Wireless Electronic Flow Control Nodes for Multilateral Wellbore Completion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oil and gas well production, the deployment of control lines for inflow control devices (ICDs) is challenging in multilateral wellbores, leading to difficulties in individually controlling formation fluid production at the granular level, and premature carrier fluid loss during gravel packing results in incomplete sand packing and reduced filtering efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of adjustable electronic flow control nodes with power harvesting mechanisms and wireless control, which allow for precise control of fluid flow through sand screen assemblies and shunt tubes, eliminating the need for traditional control lines and enhancing gravel packing efficiency by enabling sequential operation of electronic flow control nodes along the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional control lines are used for inflow control devices, then individual control of formation fluid production is achieved, but deployment becomes difficult in multilateral wellbores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical control line system with a wireless electronic flow control node that uses electromagnetic fields for power and communication. The electronic flow control node receives wireless signals from a surface controller to actuate valves, eliminating the need for physical control lines to be deployed through the wellbore junction assembly into lateral wellbores.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication system as an intermediary between the surface controller and the downhole flow control devices. This intermediary enables control signals to be transmitted through the wellbore without requiring physical conduit lines, solving the deployment difficulty in multilateral configurations.
2Ease of operation
If control lines are deployed through junction assembly, then inflow control is achieved, but deployment difficulty increases in multilateral wellbores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical control line system with a wireless electronic flow control node that uses electromagnetic fields for power and communication. The electronic flow control node receives wireless signals from a surface controller to actuate valves, eliminating the need for physical control lines to be deployed through the wellbore junction assembly into lateral wellbores.
3Productivity
If carrier fluid is lost during gravel packing, then packing process continues, but filtering efficiency decreases due to incomplete sand packing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that monitor carrier fluid loss and packing progress in real-time. This feedback information is transmitted wirelessly to the surface controller, which adjusts the gravel packing operation parameters accordingly to prevent premature carrier fluid loss and ensure complete sand pack formation, thereby maintaining filtering efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic flow control nodes can sequentially close to trap and redirect carrier fluid, enabling the system to self-regulate the gravel packing process and prevent premature fluid loss into the formation, ensuring complete sand pack formation.
4Productivity
If shunt tubes are used to bypass sand bridges, then packing sand flow is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual shunt tube operations with electronically controlled flow paths. The electronic flow control nodes can selectively open and close to redirect carrier fluid and packing sand through predetermined pathways, eliminating the need for complex mechanical shunt tube assemblies and their manual manipulation.
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 solution enables precise control of fluid flow and gravel packing, improving filtering efficiency and reducing operational complexities in challenging wellbore configurations, such as multilateral wellbores, by allowing wireless control of electronic flow control nodes and shunt tubes, thus optimizing production and packing processes.
Implementation Method 1
Each electronic flow control node includes a power harvesting mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A completion assembly to aid in fluid control in a multi-lateral wellbore includes a plurality of sand screen assemblies, each sand screen assembly having a wireless adjustable electronic flow control node disposed along a sand screen base pipe to control fluid flow between the sand screen assembly and the wellbore annulus. Each electronic flow control node includes a valve that can be adjusted by an electric actuator powered by a power harvesting mechanism disposed in a flow path of the completion assembly. A wireless transmitter receives a control signal to control the electric actuator, opening or closing the valve to control flow in the lateral wellbore. A wired controller in the main wellbore is disposed for transmitting wireless signals across a junction assembly in the wellbore to the sand screen assembly electronic flow control nodes.