methods are used, then injection profile data is obtained, but applicability to slanted or horizontal wells is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal measurement system based on pressure sensing at the wellhead that functions independently of well geometry. The method can be applied to vertical wells, slanted wells, and horizontal wells alike, as it relies on measuring pressure during fluid injection rather than on well orientation or the ability to insert tools along the wellbore path
4Measurement precision
If tools are inserted into the well, then direct measurement is achieved, but cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The expensive and complex underground measurement tools are replaced with simple, inexpensive pressure sensors installed at the surface. The system uses readily available pressure transducers and standard injection equipment, eliminating the need for specialized downhole tools, tool deployment vessels, and complex tool string assemblies, thereby dramatically reducing implementation costs while maintaining measurement capability
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
Reduces costs and risks by eliminating the need for underground sensors, allowing estimation of depth injection profiles in any well geometry, including slanted or horizontal portions, and maintaining accuracy through fluid interface dynamics.
Implementation Method 1
a first fluid is injected at the first end until the first fluid reaches the second end, such that a first interface between the initial fluid and the first fluid travels from the first end towards the second end
Implementation Method 2
said first fluid having a higher viscosity than the initial fluid; said second fluid having a lower viscosity than the first fluid
Implementation Method 3
measuring at least one temporal injection profile representative of the variation over time of at least one physical quantity measured at the first end
Implementation Method 4
measuring at least one temporal injection profile representative of the variation over time of at least one physical quantity measured at the first end
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating an injection profile in function of the depth of a well include performing, when the well is initially filled with an initial fluid: a well closing phase wherein a first fluid is injected at a first end of the well until said first fluid reaches a second end of the well, said first fluid having a higher viscosity than the initial fluid; and a well opening phase wherein a second fluid is injected at the first end until said second fluid reaches the second end, said first fluid having a higher viscosity than the second fluid. The method further comprises measuring at least one temporal injection profile and estimating the depth injection profile of the well based on the at least one temporal injection profile.