Wettability Altering Fluids for Downhole Perforation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid loss pills, particularly those using gellable polymers, can leak fluids into the subterranean formation during hold-off periods, altering wettability and reducing hydrocarbon recovery rates by decreasing reservoir permeability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the sequential introduction of a perforating fluid, followed by a wettability altering fluid to seep into the formation, and then a fluid loss pill to inhibit fluid seepage between the wellbore and the formation, ensuring minimal leakage and enhancing relative permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid loss pills are used to seal the reservoir during hold-off periods, then well control and hydrostatic integrity are maintained, but fluids leak into the formation altering wettability and decreasing reservoir permeability
Solution Approach 1:
A wettability altering fluid is introduced into the formation before the fluid loss pill to pre-condition the formation. This preliminary action ensures that when the fluid loss pill leaks during the hold-off period, the leaked fluids do not adversely alter wettability or decrease permeability, thus preventing formation damage while maintaining well control.
Solution Approach 2:
The wettability altering fluid is applied in advance to counteract the harmful effects of fluid loss pill leakage. By establishing the desired wettability conditions beforehand, the patent prevents the adverse wettability alteration and permeability reduction that would otherwise occur when the fluid loss pill leaks into the formation.
2Reliability
If fluid loss pills are used to temporarily seal the reservoir, then hydrostatic integrity is maintained, but reservoir permeability decreases resulting in lower hydrocarbon recovery factors
Solution Approach 1:
The wettability altering fluid is introduced before the fluid loss pill to establish optimal wettability conditions for hydrocarbon recovery. This preliminary conditioning ensures that even when the fluid loss pill decreases permeability during hold-off, the formation maintains better hydrocarbon flow characteristics, thus preserving the hydrocarbon recovery factor.
3Reliability
If fluid loss pills are used during completion operations, then well control is achieved, but wettability of the formation is altered reducing recovery rates
Solution Approach 1:
The wettability altering fluid is applied to the formation before introducing the fluid loss pill during completion operations. This preliminary action establishes the desired wettability conditions that prevent adverse wettability alteration from fluid loss pill leakage, thereby maintaining both well control and optimal recovery rates.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing the wettability altering fluid in advance, the patent creates a protective effect that counteracts the harmful wettability alteration caused by fluid loss pill leakage. This preliminary anti-action ensures that well control is achieved without compromising the formation's wettability or reducing recovery rates.
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 prevents formation damage, increases hydrocarbon recovery by maintaining or improving permeability, and enhances well productivity by shifting wettability towards mixed-wet conditions, reducing fluid loss pill-induced permeability reduction.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a wettability altering fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation such that the wettability altering fluid seeps into the subterranean formation
Implementation Method 2
introducing a fluid loss pill into the wellbore such that seepage of fluid between the wellbore and the subterranean formation is inhibited
Data Source
AI summary
A method relating to perforation operations, which comprises introducing a wettability altering fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation such that the wettability altering fluid seeps into the subterranean formation. Subsequent to introducing the wettability altering fluid, a fluid loss pill is introduced into the wellbore such that seepage of fluid between the wellbore and the subterranean formation is inhibited.