Treatment Formulation for Wellbore Pump Flow Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The passage of hydrocarbons through constrictions in wellbores is hindered by significant positive pressure, reducing the rate of flow from the reservoir to the wellbore and pump, especially with sand control barriers acting as a force against fluid passage.
Innovation Solution
A treatment formulation is used to lower surface tension and frictional forces between the reservoir fluid and constriction walls, facilitating fluid passage by being introduced into the wellbore and allowed to flow under gravity towards the pump inlet, thereby improving pump performance and increasing oil production rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sand control barriers are installed to maintain wellbore structural integrity, then wellbore stability is improved, but fluid flow rate is reduced due to increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the reservoir fluid by injecting a treatment formulation that alters surface tension and frictional characteristics. This modifies the fluid's interaction with the sand control barrier structure, reducing resistance without compromising the barrier's structural integrity or sand control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment formulation acts as an intermediary substance between the reservoir fluid and the sand control barrier. It mediates the interaction by reducing surface tension and frictional forces at the fluid-barrier interface, allowing fluid to pass through the barrier more easily while the barrier maintains its mechanical support function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If constrictions are present in the wellbore for sand control, then sand migration is controlled, but back pressure increases reducing fluid passage
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment formulation changes the physical parameters of the fluid, specifically surface tension and viscosity characteristics. These parameter changes reduce the fluid's resistance to passing through constrictions, thereby lowering back pressure while sand control functionality is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of high back pressure caused by sand control constrictions into a benefit by using the treatment formulation to reduce frictional forces. The same constrictions that create resistance also provide the interface where the treatment formulation can most effectively reduce surface tension and improve flow.
3Productivity
If treatment formulation is injected to reduce surface tension, then fluid flow rate increases, but additional injection equipment and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment formulation serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reduces surface tension to improve flow, provides lubrication to reduce frictional forces, and may offer corrosion inhibition or scale prevention. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate treatment systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 formulation reduces back pressure, increases fluid flow rates, and enhances the efficiency of wellbore pumps, allowing for higher barrels of oil per day production, even in non-producing wells, by reducing torque and wellhead pressure.
Implementation Method 1
use of the treatment formulation appears to facilitate passage of reservoir fluid including liquid hydrocarbons through constrictions by lowering the surface tension and/or frictional forces between the reservoir fluid and walls which define constrictions
Implementation Method 2
use of the treatment formulation appears to facilitate passage of reservoir fluid including liquid hydrocarbons through constrictions by lowering the surface tension and/or frictional forces between the reservoir fluid and walls which define constrictions
Implementation Method 3
said treatment formulation is caused to move from a first position, spaced from the inlet of the wellbore pump, towards a second position defined by the inlet of the wellbore pump
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An oil well includes a wellbore (2), below ground level (4), which extends to an oil reservoir (6). The wellbore includes a casing (8) within which is arranged a progressing cavity pump (PCP) 10 which includes an inlet (12) at its lower end and is connected at its upper end to production tube (14). An annulus (16) is defined between the pump (10)/tube (14) and the casing (8). The annulus communicates with the reservoir and includes a head (20) of reservoir fluid. A water based formulation which comprises an optionally cross-linked polyvinylalcohol can be poured down the annulus (16) and pass under gravity to the reservoir (6), immediately upstream of inlet (12). The formulation may improve the performance and efficiency of the pump (10) due to its ability to increase the mobility of the oil in the reservoir immediately upstream of the pump (10) and/or enhance the ability of the oil to enter the pump inlet. Furthermore, by improving mobility and/or reducing the level of back pressure when the oil enters the pump inlet (or any other constriction) the rate of flow of oil from the reservoir into the wellbore may be increased resulting in an increased rate of oil production.