Conformance Control Through Stimulus-Responsive Materials

Abstract

A method, apparatus and production well system that utilize stimulus-responsive materials for “conformance control” and profile control along the fluid flow path in a well as part of a gravel pack or a coating on a well tool. The stimulus-responsive materials are also known as intelligent or smart polymers and are typically polymeric materials that reversibly or irreversibly swell or collapse in the presence of stimulus such as changes in concentration of a fluid media in contact with the stimulus-responsive material, pH or polarity of the media the stimulus-responsive material is in contact with, salinity, current; or temperature. The stimulus-responsive materials may swell upon contact with a rust stimulus and shrink or collapse upon contact with a second stimulus or vice-versa The changes between production and injection profiles may be automatic with the application of the stimulus-responsive materials and may occur without user intervention.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 772,087, filed 10 Feb. 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates generally to managing sand, water, and hydrocarbon production from a wellbore. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to the application of stimulus-responsive materials for controlling production and injection profiles in wellbores, commonly known as “conformance control.”[0004]2. Discussion of Background Information[0005]This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present techniques. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]In a sixth embodiment of the present techniques an apparatus for passive wellbore conformance control is disclosed. The apparatus comprising a tubular member having at least one flow orifice; a particle comprising a flow control material, wherein the flow control material swells in the presence of a first stimulus and shrinks in

Problems solved by technology

Regardless of the completion type, producing hydrocarbons from some subterranean formations is challenging because solid materials, such as particles or sand, and water may be produced along with the formation hydrocarbons.

While the production of solid particles may be controlled by typical sand control techniques, the production of water may present problems that increase the individual well cost dramatically.

That is, the cost of managing the unwanted gas and water from the subterranean formation may result in fewer wells being operated.

As an example, costs may be associated with the production of undesired gas and water from some subterranean formation.

These costs may include direct costs associated with the lifting, handling and disposal of excess fluids as well as indirect costs associated with reduced production rates and reduced recovery of more desirable fluids, such as hydrocarbons.

Also, unwanted gas may cause additional losses of value for a subterranean formation.

For instance, a high gas to oil ratio may lead to either curtailed oil production or reserve losses.

The additional costs associated with the unwanted gas production may include the costs to repair a compressed formation or losses of gases to a flare stack.

Thus, the production of undesired gas and water from subterranean formations may limit or stop the production of hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Similarly, injection applications may suffer from various profile control problems.

For instance, in pressure maintenance applications, uncontrolled injection profiles may lead to over injection of one interval or under injection in another interval of a subterranean formation.

In fact, the over injection may even lead to pre-mature breakthrough and unwanted water or gas production in nearby production wells.

Further, well treatment applications are another problem area for injection applications.

Failure to maintain profile control may lead to excessive treatment volumes increasing costs because the well treatment has failed.

Thus, the production of undesired gas and water from subterranean formations may limit the effectiveness for injection applications.

However, such methods usually only reduce the water production and are not utilized until after the water has invaded the oil zones in the subterranean formation.

As such, these other methods are not utilized until the water production has become a problem that increases operational costs for separation and disposal.

However, there is no disclosure of a material that swells when acted upon by other media, coating well tools with such a polymer, reversing the swelling process, or intentionally shrinking a particulate for water control purposes.

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