Method, system and apparatus for synergistically raising the potency of enhanced oil recovery applications

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus, method and system for stimulating production of a natural resource (e.g., Oil, gas or water) producing well using vibrational energy delivered to the geological formation combined with one or more existing EOR treatments. Pressure waves are applied through a device that maybe permanently installed, and continuously or periodically operated during EOR treatment and even later during recovery of the natural resource. The vibrational energy provide a synergistic effect with existing EOR treatments, enhancing the outcome of EOR treatments. The invention provides a downhole type apparatus constructed to resist corrosion and provides one or more heat sink chambers for controlling heat dissipation during operation. The system provided by the invention is capable of monitoring production, adapting stimulation parameters based on user input and other pertinent parameters.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to recovering natural resources such as oil and natural gas from a geological formation; particularly the invention related to a method, apparatus and system for stimulating wells using acoustic waves during a treatment of the well by one or more existing applications for stimulating wells.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]There exist several extraction methods to improve productivity from oil wells. However in the upstream crude oil industry, 60% to 70% of Original Oil In Place (OOIP) is typically left in the reservoir after the use of normal primary and secondary recovery techniques (Society of Petroleum Engineers. www.spe.org). The benefits of improving extraction methods are substantial. For example, there are thousands of oil wells in Texas, USA, alone, which could benefit from improving oil production output. If it were possible to recover even 50% of the heavy oil deposits, the US could supply 50% of North American demand for a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The invention provides a system, an apparatus and methods for increasing productivity of a natural resource producing-well. The invention provides an apparatus that utilizes one or more elastic-waves generators hosted inside a chamber. The chamber is made of (or protected by) a corrosion-resistant material, that allow the apparatus to be efficiently used in harsh chemical environments.

[0016]The invention provide a highly efficient and versatile means to increase the mobility of fluids within the well bore region of an oil / water / gas-well. The method and system may be adapted to the geology of the reservoir. In one embodiment of the invention, the system utilizes an acoustic device of the “downhole” type, that is, at the bottom of the well and / or the perforated zone of the well, to generate mechanical waves of an extremely high energy. Such high energy is capable of removing deposits of fines, organics, scales and inorganic deposits inside the well and in the wellbore region. A device implementing the invention may have an insulated and controlled-environment chamber, for protection against mechanical waves generated by the acoustic generators, and against corrosion by hydrocarbons present in the formation, and from high temperature. The later configuration allows for the installation of several types of sensors and devices to acquire data from the well bottom, wellbore and / or the perforated zone.

Problems solved by technology

Also, the oil well can produce very heavy molecules.

Over time, due to several reasons, oil well productivity gradually diminishes.

Crude oil's fluidity diminishes over time and progressively obstructs pores in a deposit or reservoir.

These solids reduce the absolute permeability, or interconnection between pores.

Problems associated with the causes mentioned above are: obstruction of pores by mineral particles that flow jointly with the fluid to be extracted, precipitation of inorganic scales, decanting of paraffins and asphalt or bitumen, hydration of clay, invasion of solids from the mud and filtration of perforation mud, as well as invasion of termination fluids and solids from brine injections.

While the “fines” can be kept in a disperse state for some time, they can agglomerate and plug the pore space, reducing the fluid rate or production quantity.

This may become a problem that is fed back to the well and cause a production decrease.

While acid treatment is a common treatment to stimulate oil and gas wells, this treatment has multiple drawbacks among which that the penetration depth of active (or live) acid is generally less than 5 inches (12.7 cm) into the rock.

Furthermore, the cost of acids and the cost of disposing of production wastes are high.

Acids are often incompatible with the crude oil; and acid may produce viscous oily residues inside the well.

However, the cost of hydraulic fracturing is extremely high (as much as 5 to 10 times higher than acid treatment costs).

In some cases, fracture may extend inside areas where water is present.

The latter may lead to an increase of the quantity of water in the extracted oil, which significantly diminish the productivity of oil.

The possibility of forming successful polymer plugs in all fractures is usually limited, and problems such as plugging of fractures and grinding of the plug may severely deteriorate productivity of hydraulic fractures.

One of the most common problems in depleted oil wells is precipitation of paraffin and asphaltenes or bitumen inside and around the well.

Steam and solvents are very costly (solvents more so than steam), particularly when marginal wells are treated, producing less than 10 oil barrels per day (1 bbl=159 liters).

Furthermore, in the absence of mechanical mixing, which is required for dissolving or maintaining paraffin, asphaltenes or bitumen in suspension, the application of steam and solvents is less efficient than may be expected.

Images