Wellhead Gas Flow Control via Vacuum Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling gas flow from oil or gas wells, such as killing the well by filling it with fluid, are time-consuming, costly, and can damage the well formation, and are not effective for wells with porous rock structures or those that cannot be killed by fluid injection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses suction to divert the flow of gas through a wellhead housing, allowing well operations to be performed safely without filling the well with fluid, by applying suction to the wellhead outlets to direct gas flow away from the conduit, thereby controlling the gas flow without killing the well or sealing the conduit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the well is killed by filling it with fluid to control gas flow, then gas flow control is achieved, but operational time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the gas flow control function from the wellbore interior to the wellhead exterior by using a vacuum system connected to the wellhead housing. This allows gas flow to be controlled at the surface level rather than requiring fluid injection into the wellbore, thereby eliminating the time-consuming killing process while maintaining reliable gas flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vacuum system as an intermediary mechanism between the wellhead housing and the gas flow. The vacuum system acts as a mediator that creates negative pressure to control gas flow direction and rate, replacing the traditional intermediary fluid column and enabling faster operational response.
2Reliability
If fluid is pumped into the well to kill the well, then gas flow control is achieved, but costs increase due to fluid treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for fluid injection and subsequent fluid management by extracting the gas flow control function to the surface vacuum system. This eliminates the entire fluid lifecycle (injection, monitoring, removal, treatment) and associated costs, while maintaining effective gas flow control through vacuum pressure differential.
3Reliability
If fluid is introduced into the well to control gas flow, then gas flow control is achieved, but well formation damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system serves as an intermediary that controls gas flow without direct contact with the well formation. By creating negative pressure at the wellhead, the system influences gas flow direction and rate without introducing any substances into the wellbore, thereby preventing formation damage while achieving reliable gas flow control.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the well is kept non-operational to control gas flow safely, then safety is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system enables continuous gas flow control during well operations, eliminating the need to shut in the wellbore. Gas can flow continuously through the wellhead housing under vacuum control, allowing maintenance operations to proceed safely without interrupting the useful action of gas production or well servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting gas flow control to the surface vacuum system, the invention allows the wellbore to remain open and operational during maintenance activities. The vacuum system manages gas flow safety at the wellhead while the well maintains its productive state, eliminating the need to place the well in a non-operational killed state.
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 operational time by up to 80% and costs by at least 50%, while maintaining the well formation integrity and preventing microbial growth, and can be used for wells that cannot be killed by fluid injection.
Implementation Method 1
applying suction to the wellhead housing outlet to divert the flow of subterranean gas within the gas conduit to the wellhead housing outlet
Implementation Method 2
applying suction to the gas conduit to divert the flow of gas
Data Source
AI summary
A well system and method including applying suction to a wellhead housing outlet (8) to divert the flow of subterranean gas from flowing through a gas conduit through the wellhead housing (4). An operation can then safely be performed on a component (e.g. removing a hanger) of the wellhead apparatus. Well gas can be diverted to a flare system (200). Suction can be applied by a venturi system including eductors (104, 106). The method may include opening the gas conduit outlet once a pressure sensed at the conduit outlet is negative. Suction may also be applied to an upper outlet (14).