US20200173254A1 - Injection and production flow rate regulating system for slimhole wells - Google Patents

Injection and production flow rate regulating system for slimhole wells Download PDF

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Publication number
US20200173254A1
US20200173254A1 US16/677,078 US201916677078A US2020173254A1 US 20200173254 A1 US20200173254 A1 US 20200173254A1 US 201916677078 A US201916677078 A US 201916677078A US 2020173254 A1 US2020173254 A1 US 2020173254A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
flow rate
sliding sleeve
rate regulating
regulating
shifting tool
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US16/677,078
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter Morris
Juan Manuel GONZALEZ FERRER
Néstor David VILCHEZ
Manuela BARBERO
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
It Herramientas Y Servicios Srl
YPF Technologia SA
Original Assignee
It Herramientas Y Servicios Srl
YPF Technologia SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by It Herramientas Y Servicios Srl, YPF Technologia SA filed Critical It Herramientas Y Servicios Srl
Priority to US16/677,078 priority Critical patent/US20200173254A1/en
Publication of US20200173254A1 publication Critical patent/US20200173254A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • E21B34/14—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools
    • 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
    • E21B34/16—Control means therefor being outside the borehole
    • 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
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B2034/007—
    • 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
    • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
    • E21B2200/06—Sleeve valves

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a system that allows regulating the flow rate of fluids to be selectively injected into slimhole oil wells with the capability of measuring the injection flow rate distribution.
  • the system consists of a tubular body with through grooves and a sliding sleeve which restricts the flow through the grooves.
  • the system allows a gradual and variable regulation by using a shifting tool actuated from the surface by means of a Slickline or Wireline equipment, without affecting the operating condition of the well, designed so as to provide an inner diameter sufficient to introduce flow rate measurement tools.
  • the required flow rate is defined according to the specific position of the sleeve and the groove geometry.
  • Valves comprising a calibrated orifice or choke are used to regulate the flow rate injected into each layer, so that the injection flow rate is regulated according to the diameter of the valve orifice and a spring that opens or closes the passage to keep the flow rate constant at different injection pressures.
  • These valves are placed inside mandrels, which are components used in traditional selective injection having the characteristic of employing a minimum inner diameter that allows the use of tools to place or remove valves and measure flow rates by means of different tools, but it also requires sufficient outer space to fit the mandrel. Said space, existing between the tubing and the casing, and occupied by the mandrel does not exist in slimhole conditions, thus preventing the application of this technology.
  • circulation valves with sliding sleeves are used.
  • Said sliding sleeves are devices used to communicate the interior of the tubing with the annular space existing between the casing and the tubing, said space allowing the fluid flow between them.
  • These valves operate in three discrete positions, namely open, closed or equalized, and they do not allow gradual openings or closings in order to regulate the flow rate therethrough.
  • a selective injection system known in the art is that disclosed in patent AR 048661 B1, assigned to YPF S.A., which protects a slimhole selective installation system for injecting 31 ⁇ 2-inch wells that uses a design of integral regulating valves that are regulated at the surface and lowered to the point of interest by means of a pulling equipment, and in case of desiring to modify the regulation or replace a valve, it is necessary to remove the entire installation from the well. This implies an intervention with pulling equipment, thereby resulting in a very expensive operation due to service costs and oil well downtime, which led to a very limited use.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 8,141,648 B2 assigned to Petroquip Energy Services, discloses a shifting tool for selectively positioning a mechanical sliding sleeve valve in multiple operational positions.
  • the way the valve is operated implies a complex mechanism and a great number of components, thereby making necessary higher maintenance costs.
  • a system comprising a flow rate regulating device and a shifting tool for regulating the flow rate at the bottom of an oil well, wherein said oil well has a casing with a 31 ⁇ 2-inch diameter or less, the system allowing an unlimited number of selectivity stages and the flow rate regulation per injection zone, in secondary or tertiary recovery injection wells without the need to move or remove the installation (set of valves, packers and tubing) from the well and thereby avoiding intervention with pulling equipment or another oil rig equipment.
  • the present invention provides a solution to the aforementioned problems by providing an injection flow rate regulating system for slimhole wells (i.e. casing of 31 ⁇ 2 inches or less), actuated by a shifting tool without the need to intervene the well with oil rig equipment, for an unlimited number of zones of interest, the system geometrically providing an inner passage for introducing flow rate measurement tools and being suitable for regulating flow rate of fluids including gas, water (secondary recovery) and/or polymer solutions, surfactants, alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP), etc. in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes.
  • EOR enhanced oil recovery
  • flow rate regulation system of the invention may be also applied to oil wells with casing diameters greater than 31 ⁇ 2 inches.
  • a flow rate regulating system for flow rate regulation within an oil well wherein the well has a casing with a diameter less than or equal to 31 ⁇ 2 inches, wherein the flow rate regulating system comprises:
  • the system comprises a flow rate regulating valve for each well layer, without any limitation regarding the number of valves to be installed in the well.
  • the sliding sleeve has a free inner passage that allows the shifting tool and flow rate measurement tools passage in order to establish a fluid distribution therein.
  • the obtained measures are extremely important for monitoring and tracking the reservoir.
  • the sliding sleeve has a notch on its inner surface.
  • the collet has a protuberance at its lower end.
  • the shifting tool is designed so as to freely pass through the interior of the at least one flow rate regulating valve.
  • the block set allows gradually regulating the sliding sleeve displacement according to its position in relation to the collet.
  • the pair of nuts comprises a nut and a lock nut.
  • the shifting tool is actuated from the surface by a slickline or wireline equipment.
  • each of the multiple injection or production zones has a sliding sleeve for regulating the flow rate and a full passage for maneuvering the shifting tool next to wire or cable tools and being able to place or actuate other regulating valves sliding sleeves that are located in different depths in the same well, according to the characteristics of the reservoir, either for producing oil or injecting water or other fluids.
  • the sliding sleeve also allows the passage of flow rate measurement tools in order to know the flow rate distribution, allowing in this way the monitoring of the reservoir.
  • the flow rate regulating system of the present invention is designed to be used both in water injection wells for secondary recovery systems and tertiary recovery (EOR) systems, thus the design of the grooves or holes through which the fluid circulates towards the formation is such that it does not cause degradation of the fluid (polymer solution, surfactant, ASP, etc.), and also the system may be used in producing wells for the regulation of hydrocarbon or water flow rate at the bottom of the well.
  • EOR tertiary recovery
  • FIG. 1 is a view of the longitudinal section of an embodiment of one flow rate regulating valve according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a view of the longitudinal section of an embodiment of the shifting tool according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a view of the longitudinal section of an embodiment of the flow rate regulating system according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4A is a partial view of the embodiment of the flow rate regulating system shown in FIG. 3 with the regulating valve closed.
  • FIG. 4B is a partial view of the embodiment of the flow rate regulating system shown in FIG. 3 with the valve grooves 20% uncovered of its longitudinal section.
  • FIG. 4C is a partial view of the embodiment of the flow rate regulating system shown in FIG. 3 with the valve grooves 60% uncovered of its longitudinal section.
  • FIG. 4D is a partial view of the embodiment of the flow rate regulating system shown in FIG. 3 with the valve grooves completely uncovered.
  • the pipe diameter is a nominal diameter and the inner and outer pipe diameter depend on the thickness. This thickness is defined by the “poundage” of the pipe which is the weight thereof per linear meter.
  • FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of the longitudinal section of an embodiment of the flow rate regulating valve 1 , wherein the flow rate regulating valve 1 comprises a generally cylindrical body 2 that has elongated grooves 3 and a sliding sleeve 4 that has a plurality of seals 5 and a notch 6 , and a top sub 7 .
  • Said flow rate regulating valve 1 is positioned at the depth in which a reservoir or layer is located to which it is desired to inject fluids, whether for secondary or tertiary recovery (EOR), or from which it is desired to produce oil; and as many flow rate regulating valves 1 as the number of reservoirs or layers which are desired to inject to or produce from, may be included for the same oil well.
  • EOR secondary or tertiary recovery
  • the grooves 3 of the body 2 of the flow rate regulating valve 1 are responsible for channeling the fluid from the inside of the flow rate regulating valve 1 to the outside of the flow rate regulating valve 1 , i.e., to the annular space between the tubing and the casing, or vice versa, whether it is the case of an injection or production well, respectively.
  • the sliding sleeve 4 is responsible for regulating the opening of said grooves 3 allowing, as desired and by means of a shifting tool as it will be seen below, whether a complete opening, so as to obtain maximum injection or production flow rates according to the operating pressure differential; a partial blockage, by calibrating the position of the sliding sleeve 4 so as to obtain the desired flow rate; or a complete blockage which would be equivalent to closing the flow rate regulating valve 1 .
  • the flow rate regulating valve 1 has a top sub 7 that works as a stop for a shifting tool when actuating the sliding sleeve 4 .
  • the sliding sleeve 4 has a plurality of hydraulic seals 5 in its upper and lower portion and has a notch 6 on its inner surface so that it can be coupled with a shifting tool, as it will be seen below, in order to be displaced so as to regulate the flow rate.
  • FIG. 2 shows a view of a longitudinal section of an embodiment of the shifting tool 10 according to the present invention, wherein the shifting tool 10 comprises a generally cylindrical collet 11 that has a protuberance 12 in its lower end so as to couple with the sliding sleeve 4 , a block set 13 and nuts 14 .
  • the geometry and structure of the shifting tool when the regulating valve is in operation, allows having a sufficient inner diameter to introduce measurement tools so as to distribute flow rates to the layers or reservoirs.
  • the shifting tool 10 can be operated from the surface by means of a slickline or wireline equipment, being able to operate a flow rate regulating valve 1 that is at a certain well depth and place it in a desired position. More precisely, the shifting tool 10 can freely pass through all sliding sleeves 4 and flow rate regulating valves 1 situated in the same well, in order to regulate the valve of interest and obtain the desired flow rate, either in injection or production mode.
  • the protuberance 12 at the lower end of the collet 11 of the shifting tool 10 is configured so that it can be firmly coupled with notch 6 of the flow rate regulating valve 1 so that the sliding sleeve 4 can be displaced and the flow rate adjusted to the desired value.
  • the block set 13 is fixed in a certain position in relation to the collet 11 by a pair of nuts 14 on each side of block set 13 .
  • Said pair of nuts 14 comprises a nut and a lock nut.
  • the shifting tool 10 is used not only to open, close or displace the position of the flow rate control or circulation devices, but it has a millimetric calibration function, i.e. in steps up to 1 mm, of the position where it will locate the sliding sleeve 4 , said millimetric calibration function being provided by the block set 13 .
  • the shifting tool 10 in addition to having the protuberance 12 for coupling with the notch 6 of the sliding sleeve 4 that is to be displaced, the shifting tool 10 has a calibration mechanism which, based on its geometry, establishes the relative position of the sliding sleeve 4 and therefore determines the total fluid passage area, thereby regulating the flow rate. The relative position of the sliding sleeve 4 determines the resulting flow rate. Changing the position of the sliding sleeve 4 produces a change in the total passage area of the fluid from the inside of the flow rate regulating valve to the outside, or vice versa.
  • FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the flow rate regulating system of the present invention, where it can be appreciated how the flow rate regulating valve 1 and the shifting tool 10 are related to each other in order to calibrate the desired opening of the flow rate regulating valve 1 .
  • Said flow rate regulating system is applicable to casings with 31 ⁇ 2-inch outer diameters and 27 ⁇ 8-inch inner diameters, leaving the inner passage free so that an unlimited number of sliding sleeves can be placed as required.
  • the calibration is aimed at setting the valve opening. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish spacing distances between the block set 13 of the shifting tool 10 and the top sub 7 of the flow rate regulating valve 1 .
  • the calibration consists of establishing a certain position of the block set 13 in relation to the collet 11 of the shifting tool 10 before lowering the shifting tool 10 through the well.
  • the block set 13 can be displaced in relation to the collet 11 and fixed in another position by loosening and adjusting the nuts 14 .
  • This procedure must be done each time the tool is lowered into the well to perform an opening or closing of any flow rate regulating valve 1 . This operation requires that the operator in charge of the opening, regulating or closing operation be trained personnel.
  • the flow rate regulating valve 1 has an internal geometry specially designed to provide a reference to the shifting tool 10 on the relative position in which the sliding sleeve 4 has to be positioned.
  • the sliding sleeve 4 has an internal geometry specifically designed to allow the shifting tool 10 to pass in a downward direction and to be operated in an upward direction, except in the case that it has already operated on a valve located in a deeper zone of the well.
  • FIGS. 4A-D show a partial view of the embodiment of the flow rate regulating system shown in FIG. 3 with different opening degrees of flow rate regulating valve 1 . More precisely, FIG. 4A shows the flow rate regulating valve 1 completely closed, i.e., there will be no fluid flow from the tubing to the annular space between the tubing and the casing, and vice versa.
  • FIG. 4B shows a partial opening of the grooves 3 , being said grooves 3 20% uncovered regarding the area corresponding to their longitudinal section, due to the actuation of protuberance 12 of the shifting tool 10 over the notch 6 of the sliding sleeve 4 .
  • FIG. 4A shows the flow rate regulating valve 1 completely closed, i.e., there will be no fluid flow from the tubing to the annular space between the tubing and the casing, and vice versa.
  • FIG. 4B shows a partial opening of the grooves 3 , being said grooves 3 20% uncovered regarding the area corresponding to their longitudinal section, due to the actu
  • FIG. 4C shows another partial opening of the grooves, being the grooves, in this case, 60% uncovered regarding the area corresponding to their longitudinal section.
  • FIG. 4D shows a complete opening of the grooves, i.e., said grooves are completely uncovered, thereby achieving the largest fluid passage area between the tubing and the annular space between the casing and the tubing and allowing maximum flow rate values. All these opening degrees are achieved by regulating the position of block set 13 (not shown in FIGS. 4A-D ) in relation to collet 11 .

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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)
  • Flow Control (AREA)
  • Sliding Valves (AREA)
  • Lift Valve (AREA)
US16/677,078 2018-11-07 2019-11-07 Injection and production flow rate regulating system for slimhole wells Abandoned US20200173254A1 (en)

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US16/677,078 US20200173254A1 (en) 2018-11-07 2019-11-07 Injection and production flow rate regulating system for slimhole wells

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US201862757013P 2018-11-07 2018-11-07
US16/677,078 US20200173254A1 (en) 2018-11-07 2019-11-07 Injection and production flow rate regulating system for slimhole wells

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114109307A (zh) * 2021-12-01 2022-03-01 西南石油大学 一种耐冲蚀的常开式内防喷阀

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114109307A (zh) * 2021-12-01 2022-03-01 西南石油大学 一种耐冲蚀的常开式内防喷阀

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