THERMALLY ACTIVATED AUTONOMOUS INFLOW CONTROL DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to a wellbore for an oil and gas extraction, and more specifically, to a control of fluid within a wellbore.

BACKGROUND

Controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore is crucial for efficient and safe oil and gas production. This involves managing the inflow of hydrocarbons (of oil and gas) and water from the surrounding reservoir into the wellbore to optimize production rates and extend the well's productive life. Techniques such as the use of inflow control device (ICD) and isolation packers are employed to regulate the pressure and flow of fluids, ensuring a balanced and controlled extraction.

SUMMARY

Implementations described herein provides a system for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore. The system includes an inflow control device (ICD) configured to modulate an inflow of hydrocarbons within the wellbore. The sleeve can be slidably disposed adjacent to the ICD and connected to an elastic material with a thermal memory. The elastic material can change its shape based on a change in temperature. Based on (i) the elastic material being in a compressed state below a temperature threshold and (ii) the sleeve being at a first position relative to the ICD, the elastic material can allow a fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore. Based on (i) the elastic material being in a stretched state at or above the temperature threshold and (ii) the sleeve being at a second position relative to the ICD, the elastic material can block a fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore.

A method includes using an elastic material with a thermal memory and a sleeve disposed adjacent to the elastic material to control fluid communication between an inflow control device (ICD) and outside a wellbore. Using the elastic material and the sleeve includes, based on (i) the elastic material being in a compressed state below a temperature threshold and (ii) the sleeve being at a first position relative to the ICD, allowing the fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore. Moreover, using the elastic material and the sleeve includes, based on (i) the elastic material being in a stretched state at or above the temperature threshold and (ii) the sleeve moving to a second position relative to the ICD, blocking the fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore.

A method includes receiving a fluid including a formulation water within a wellbore and based on (i) a temperature of the formulation water heating up an elastic material disposed adjacent to an inflow control device (ICD) at or over a threshold temperature and (ii) the elastic material being stretched out based on the threshold temperature, shutting a fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a system for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a system for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of an example of a movement of a sleeve based on an elastic material.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of an example of an operation of a system.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams of an example of a movement of a sleeve relative to an inflow control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a technique for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a technique for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drilling industry, once the reservoir section is drilled, isolation packers and inflow control devices can be installed and run to regulate oil or gas production and minimize or restrict water production from the well. During a life of the well, once water cut increases beyond the threshold in one of the compartments (e.g., each compartment defined between the respective isolation packers), it restricts oil or gas production from the rest of the lateral wellbore. Therefore, extensive diagnostic work, including reservoir characterization logging, is carried out to identify the water-producing compartment(s). Ultimately, a coil tubing operation is conducted to isolate the water-producing compartment(s) by shifting a pre-installed isolation sleeve to a closed position. One major disadvantage of this approach is that, since many wells are completed with closed ended upper completion, it is difficult to access inflow control devices (ICD). For example, dedicated rig operations may be required to de-complete the well to regain accessibility to the ICDs for the diagnosis and shut-off operation. Additionally, identifying the source of water or water-producing compartment(s) can be an exhaustive and costly operation through running logs, data analysis, and human interpretation.

Implementations described in this disclosure provides system and method for addressing the issues addressed above. For example, a sleeve is slidably disposed adjacent to the ICD and connected to an elastic material with a thermal memory. Such clastic material can change its shape based on a change in temperature. For example, when the elastic material (e.g., nitinol, nickel and titanium mixture, etc.) is heated to a certain threshold temperature, the elastic material can stretch out from a compressed state to a stretched state, thereby moving the sleeve from a first position to a second position. For example, the first position of the sleeve corresponds to a position when the elastic material is compressed, and the second position of the sleeve corresponds to a position when the elastic material is stretched. As such, for example, when hydrocarbon is produced, the elastic material is in compressed state and the sleeve is at its first position, and when unwanted formation water (that is hotter than hydrocarbon) is produced and heats up the elastic material, the elastic material stretches out to thereby move the sleeve to the second position. When the sleeve is at the second position, the sleeve shuts off the ICD such that the fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore (as well as the wellbore) is blocked. By doing so (e.g., controlling the fluid communication or fluid flow based on a temperature change), water-producing compartment can be automatically identified and shut down.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a system 100 for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore. The system 100 includes a wellbore 102, a casing 104, an apparatus or a housing 106, an inflow control device (ICD) 108, a sleeve 110, an elastic material 112, and isolation packers 114.

The wellbore 102 can be connected or in fluid communication with a reservoir, and the casing 104 may be disposed (e.g., installed) within the wellbore 102. The apparatus or the housing 106 can be integrated into or disposed within the casing 104.

The housing 106 can include the ICD 108, the sleeve 110, and the elastic material 112. The housing 106 can define a hole or an opening such that the housing 106 may be in fluid communication with the wellbore 102 and outside the wellbore 102 (e.g., reservoir), as well as the wellbore 102. For example, the housing 106 may have a porous structure that allows inflow of reservoir fluids. For example, the housing 106 can define openings or equalization ports 202 (shown in FIGS. 2-4B) that fluidly connects the outside space of the casing 104 to the housing 106.

The ICD 108 can be installed within the compartment defined between the respective isolation packers 114. The ICD 108 can be used to control the flow of fluid within the wellbore 102. For example, the ICD 108 can control the flow rate of reservoir fluids into the compartment between the isolation packers 114. For example, the ICD 108 can modulate an inflow of hydrocarbons (e.g., hydrocarbons from the reservoir) to the compartment. For example, by providing a flow restriction at a certain point within the compartment defined by the isolation packers 114, the ICD 108 can help to manage pressure differential within the wellbore 102 or across the specific compartment within wellbore 102.

The sleeve 110 can be slidably disposed adjacent to the ICD 108. For example, the sleeve 110 can be (i) positioned below the opening or the equalization ports 202 (shown in FIGS. 2-4B) defined at the housing 106 and (ii) disposed adjacent to the ICD 108. The sleeve 110 can be made of metal or other feasible material.

The sleeve 110 can be connected to the elastic material 112 which can move the sleeve 110 to a certain position. For example, the elastic material 112 can be a material that has a thermal memory, in which the elastic material 112 can change its shape based on a change in temperature. Moreover, for example, the sleeve 110 and the elastic material 112 can be housed in a frame or a sleeve-elastic material housing (e.g., sleeve-elastic material housing 204 of FIG. 2) that is disposed within the housing 106. Such frame or the sleeve-elastic material housing can be connected to (e.g., coupled with) the ICD 108.

The elastic material 112 can be made of Nitinol or nickel-titanium. Because the Nitinol or the nickel-titanium is a thermally-sensitive material and has thermal memory, the elastic material 112 can be compressed (e.g., referred herein as “compressed state”) when the temperature of the elastic material 112 or its surrounding is below a certain temperature threshold. Moreover, for example, the elastic material 112 can be stretched (e.g., referred herein as “stretched state”) when the temperature of the elastic material 112 or its surrounding is at or above the certain temperature threshold. Moreover, the elastic material 112 can have a shape of a spring, as shown in FIG. 2.

As described above, the sleeve 110 can be configured to move to a certain position based on the elastic material 112 being in the compressed state or the stretched state. For example, this movement of the sleeve 110 is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-5.

In operation, when the elastic material 112 is at the compressed state, the elastic material 112 can modulate the flow of hydrocarbons and the sleeve 110 can be at its first position. When formation water (that is hotter than the hydrocarbons) flows in and heats up the elastic material 112 at the certain temperature threshold, the elastic material 112 can stretch out (e.g., to its stretched state), thereby moving the sleeve 110 to a second position. When the sleeve 110 moves to the second position, the sleeve can block the fluid communication between the ICD 108 and the wellbore 102, as well as outside the wellbore 102. For example, the sleeve 110 can slide into the ICD 108 such that the sleeve 110 closes an opening or a port defined at a surface of the ICD 108 and block the fluid communication between the ICD 108 and the wellbore 102, as well as outside the wellbore 102.

In some implementations, the ICD 108 can include a sliding rail (e.g., sliding rail 504 of FIG. 5) disposed within the ICD 108, which guides a sliding of the sleeve 110.

In some implementations, the sleeve 110 can be connected to the ICD 108. For example, the sleeve 110 can be connected to the ICD 108 such that when the sleeve 110 moves in a direction toward the ICD 108, such connection helps to guide the sleeve 110 to slide in or penetrate through the opening defined at the ICD 108.

In some implementations, one or more elastomeric seals (e.g., one or more elastomeric seals 502 of FIG. 5) can be disposed at or attached to the sleeve 110 and configured to seal against the sliding rail. For example, the one or more elastomeric seals can include or be a O-ring seal, or a stack of O-ring seals.

In some implementations, regarding the elastic material 112 being the Nitinol or a nickel and titanium alloy, based on a change in a composition ratio of nickel and titanium, the threshold temperature can change and the sleeve 110 can be thermally activated and move to the second position based on changed threshold temperature. Such threshold temperature can be referred herein as the “transformation temperature.”

Moreover, for example, such transformation temperature can vary depending on the depth of the well or the wellbore 102. For example, the temperature of the hydrocarbons within the wellbore 102 may be under 40 degrees Celsius (° C.) at certain depth of the well or the wellbore 102, and under 60 degrees ° C. at certain other depth of the well or the wellbore 102. For example, the temperature of the hydrocarbons and the formation water can vary depending on the depth of the well or the wellbore 102. As such, to identify the source of unwanted water or the formation water, to block such unwanted water or the formation water from flowing outside the wellbore 102 to the wellbore 102 or to specific compartment, or to block such unwanted water or the formation water from flowing to other compartments, the transformation temperature can be controlled depending on the depth of the well or the wellbore 102 and thus, different composition ratio of nickel and titanium. For example, the composition ratio of nickel and titanium can be varied or formulated before forming the nitinol or the nickel and titanium alloy depending on the depth of the well or the wellbore 102, or depending on the pre-determined or preferred transformation temperature of the elastic material 112.

In some implementations, the elastic material 112 can have different shapes including rods, sheets, foils, etc. For example, when the elastic material 112 is in a shape of the rod, then the elastic material 112 may flex and elongate (rather than compress and stretch) based on the change in temperature. For example, when the elastic material 112 is in a shape of the sheets, the elastic material 112 can bend and flatten (rather than compress and stretch) based on the change in temperature. For example, when the elastic material 112 is in a shape of the foil, the elastic material 112 can bend and twist (rather than compress and stretch).

In some implementations, whole component referred by the housing 106 can be referred to as the ICD. For example, the housing 106 can referred to as an housing of the ICD 108, and the sleeve 110 and the elastic material 112 can be detachably attached to or integrated into the ICD 108, so as to be considered to form a part of the ICD 108.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of the system 100 for controlling a flow of fluid within the wellbore 102. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the ICD 108, the wellbore 102, the casing 104, the apparatus or the housing 106, the sleeve-elastic material housing 204, the ICD 108, the sleeve 110, the elastic material 112 (in a form of a spring), and the isolation packers 114.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of an example of a movement of the sleeve 110 based on the elastic material 112. In particular, FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate the elastic material 112 in the form or shape of a spring. Moreover, FIG. 3A illustrates the elastic material 112 in a compressed state and the sleeve 110 at a first position, and FIG. 3B illustrates the elastic material 112 in a stretched state and the sleeve 110 at a second position. In the second position, the sleeve 110 can move through an opening 302 defined at the sleeve-elastic material housing 204. One or more seals can be disposed at or within the opening 302 to facilitate or guide the movement of the sleeve 110 into the ICD 108. Although the ICD 108 is not shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the IDC 108 can be positioned next to the sleeve-elastic material housing 204 or connected to the sleeve-elastic material housing 204.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of an example of an operation of the system 100. In particular, FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate scenarios where formation water 402 encroaches the housing 106 or the ICD 108. For example, FIG. 4A illustrates an initial stage of where the formation water 402 starts to encroach the housing 106 or the ICD 108, for example, through the equalization ports 202. FIG. 4A illustrates the elastic material 112 in a compressed state and the sleeve 110 at a first position, as the elastic material 112 has not yet been heated up to a threshold temperature or a transformation temperature of the elastic material 112. FIG. 4B illustrates the elastic material 112 in a stretched state and the sleeve 110 at a second position, after the elastic material 112 has been heated at or above the threshold temperature by the formation water 402. In some implementations, the formation water 402 can be supplanted with other forms water, such as heater water formed during oil and gas operation or other source of water.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams of an example of a movement of the sleeve 110 relative to the ICD 108. One or more elastomeric seals 502 can be disposed at or attached to the sleeve 110 and configured to seal against sliding rail 504. For example, the one or more elastomeric seals 502 can include or be a O-ring seal, or a stack of O-ring seals. FIG. 5A illustrates a scenario where the sleeve 110 is not yet fully slid into or penetrated through an opening defined at the ICD 108. FIG. 5B illustrates a scenario where the sleeve 110 is fully slid into or penetrated through the opening defined at the ICD 108, thereby blocking a fluid communication between the ICD 108 and the wellbore 102, as well as the outside of the wellbore 102.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a technique 600 for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore (e.g., the wellbore 102). The technique 600 can be implemented in conjunction with the system 100 and the implementations described above.

At 602, fluid is received. For example, a housing (e.g., the housing 106 that houses an elastic material (e.g., the elastic material 112) with a thermal memory and an ICD (e.g., the ICD 108)) can receive the fluid. For example, the fluid can be received through an opening (e.g., the equalization ports 202) defined at the housing or an opening defined at the ICD.

In some implementations, the fluid can include hydrocarbons. In some implementations, the fluid can include hydrocarbons and formation water. In some implementations, the fluid can include formation water.

At 604, based on the temperature of the fluid, fluid communication between the ICD and outside wellbore is controlled. For example, because the elastic material (e.g., in a shape of a spring) can change its shape based on a change in temperature, the elastic material that is positioned adjacent to a sleeve (e.g., the sleeve 110) can move the sleeve to shut the ICD, as described above.

For example, the elastic material can be made of Nitinol or nickel-titanium. Because the Nitinol or the nickel-titanium is a thermally-sensitive material and has the thermal memory, the elastic material can be compressed (e.g., being in a compressed state) when the temperature of the elastic material or its surrounding is below a certain temperature threshold (e.g., transformation temperature). Moreover, for example, the elastic material can be stretched (e.g., being in a stretched state) when the temperature of the elastic material or its surrounding is at or above the certain temperature threshold.

For example, the temperature threshold or the transformation temperature can be configured to match, or based on, an expected temperature of the fluid or the formation water. For example, in a case where it is be preferred to receive or manage inflow of the hydrocarbons and block inflow of the formation water or block the formation water from flowing into other compartments, the composition ratio of Nitinol or the nickel and titanium can be varied or formulated to configure the transformation temperature to match an average formation water temperature.

Moreover, for example, as described above, such transformation temperature can vary depending on a depth of well or the wellbore. For example, the temperature of the hydrocarbon within the wellbore 102 may be under 40 degrees Celsius (° C.) at certain depth of the well and under 60 degrees ° C. at certain other depth of the well or the wellbore 102. For example, the temperature of the hydrocarbon and the formation water can vary depending on the depth of the well or the wellbore. As such, to identify the source of unwanted water or formation water (that is colder than the hydrocarbons), to block such unwanted water or the formation water from flowing outside the wellbore to the wellbore or to a specific compartment, or to block such unwanted water or the formation water from flowing into other compartments, the transformation temperature can be controlled depending on the depth of the well or the wellbore. Such transformation temperature can be configured by varying a composition ratio of nickel and titanium of the elastic material. For example, the composition ratio of nickel and titanium can be varied or formulated before forming the nitinol or the nickel and titanium alloy, depending on (i) the depth of the well or the wellbore or (ii) pre-determined or preferred transformation temperature of the elastic material.

At 606, when the temperature of the elastic material or its surrounding is below the temperature threshold, the elastic material can be in the compressed state and the sleeve can be at its first position, thereby allowing a fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore. For example, when the transformation temperature is below the average formation water temperature, the elastic material can be in the compressed state and allow or manage inflow of hydrocarbons.

At 608, when the temperature of the elastic material or its surrounding is at or above the temperature threshold, the elastic material can stretch out so as to move the sleeve to a second position, in which the sleeve at the second position shuts the ICD and blocks the fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore. For example, when the transformation temperature at or above the average formation water temperature, the elastic material can be stretched out (being in the stretched state) so as to block the inflow of the formation water.

In some implementations, the elastic material can have other shapes including rods, sheets, foils, etc. For example, when the elastic material is in a shape of the rod, then the elastic material may flex and elongate (rather than compress and stretch) based on the change in temperature. For example, when the elastic material is in a shape of the sheets, the elastic material can bend and flatten (rather than compress and stretch) based on the change in temperature. For example, when the elastic material is in a shape of the foil, the elastic material can bend and twist (rather than compress and stretch).

In some implementations, a sliding rail (e.g., the sliding rail 504) can be disposed within the ICD and guide a sliding of the sleeve.

In some implementations, elastomeric seals (e.g., the one or more elastomeric seals 502) can be attached to the sleeve and configured to seal against the sliding rail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a technique 700 for controlling a flow of fluid within a wellbore (e.g., the wellbore 102). The technique 700 can be implemented in conjunction with the system 100, the technique 600, and the implementations described above.

At 702, fluid containing formulation water is received. For example, housing (e.g., the housing 106 that houses an elastic material (e.g., the elastic material 112) with a thermal memory and an ICD (e.g., the ICD 108)) can receive the fluid. For example, the fluid can be received through an opening (e.g., the equalization ports 202) defined at the housing or an opening defined at the ICD.

At 704, the fluid or the formulation water heats up the elastic material. For example, the fluid or the formulation water can heat up the elastic material to a certain threshold temperature.

At 706, the elastic material stretches out from a compressed state to a stretched state. For example, when the elastic material disposed adjacent to the ICD reaches the threshold temperature, the elastic material can be stretched out. As the elastic material stretches out, the sleeve that is connected to the elastic material moves through an opening defined at the ICD, thereby shutting a fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore, as well as between the ICD and the wellbore.

In some implementations, one or more elastomeric seals can be disposed on or attached to the sleeve and configured to seal against a sliding rail positioned at the opening of the ICD. For example, one or more elastomeric seals can include or be a O-ring seal, or a stack of O-ring seals.

At 708, the sleeve can seal the ICD. By sealing the ICD, the fluid communication between the ICD and outside the wellbore is blocked.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented, in combination, in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations, separately, or in any sub-combination. Moreover, although previously described features may be described as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

As used in this disclosure, the terms “a,” “an,” or “the” are used to include one or more than one unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated. The statement “at least one of A and B” has the same meaning as “A, B, or A and B.” In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed in this disclosure, and not otherwise defined, is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation. Any use of section headings is intended to aid reading of the document and is not to be interpreted as limiting; information that is relevant to a section heading may occur within or outside of that particular section.

Values expressed in a range format should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. The statement “X to Y” has the same meaning as “about X to about Y,” unless indicated otherwise. Likewise, the statement “X, Y, or Z” has the same meaning as “about X, about Y, or about Z,” unless indicated otherwise.

Particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. Other implementations, alterations, and permutations of the described implementations are within the scope of the following claims as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While operations are depicted in the drawings or claims in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed (some operations may be considered optional), to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking or parallel processing (or a combination of multitasking and parallel processing) may be advantageous and performed as deemed appropriate.

Moreover, the separation or integration of various system modules and components in the previously described implementations should not be understood as requiring such separation or integration in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together or packaged into multiple products.

Accordingly, the previously described example implementations do not define or constrain the present disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.