EP4172463A1 - Sand screen assemblies for a subterranean wellbore - Google Patents
Sand screen assemblies for a subterranean wellboreInfo
- Publication number
- EP4172463A1 EP4172463A1 EP21745488.3A EP21745488A EP4172463A1 EP 4172463 A1 EP4172463 A1 EP 4172463A1 EP 21745488 A EP21745488 A EP 21745488A EP 4172463 A1 EP4172463 A1 EP 4172463A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- change material
- phase change
- screen assembly
- sand screen
- manifold
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 67
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 title description 23
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 title description 23
- 239000012782 phase change material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 75
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 69
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 33
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910001152 Bi alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 46
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 8
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 5
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052797 bismuth Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N bismuth atom Chemical compound [Bi] JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000001183 hydrocarbyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B36/00—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B36/00—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
- E21B36/008—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones using chemical heat generating means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B36/00—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
- E21B36/04—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones using electrical heaters
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/32—Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells
Definitions
- a fluid flow restriction device usually including one or more screens
- proppant which is generally referred to herein as “gravel”
- the resulting “gravel pack” in the annular space forms a barrier to filter out the fines and sand from the produced fluids such that the fines and/or sand are prevented from passing through the screens and being produced to the surface.
- a screen or screens may be utilized within a wellbore without a gravel pack.
- a sand screen assembly comprises a base pipe having a central axis and including a flow port extending radially therethrough.
- the sand screen assembly also comprises a screen element disposed about the base pipe and radially spaced from the base pipe to define an annulus radially positioned between the screen element and the base pipe.
- the sand screen assembly comprises a manifold formed about the based pipe. The flow port is in fluid communication with the manifold and axially overlaps with the manifold.
- the sand screen assembly comprises a phase change material disposed within the manifold. The phase change material is configured to melt at a temperature below a melting temperature of the base pipe and flow into the flow port.
- a method of selectively stopping a flow of fluids through a sand screen assembly comprises (a) inserting a phase change material within the sand screen assembly.
- the phase change material is configured to melt at a temperature below a melting temperature of the sand screen assembly.
- the method also comprises (b) inserting the sand screen within a subterranean wellbore after (a).
- the method comprises (c) flowing fluid through a flow port of the sand screen after (b).
- the method comprises (d) melting the phase change material.
- the method comprises (e) flowing the phase change material into the flow port.
- the method comprises (f) re solidifying the phase change material within the flow port after (d) and (e).
- the method also comprises (g) restricting fluid flow through the flow port after and as a result of (f).
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a system for producing wellbore fluids from a wellbore in accordance with principles described herein;
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a sand screen assembly for use within the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with principles described herein;
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sand screen assembly of FIG. 2 taken along section A-A shown in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sand screen assembly of FIG. 2 taken along section B-B in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the sand screen assembly of FIG. 2 with a phase change material blocking one or more flow ports therein;
- FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a sand screen assembly for use within the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with principles described herein;
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a sand screen assembly in accordance with the principles described herein for use within the system of FIG. 1 and taken along a section analogous to section B-B shown in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for stopping the flow of fluids through a sand screen assembly in accordance with the principles described herein.
- the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to...
- the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection of the two devices, or through an indirect connection that is established via other devices, components, nodes, and connections.
- axial and axially generally mean along or parallel to a given axis (e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to the given axis.
- an axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to the axis
- a radial distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the axis.
- a recited angle of “about 80 degrees” refers to an angle ranging from 72 degrees to 88 degrees.
- Any reference to up or down in the description and the claims is made for purposes of clarity, with “up”, “upper”, “upwardly”, “uphole”, or “upstream” meaning toward the surface of the wellbore or borehole and with “down”, “lower”, “downwardly”, “downhole”, or “downstream” meaning toward the terminal end of the wellbore or borehole, regardless of the wellbore or borehole orientation.
- a flow restriction device such as, for instance a screen, which may also be generally referred to herein as a “sand screen,” may be installed within the wellbore to filter out sands and/or other fines from other wellbore fluids (e.g., water, oil, gases, condensate, etc.).
- gravel may also be injected into an annular space surrounding the sand screen to form a gravel pack between the sand screen and either a wellbore sidewall or an inner surface of a casing pipe or other tubular in the wellbore.
- the gravel pack may further act as a barrier to filter out the sands and/or other fines from the wellbore fluids before they are produced to the surface.
- embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for selectively shutting off fluid flow into a production flow bore from one or more sand screen assemblies located within a subterranean wellbore.
- the disclosed systems and methods may selectively shut off (or at least restrict) flow into one or more sand screen assemblies within a subterranean wellbore by selectively flowing or moving a phase change material that is pre-installed within the sand screen assemblies into one or more flow ports of the sand screen assemblies during production operations.
- FIG. 1 an embodiment of a system 10 for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation 3 via a wellbore 8 extending from the surface 5 into the subterranean formation 3 is shown.
- wellbore 8 is shown as a vertical wellbore so as to simplify the drawings and description, however, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, one or more portions of wellbore 8 may be deviated (e.g., angled) relative to the vertical direction.
- Production system 10 includes an elongate tubular casing or liner pipe 20 installed in wellbore 8 and an elongate tubular production string 50 extending from a surface structure 12 at the surface 5 into wellbore 8 through casing 20.
- surface structure 12 may be any suitable structure or equipment for drilling, servicing, or producing a subterranean wellbore 8.
- Casing 20 is installed (e.g., cemented) within wellbore 8 to ensure integrity of the wellbore 9 and prevent that fluid communication between surface 5 and the annulus between wellbore sidewall 9 and casing 20.
- Casing 20 has a first or uphole end 20a at or proximate the surface 5 and a second or downhole end 20b distal the surface 5.
- downhole end 20b is spaced from a bottom or downhole end 7 of wellbore 8. In other words, casing 20 does not extend to downhole end 7 of wellbore 8.
- casing 20 includes a plurality of tubular members coupled together (e.g., threadably engaged) end-to-end to extend between ends 20a, 20b.
- Production string 50 has a central or longitudinal axis 55 and extends through casing 20 and into the uncased section 15 of wellbore 8.
- Production string 50 may include any suitable tubular member or assembly, such as, for instance, a plurality of threadably engaged tubular pipes, continuous or semi-continuous tubing (e.g., coiled tubing, e-line, slick-line, etc.), or some combination thereof.
- a plurality of axially-spaced sand screen assemblies 100a, 100b are disposed along a lower portion of production string 50 to allow the flow of fluids in uncased section 15 to flow into a central bore of lower production string 50 (the central bore of production string 50 is not specifically shown in FIG. 1).
- the screen assemblies 100a, 100b may be coupled to or integrated with production string 50.
- system 10 includes a first or uphole screen assembly 100a and a second or downhole screen assembly 100b positioned downhole of uphole screen assembly 100a within wellbore 8.
- each screen assembly 100a, 100b is disposed within the uncased section 15 of borehole 8.
- one or more screen assemblies may be disposed within the cased section 13 of borehole 8.
- Both uphole screen assembly 100a and downhole screen assembly 100b include a plurality of perforations 102 configured to allow the passage of fluids therethrough during operations.
- a plurality of annular sealing assemblies 30, 32 are installed within wellbore 8 so as to control the flow of fluids therethrough during operations.
- a packing or sealing assembly 30 is installed between production string 50 and casing 20 at or proximate to downhole end 20b and is configured to prevent or restrict the flow of fluids from the uncased section 15 into the annular space between the production string 50 and casing 20.
- another sealing assembly 32 is installed along production string 50 between the uphole screen assembly 100a and downhole screen assembly 100b so as to prevent or restrict a flow of fluids within the wellbore 8 between the screen assemblies 100a, 100b.
- a first or uphole annular space or region 40 is defined within the uncased region 15 between uphole screen assembly 100a and wellbore sidewall 9, and a second or downhole annular space or region 42 is defined within the uncased region 15 between downhole screen assembly 100b and wellbore sidewall 9.
- the uphole annular space 40 is separated from the downhole annular space 42 by the sealing assembly 32.
- one or both of the uphole annular space 40 and the downhole annular space 42 is filled (wholly or partially) with gravel (not shown).
- the gravel and/or the perforations 102 of screen assemblies 100a, 100b filter out sand and other fines that are produced into annular spaces 40, 42 along with other wellbore fluids (e.g., oil, gas, water, etc.).
- one or both of the annular spaces 40, 42 may not include gravel therein.
- water (or more than an acceptable amount of water) may be produced into one or both of the annular spaces 40, 42, or the amount of sands and/or other fines that may be produced with the wellbore fluids 40, 42 may reach a sufficient level or amount that interferes with overall production from wellbore 8. Regardless of the reason, a wellbore operator may wish to prevent flow into one or both of the screen assemblies 100a, 100b, without ceasing or preventing production from wellbore 8 entirely.
- each of the screen assemblies 100a, 100b is configured to selectively prevent or restrict flow of wellbore fluids therethrough during operations by flowing a pre-installed phase change material within the screen assembly 100a, 100b into one or more of the internal flow ports so as to prevent further flow of wellbore fluids therethrough. Further details of embodiments of screen assemblies 100a, 100b will now be described below. [0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a screen assembly 100 is shown. In general, screen assembly 100 can be used as the uphole screen assembly 100a and/or downhole screen assembly 100b of system 10 of FIG. 1.
- screen assembly 100 includes a central or longitudinal axis 105, a base tubular or pipe 110, a screen element 120 disposed about base pipe 110, a first or upper end ring or cap 130 extending radially between pipe 110 and screen element 120, and a second or lower end ring or cap 140 extending radially between pipe 110 and screen element 120.
- axis 105 is generally oriented parallel to axis 55.
- Base pipe 110 is an elongate tubular member that may be integrated with or coupled along production string 50 (see e.g., screen assemblies 100a, 100b shown in FIG. 1 ).
- Base pipe 110 includes a first or uphole end 110a, a second or downhole end 110b axially opposite uphole end 110a, a radially outer surface 110c extending axially between ends 110a, 110b, and a radially inner surface 110d extending axially between ends 110a, 110b.
- the radially inner surface 110d defines an inner passage or throughbore 112 that extends axially between ends 110a, 110b.
- throughbore 112 is in fluid communication with (and/or may make up part of) the inner flow bore of production string 50 (see e.g., FIG. 1). Thus, fluids entering or flowing within throughbore 112 are communicated to the surface 5 via production string 50.
- base pipe 110 includes a plurality of flow ports 114 extending radially therethrough between radially outer surface 110c and radially inner surface 110d.
- Flow ports 114 enable fluid communication between the environment outside base pipe 110 and throughbore 112.
- flow ports 114 are axially located more proximate downhole end 110b than uphole 110a; however, the locations of flow ports 114 along base pipe 110 may be varied in some embodiments.
- flow ports 114 are arranged in a plurality of axially-spaced circumferential rows, wherein the flow ports 114 in each circumferential row are uniformly circumferentially spaced about axis 105 as shown in FIG. 4.
- screen element 120 is an elongate tubular member coaxially aligned with and disposed about base pipe 110.
- Screen element 120 has an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of base pipe 110, and thus, an annulus or annular space 125 is radially disposed therebetween.
- a plurality of spacing elements 116 are disposed within annulus 125 so as to maintain the radial spacing between base pipe 110 and screen element 120 while still allowing or facilitating the flow of fluids within annulus 125 during operations.
- the spacing elements 116 may comprise rib-wire that extends generally axially through the annulus 125.
- screen element 120 includes a first or uphole end 120a, a second or downhole end 120b opposite uphole end 120a, a radially outer surface 120c extending axially between ends 120a, 120b, and a radially inner surface 120d extending axially between ends 120a, 120b.
- the plurality of perforations 102 extend radially through screen element 120, and thereby enable fluid communication between the environment outside screen element 120 and annular space 125.
- perforations 102 comprises a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced perforations 102 extending radially between the radially outer surface 120c and radially inner surface 120d.
- perforations 102 can be punched, drilled, or otherwise formed in screen element 120.
- screen element 120 may comprise a cylindrical weave of wire or other suitable material, wherein the spaces between the wire define the perforations (e.g., perforations 102).
- the screen element 120 is sized and positioned such that the downhole end 120b of screen element 120 is positioned uphole of the flow ports 114 in base pipe 110.
- the flow parts 114 are axially spaced from the screen element 120, and in particular, are positioned axially downhole of the screen element 120 in this embodiment.
- Upper end cap 130 is disposed about radially outer surface 110c of base pipe 110 and axially abuts with uphole end 120a of screen element 120. More specifically, upper end cap 130 extends radially from base pipe 110 to uphole end 120a, and thus, closes off an uphole end of annular space 125. Suitable seals, welds, or other sealing connection mechanisms are employed between screen element 120, base pipe 110, and upper end cap 130 to prevent fluid flow between upper end cap 130 and base pipe 110 and to prevent fluid flow between upper end cap 130 and screen element 120.
- lower end cap 140 is disposed about radially outer surface 110c of base pipe 110 and radially engages screen element 120 at or proximate to downhole end 120b (e.g., along radially outer surface 120c). More specifically, lower end cap 140 extends radially outward from base pipe 110 and then axially upward to downhole end 120b, and thus, closes off a downhole end of annular space 125. Suitable seals, welds, or other sealing connection mechanisms are employed between screen element 120, base pipe 110, and lower end cap 140 to prevent fluid flow between lower end cap 140 and base pipe 110 and to prevent fluid flow between lower end cap 140 and screen element 120.
- lower end cap 140 extends radially outward from base pipe 110 and then axially upward to downhole end 120b. Consequently, lower end cap 140 and base pipe 110 define an annular manifold or flow chamber 142 disposed about base pipe 110 and positioned generally downhole of screen element 120.
- the manifold 142 is generally axially aligned and overlapping with the plurality of flow ports 114 extending through base pipe 110.
- Manifold 142 is in fluid communication with and axially downhole of annulus 125, and is in fluid communication with and radially adjacent flow ports 114.
- fluid flowing into annulus 125 via perforations 120 may generally flow axially downhole through annulus 125 and into manifold 142, where it is then directed through flow ports 114 and into throughbore 112.
- suitable welds, seals, or other sealing connection mechanisms are employed between lower end cap 140, screen element 120, and base pipe 110 so as to prevent fluid flow between lower end cap 140 and base pipe 110 and to prevent fluid flow between lower end cap 140 and screen element 120 [0036]
- a phase change material 150 is disposed within manifold 142. Phase change material 150 may be pre-installed within manifold 142 before coupling screen assembly 100 along production string 50 and/or insertion of screen assembly 100 within borehole 8.
- phase change material 150 Upon installation of screen assembly 100 within borehole 8 and during production operations (e.g., whereby wellbore fluids are produced into the throughbore 112 of screen assembly 100 via perforations 102, annulus 125, manifold 142, and flow ports 114 as previously described above), the phase change material 150 is in a solid state and arranged (e.g., positioned and maintained) within the manifold 142 so as not to block or substantially restrict the flow of fluid through manifold 142 and into flow ports 114. Thus, phase change material 150 is configured to remain in a solid state under normal or expected conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, PH, etc.) while within the wellbore 8 during production operations.
- normal or expected conditions e.g., temperature, pressure, PH, etc.
- phase change material 150 changes phase from solid to liquid (or may at least partially change phase from solid to liquid) so as to move or flow within manifold 142 during operations.
- additional thermal energy or heat i.e., above and beyond the thermal energy associated with normal downhole conditions within the wellbore 8
- the phase change material 150 changes phase from solid to liquid (or may at least partially change phase from solid to liquid) so as to move or flow within manifold 142 during operations.
- the phase change material 150 transition back to a solid material.
- phase change material 150 transitions between solid and liquid phases at a temperature (i.e., the phase change material 150 may have a melting temperature) that is less than the melting temperature of the materials forming other components of sand screen assembly 100 (e.g., base pipe 110, screen element 120, end caps 130, 140, etc.), but greater than the downhole temperatures during normal production operations.
- phase change material 150 can comprise any suitable composition with the foregoing characteristics.
- One exemplary suitable composition for phase change material 150 is an alloy material including bismuth, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,263, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- the phase change material 150 comprises a bismuth based alloy such as those manufactured and sold by BiSN Ltd. located in Warrington, United Kingdom.
- Method 200 begins in block 201 in which the phase change material 150 is positioned or inserted into screen assembly 100.
- the phase change material 150 can be positioned within manifold 142.
- screen assembly 100 is inserted into the wellbore 8 and lowered to the desired position in the uncased section 15 with production string 50 for production operations.
- One or more annular sealing assemblies 30, 32 may be actuated to isolate the screen assembly 100 from one or more other production zones within the uncased section 15.
- production operations are performed.
- production fluid e.g., wellbore fluids
- base pipe 110 is coupled to or integrated within production string 50 so that when fluids enter into throughbore 112, they may then flow upward or uphole toward the surface 5.
- phase change material 150 is at least partially melted in the sand screen assembly 100 according to block 204. More specifically, additional thermal energy may be applied to the phase change material 150 within manifold 142 so as to transition the phase change material 150 from a solid to a liquid (or partial liquid) as previously described.
- the additional thermal energy may be applied by inserting a heater or heating element (e.g., resistive heating element, chemically driven heating device, nuclear driven heating device, etc.) into throughbore 112 and positioning it proximate phase change material 150.
- a heater or heating element e.g., resistive heating element, chemically driven heating device, nuclear driven heating device, etc.
- an exothermic chemical reaction may be induced within the manifold (e.g., via a combination of injected fluids and/or wellbore fluids).
- one or more heating elements 152 may be pre-installed within manifold that may provide additional thermal energy to phase change material 150 during operations as shown in FIG. 6.
- the heating elements 152 may have their own on-board power source (e.g., batteries), or may receive electrical or other power source from the surface 5 via wire, cables, or other conductors (not shown).
- the phase change material 150 may partially or wholly melt within the manifold 142 as previously described above.
- the pressure differential that exists between the annulus 125 and throughbore 112 during production operations flows the melted or semi-melted phase change material 150 into the flow ports 114 (see e.g., the representative progression from FIG. 4 to FIG. 5).
- the additional thermal energy is removed or ceased, so that the phase change material 150 begins to transition back to a solid (i.e.
- phase change material 150 (or some portion thereof) is now plugged within the flow ports 114 so that once the phase change material 150 re solidifies, fluid flow through the flow ports 114 is now restricted and/or prevented according to block 207.
- the additional thermal energy applied to the phase change material may be ceased by powering down a heating element (e.g., whether within the throughbore 112, manifold 142, or elsewhere), the natural (or selective) end or reduction in a exothermic chemical reaction, or by simply moving the heating element or source away from the phase change material 150 and flow ports 114.
- a heating element e.g., whether within the throughbore 112, manifold 142, or elsewhere
- the natural (or selective) end or reduction in a exothermic chemical reaction or by simply moving the heating element or source away from the phase change material 150 and flow ports 114.
- the heating element when a heating element or device is inserted within the throughbore 112 to provide additional thermal energy to phase change material 150, the heating element may be advanced axially past the phase change material at a constant and predetermined rate so as to heat and melt (or partially melt) the phase change material 150 as previously described, and so that the heating element is advanced axially away or past the flow ports 114 phase change material 150 so as to re-solidify the phase change material 150 once it has flowed into and blocked the flow ports 114, it begins to re-solidify.
- the heating element is move axially within throughbore 112 until it is aligned with the phase change material 150.
- the heating element is paused or stopped within the throughbore while outputting thermal energy so to facilitate the above-described melting.
- the heating element is then advanced axially (e.g., uphole, downhole, etc.) away from the phase change material 150 and flow ports 114 so as to allow the phase change material 150 to re-solidify within the flow ports 114 as previously described.
- phase change material 150 has been shown (e.g., in FIGS. 2 and 4) in an annular shape or arrangement within manifold 142 during production operations, it should be appreciated that the arrangement, shape, position, distribution, etc. of the phase change material 150 may be greatly varied in different embodiments.
- FIG. 7 shows one such alternative arrangement of phase change material 150 within manifold 142. More specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the phase change material 150 is locally disposed about the flow ports 114 within manifold 142. Specifically, the phase change material 150 is arranged in a plurality of separate volumes 154 that are disposed overtop and about each flow port 114.
- Each volume 154 may include a flow port or opening 156 to allow fluids to flow therethrough (and therefore into flow ports 114) during normal production operations as previously described above.
- the volumes 154 of phase change material 150 may be melted (or partially melted) so as to flow into the flow ports 114, and thereafter re-solidify in the manner previously described above.
- the volumes 154 of phase change material 150 may be inserted (at least partially) within the flow ports 114 themselves during normal productions operations through screen assembly 100 (i.e. , before melting the phase change material 150 to close off flow through flow ports 114).
- the volumes 154 may be partially disposed within the flow ports 114 and partially disposed within manifold 142 (and/or throughbore 112), or may be wholly disposed within flow ports 114.
- fluids may freely flow through the openings 156 through volumes 154 within flow ports 114.
- the phase change material 150 comprises (or be replaced with) a swellable material that may increase in size so as to selectively block off the flow ports 114 when desired.
- the swellable material e.g., a swellable foam
- an activation fluid e.g., oil, water, or combination thereof
- the phase change material 150 comprises a metallic material (e.g., aluminum) that is selectively dissolved or melted via contact with an activating fluid (e.g., acid) flowed into the wellbore (e.g., from the surface 5) so as to cause the dissolved (or partially dissolved) phase change material 150 to flow into and therefore block the flow ports 114.
- an activating fluid e.g., acid
- Embodiments disclosed herein include systems (and related methods) for selectively shutting off fluid flow into a product flow bore from one or more sand screens. Specifically, in some embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods selectively shut off (or at least restrict) flow into one or more sand screens within a subterranean wellbore by selectively flowing or moving a phase change material that is pre-installed within the sand screen during operations. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein may allow for the selective prevention or restriction of fluid flow through one or more sand screen assemblies without affecting the flow through other sand screens or other inflow devices, ports, etc. disposed within the wellbore.
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Filtering Materials (AREA)
- Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US202063043607P | 2020-06-24 | 2020-06-24 | |
PCT/US2021/038116 WO2021262553A1 (en) | 2020-06-24 | 2021-06-18 | Sand screen assemblies for a subterranean wellbore |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP4172463A1 true EP4172463A1 (en) | 2023-05-03 |
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ID=77022191
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP21745488.3A Pending EP4172463A1 (en) | 2020-06-24 | 2021-06-18 | Sand screen assemblies for a subterranean wellbore |
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US (1) | US20230265745A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4172463A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021262553A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5320178A (en) * | 1992-12-08 | 1994-06-14 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Sand control screen and installation method for wells |
GB0023543D0 (en) | 2000-09-26 | 2000-11-08 | Rawwater Engineering Company L | Sealing method and apparatus |
MY130896A (en) * | 2001-06-05 | 2007-07-31 | Shell Int Research | In-situ casting of well equipment |
CA2700731C (en) * | 2007-10-16 | 2013-03-26 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Fluid control apparatus and methods for production and injection wells |
US9133683B2 (en) * | 2011-07-19 | 2015-09-15 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Chemically targeted control of downhole flow control devices |
US9845659B2 (en) * | 2013-07-01 | 2017-12-19 | Conocophillips Company | Fusible alloy plug in flow control device |
WO2016065233A1 (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2016-04-28 | Schlumberger Canada Limited | Eutectic flow control devices |
US11098553B2 (en) * | 2018-08-20 | 2021-08-24 | Mohawk Energy Ltd. | Method for sealing a region of open hole gravel pack |
US11371623B2 (en) * | 2019-09-18 | 2022-06-28 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Mechanisms and methods for closure of a flow control device |
-
2021
- 2021-06-18 WO PCT/US2021/038116 patent/WO2021262553A1/en unknown
- 2021-06-18 EP EP21745488.3A patent/EP4172463A1/en active Pending
- 2021-06-18 US US18/011,853 patent/US20230265745A1/en active Pending
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US20230265745A1 (en) | 2023-08-24 |
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