Wellbore Water Removal via Emulsification Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stagnant water in production wellbores interferes with hydrocarbon production, reducing well productivity by 30% to 50% due to its density and trajectory, which causes pressure losses and chokes the flow of hydrocarbons to the surface.
Innovation Solution
A method and wellbore assembly that determine the production flow rate and compare it to a threshold, then inject a surfactant, gas, or foaming agent to emulsify the water with the production fluid, allowing the mixture to flow to the surface, using a wellbore string and tool with apertures to ensure removal of stagnant water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is removed from the wellbore to improve hydrocarbon production, then productivity increases, but the density and trajectory of water cause pressure losses that choke flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of water by injecting surfactants and/or foaming agents, transforming it from a dense, flow-choking liquid into an emulsified or foamed state that mixes with production fluid, thereby reducing pressure losses while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (surfactants and/or foaming agents) that mediate between water and production fluid, enabling emulsification or foaming that allows water to be transported without causing pressure losses, thus resolving the contradiction between water removal and pressure maintenance
2Productivity
If emulsifier is injected to emulsify water with production fluid, then water removal efficiency improves, but the complexity of the treatment process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment process into distinct stages: determining flow rate, comparing to threshold, and selectively injecting emulsifiers based on water location detection, which manages complexity through structured progression rather than simultaneous complex operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by detecting water location and flow rate, then using this information to determine when and where to inject emulsifiers, creating a controlled, responsive system that improves efficiency while managing complexity through intelligent decision-making
3Productivity
If flow rate is monitored and compared to threshold to determine emulsifier injection, then targeted water removal is achieved, but the measurement and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex continuous monitoring systems with a threshold-based comparison approach, where flow rate is measured and simply compared against a predetermined threshold value, reducing measurement and control requirements while achieving targeted water removal
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 method effectively removes stagnant water from the wellbore, improving hydrocarbon production rates and reducing the need for unnecessary well intervention operations by ensuring all or most water is removed, thus enhancing well productivity.
Implementation Method 1
injecting an emulsifier including at least one of i) a surfactant, ii) a gas, or iii) a foaming agent to the water, emulsifying the water with the production fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A method of removing wellbore water from a production wellbore includes determining a production flow rate. The method also includes determining a target production flow rate of the production fluid and comparing the production flow rate to a flow rate threshold associated with the target production flow rate. The method also includes determining, based on a result of comparing the production flow rate to the flow rate threshold, that the production flow rate satisfies the threshold. The method also includes activating a fluid moving device fluidly coupled to a wellbore string extending from a terranean surface to the water to inject, into the water, at least one of i) a surfactant, ii) a gas, or iii) a foaming agent, allowing the water and the production fluid to emulsify together and thereby allowing a mixture of water and production fluid to flow to the terranean surface of the wellbore.