Method, system, and optimization technique to improve oil reservoir recovery in the water-alternating-gas injection process by using downhole control valves (wag-cv)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016177686-A1
Application number	US-201314893931-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2013
Priority date	Aug 30, 2013
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG) injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) includes a mechanical well configured to enable multi-point selective injection for water and gas. The system further includes an optimization engine configured to calculate reservoir flow dynamics and selectively inject water and gas via the mechanical well according to reservoir flow dynamics.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system for Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG) injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) comprising:
a mechanical well configured to enable multi-point selective injection for water and gas; and an optimization engine configured to calculate reservoir flow dynamics and selectively inject water and gas via the mechanical well according to reservoir flow dynamics.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the calculation performed by the optimization engine includes a determination of an optimization technique, the optimization technique including use of a 3D numerical simulator that couples the well, Interval Control Valves (ICVs), and reservoir flow dynamics in a computer model.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the optimization technique determines when to open and close ICVs to ensure a desired selectivity of water and gas injection along a horizontal section of the mechanical well and thereby perform the selective injection of water and gas.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical well includes a first system for delivery of water and a second system for the delivery of gas.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a horizontal section of the mechanical well includes perforations for the delivery of water and gas.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the horizontal section is divided into subsections by isolation packers, such that a first subsection of the subsections delivers water while a second subsection of the subsections delivers gas, the first subsection being adjacent to the second subjection.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first system for delivery of water includes a casing that receives water, the casing surrounding a tube that receives gas, the tube included as part of the second system for the delivery of gas.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the mechanical well includes a port selection valve for each of the subsections, the port selection valve configured to provide for the injection of water or gas in each of the subsections.

9 . A method of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) using Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG) injection, the method comprising:
providing a mechanical well configured to enable multi-point selective injection for water and gas; calculating reservoir flow dynamics using an optimization engine; and selectively injecting water and gas via the mechanical well according to reservoir flow dynamics.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the calculating performed by the optimization engine includes determining an optimization technique, the optimization technique including use of a 3D numerical simulator that couples the well, Interval Control Valves (ICVs), and reservoir flow dynamics in a computer model.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the optimization technique provides how to open and close ICVs to ensure a desired selectivity of water and gas injection along a horizontal section of the mechanical well and thereby perform the selective injecting.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mechanical well includes a first system for the delivery of water and a second system for the delivery of gas; a horizontal section of the mechanical well includes perforations for the delivery of water and gas; and isolation packers, the horizontal section is divided into subsections by isolation packers, such that a first subsection of the subsections delivers water while a second subsection of the subsections delivers gas, the first subsection being adjacent to the second subjection.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first system for delivery of water includes a casing that receives water, the casing surrounding a tube that receives gas, the tube included as part of the second system for the delivery of gas.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a port selection valve is included for each of the subsections, the port selection valve configured to provide for the injection of water or gas in each of the subsections.

15 . A mechanical well for use in multi-point selective injection for water and gas, comprising:
a first system for delivery of water and a second system for the delivery of gas; a horizontal section of the mechanical well includes perforations for the delivery of water and gas; and isolation packers, the horizontal section is divided into subsections by isolation packers, such that a first subsection of the subsections delivers water while a second subsection of the subsections delivers gas, the first subsection being adjacent to the second subjection.

16 . The mechanical well of claim 15 , wherein the first system for delivery of water includes a casing that receives water, the casing surrounding a tube that receives gas, the tube included as part of the second system for the delivery of gas.

17 . The mechanical well of claim 16 , further comprising a port selection valve for each of the subsections, the port selection valve configured to provide for the injection of water or gas in each of the subsections.

18 . The mechanical well of claim 17 , wherein the port selection valve includes a gas bypass port and a first and second water bypass port.

19 . The mechanical well of claim 18 , wherein the port selection valve includes a spool valve, the spool valve positioned and configured to turn flow off and on for the gas bypass port and the first and second water bypass port.

20 . The mechanical well of claim 19 , wherein the spool valve has a first, second, and third orientation, the first orientation characterized by providing flow of water out of perforations of a subsection of the subsections associated with the port selection valve; the second orientation characterized by providing flow of gas out of perforations of the subsection of the subsections associated with the port selection valve; and the third orientation characterized by providing no flow out of perforations of the subsection of the subsections associated with the port selection valve.

Assignees

• Landmark Graphics Corp

Inventors

• Carvajal Gustavo
• Konopczynski Michael
• Chacon Alejandro
• Knabe Steven

Classifications

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B43/166 Primary

  Injecting a gaseous medium; Injecting a gaseous medium and a liquid medium (CO2 injection E21B43/164; steam injection E21B43/24) · CPC title

• E21B34/06

  in wells · CPC title

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title