US20240102355A1

US20240102355A1 - Wellbore having opposing action valvular conduits

Info

Publication number: US20240102355A1
Application number: US18/254,333
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew Dorban
Original assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Priority date: 2020-12-03
Filing date: 2020-12-03
Publication date: 2024-03-28
Also published as: GB202308772D0; GB2616193A; NO20230709A1; WO2022119468A1

Abstract

A wellbore (10) characterized by: a borehole (12) traversing at least two zones; a string (16) disposed in the borehole (12) and traversing the at least two zones; a first valvular conduit (24) disposed in the string (16); a second valvular conduit (26) disposed in the string (16) to communicate with a different one of the at least two zones, the different one of the at least two zones being the other of the charge reservoir (18) and the target reservoir (20), the second valvular conduit (26) being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing into the borehole (12) than out of the borehole (12).

Description

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry there is a relentless need to reduce cost, improve efficiency and increase production. Doing these all at once is always difficult but exceptionally so in an industry that has continually made such improvements for many years. This includes the movement of fluid and shifting of pressure that is necessary in many production scenarios.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a wellbore including a borehole traversing at least two zones, a string disposed in the borehole and traversing the at least two zones, a first valvular conduit disposed in the string to communicate with one of the at least two zones, the one of the at least two zones being one of at least a charge reservoir and a target reservoir, the first valvular conduit being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing out of the borehole than into the borehole, a second valvular conduit disposed in the string to communicate with a different one of the at least two zones, the different one of the at least two zones being the other of the charge reservoir and the target reservoir, the second valvular conduit being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing into the borehole than out of the borehole.
A method for producing fluid from a wellbore including pressuring up on the wellbore, conveying fluid through a first valvular conduit to pressurize a charge reservoir of the wellbore, and producing fluid through a second valvular conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

The FIGURE is a schematic view of a wellbore configured as disclosed herein;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
As used herein “valvular conduit” is a configuration having no moving parts that presents a pressure drop for flowing fluid in one direction that is different than a pressure drop for the same flu id if flowing in the opposite direction.
Referring to the FIGURE, a wellbore system 10 is illustrated having a borehole 12 in a subsurface formation 14. As string 16 is disposed in the borehole 12. The borehole 12 intersects at least two zones (illustrated as zone 1 and zone 2) wherein a charge reservoir 18 and a target reservoir 20 make up a part of two of the at least two zones. As illustrated, the charge reservoir 18 is a water reservoir and the target reservoir 20 is a hydrocarbon reservoir. The target reservoir and the charge reservoir may both be liquid reservoirs, both may be gas reservoirs or one may be a gas reservoir while the other is a liquid reservoir. In the example illustration, the water reservoir 18 will be used as the charge reservoir in order to enhance production from the target reservoir 20 due to pressure on the target reservoir 20 by the charge reservoir 18.
Disposed in the string 16 are a first valvular conduit 24 and a second valvular conduit 26. The first valvular conduit 24 is disposed in the string 16 to communicate with zone 1 and charge reservoir 18 and configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing out of the borehole than into the borehole. This configuration allows an operator to pressure up on the borehole and force pressure into the charge reservoir 18. No changes are needed, and there are no moving parts. Simply pressure up and the charge reservoir will be pressurized. Then because the valvular conduit 24 presents a much higher pressure drop from the reservoir to borehole direction, the pressure tends to stay in the charge reservoir 18 putting pressure through the formation 14 on the target reservoir 20. This will improve productivity from the target reservoir 20.
Also disposed in the string 16 is a second valvular conduit 26 that is arranged oppositely to that of conduit 24. Specifically, the valvular conduit 26 configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing into the borehole than out of the borehole. Thereby, the pressure up noted in the last paragraph is substantially excluded from the target reservoir 20 because it is going in the much higher pressure drop direction of the valvular conduit 26. All of the injected pressure hence goes to the charge reservoir 18. When pressure in the borehole 12 is reduced, the target reservoir 20 will flow production fluid through its valvular conduit 26 into the borehole because that direction of fluid flow is of a small pressure drop for conduit 26.
While only first and second valvular conduits are illustrated, it will be understood that as many as is desired and in as many target and charge reservoirs as desired are all contemplated and a natural extension of the specifically illustrated embodiment.
Through the use of the inventive positioning of valvular conduits in strategic positions and preferential flow directions, a monobore well can be repeatedly charged, drained, recharged, redrained, etc. with no moving parts, there is nothing to wear out and through the ability to take action through a single borehole, the need for two boreholes (injector and producer) can be avoided in many circumstances.
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1

A wellbore including a borehole traversing at least two zones, a string disposed in the borehole and traversing the at least two zones, a first valvular conduit disposed in the string to communicate with one of the at least two zones, the one of the at least two zones being one of at least a charge reservoir and a target reservoir, the first valvular conduit being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing out of the borehole than into the borehole, a second valvular conduit disposed in the string to communicate with a different one of the at least two zones, the different one of the at least two zones being the other of the charge reservoir and the target reservoir, the second valvular conduit being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing into the borehole than out of the borehole.

Embodiment 2

The wellbore as in any prior embodiment, wherein the first valvular conduit is disposed to communicate between the borehole and the charge reservoir.

Embodiment 3

The wellbore as in any prior embodiment, wherein the second valvular conduit is disposed to communicate between the borehole and the target reservoir.

Embodiment 4

A method for producing fluid from a wellbore including pressuring up on the wellbore, conveying fluid through a first valvular conduit to pressurize a charge reservoir of the wellbore, and producing fluid through a second valvular conduit.

Embodiment 5

The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the producing is from a different reservoir.

Embodiment 6

The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the different reservoir is a target reservoir.

Embodiment 7

The method as in any prior embodiment further including again pressuring up on the wellbore, conveying fluid through the first valvular conduit to pressurize a charge reservoir, and producing fluid through the second valvular conduit.

Embodiment 8

The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the charge reservoir is a water reservoir.

Embodiment 9

The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the charge reservoir is a gas reservoir.

Embodiment 10

The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the target reservoir is a hydrocarbon reservoir.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.

Claims

1. A wellbore comprising:

a borehole traversing at least two zones;

a string disposed in the borehole and traversing the at least two zones;

a first valvular conduit disposed in the string to communicate with one of the at least two zones, the one of the at least two zones being one of at least a charge reservoir and a target reservoir, the first valvular conduit being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing out of the borehole than into the borehole;

a second valvular conduit disposed in the string to communicate with a different one of the at least two zones, the different one of the at least two zones being the other of the charge reservoir and the target reservoir, the second valvular conduit being configured to present a lower pressure drop for fluids flowing into the borehole than out of the borehole.

2. The wellbore as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first valvular conduit is disposed to communicate between the borehole and the charge reservoir.

3. The wellbore as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second valvular conduit is disposed to communicate between the borehole and the target reservoir.

4. A method for producing fluid from a wellbore comprising

pressuring up on the wellbore;

conveying fluid through a first valvular conduit to pressurize a charge reservoir of the wellbore; and

producing fluid through a second valvular conduit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the producing is from a different reservoir.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the different reservoir is a target reservoir.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

again pressuring up on the wellbore;

conveying fluid through the first valvular conduit to pressurize a charge reservoir; and

producing fluid through the second valvular conduit.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the charge reservoir is a water reservoir.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the charge reservoir is a gas reservoir.

10. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the target reservoir is a hydrocarbon reservoir.