SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOMPLETION OF OLD WELLS

• US 20110056700A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Statoil Petroleum As (Asa Equinor)
• Original Assignee: Statoil ASA (Asa Equinor)
• Inventors: Mathiesen, Vidar, Aakre, Haavard
• Application Number:
  US12/935,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/369
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1243 with inflatable sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/32 Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells

Abstract

A system for recompletion of an old well in order to achieve an increased oil recovery from a reservoir, said system comprising a pipe inserted into the old well, at least two constrictors or swell packers being arranged along the length of the recompleted well and defining a well section between two successive constrictors or swell packers, said system further comprising at least one autonomous valve arranged in said well section defined between said two successive swell packers or constrictors. Disclosed is also a method for recompletion of an old well in order to achieve an increased oil recovery from a reservoir.

Claims

1. A system for recompletion of an old well in order to achieve an increased oil recovery from a reservoir, said system comprising:

a pipe inserted into the old well, at least two constrictors or swell packers being arranged along the length of the recompleted well and defining a well section between two successive constrictors or swell packers; and

at least one autonomous valve arranged in said well section defined between said two successive swell packers or constrictors.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of well sections are defined along the length of the well and that at least one autonomous valve is arranged within each well section.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one autonomous valve operates by the Bernoully principle and has a substantially constant flow-through volume above a given differential pressure.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inserted pipe covers substantially the whole length of the old well.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the well is a horizontal well.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the well is a well of any inclination from horizontal, including vertical.

11. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one autonomous valve operates by the Bernoully principle and has a substantially constant flow-through volume above a given differential pressure.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein the inserted pipe covers substantially the whole length of the old well.

13. The system according to claim 3, wherein the inserted pipe covers substantially the whole length of the old well.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein the well is a horizontal well.

15. The system according to claim 3, wherein the well is a horizontal well.

16. The system according to claim 4, wherein the well is a horizontal well.

17. The system according to claim 2, wherein the well is a well of any inclination from horizontal, including vertical.

18. The system according to claim 3, wherein the well is a well of any inclination from horizontal, including vertical.

19. The system according to claim 4, wherein the well is a well of any inclination from horizontal, including vertical.

7. A method for completion of an old well in order to achieve an increased oil recovery from a reservoir, comprising the following steps (not necessarily in said order):

providing a pipe comprising at least one autonomous valve arranged in the pipe,

passing the pipe into the old well for recompleting said old well,

providing at least two swell packers or constrictors along the well to seal between the inserted pipe and the old well to define at least one well section between said two successive constrictors or swell packers in which at least one well section the at least one autonomous valve is arranged.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of well sections along the well in each of which sections at least one autonomous valve is arranged.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of covering substantially the whole length of the old well with the inserted pipe.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one autonomous valve operates by the Bernoully principle and has a substantially constant flow-through volume above a given differential pressure.

20. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one autonomous valve operates by the Bernoully principle and has a substantially constant flow-through volume above a given differential pressure.