Method for favoring the production of effluents of a producing zone

• US 5,269,376 A
• Filed: 11/04/1991
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole (IFP Energies Nouvelles)
• Original Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole (IFP Energies Nouvelles)
• Inventors: Lessi, Jacques, Gadelle, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hoang C.
• Application Number:
  US07/787,660
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/370, 166/369
• US Class Current: 166/370
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/121 Lifting well fluids monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well

Abstract

A deflected drain (2) drilled in a producing zone (1) is equipped for the production of effluents and fitted with a perforated casing (3) and with a tubing (4). A depression is applied in different locations by selectively changing the position of the application points in relation to these locations. The position of the suction ports and/or the area thereof is varied through the selective opening of valves (8) or by displacing the inlet of the tubing (4). A tubing and/or a casing with perforations such that a determined distribution of the depression is obtained can be used. The depression can be produced by a pumping assembly (5) intercalated on the production tubing (4).

Claims

1. A method for selectively improving production of effluents out of a subterranean producing zone penetrated by at least one deflected well provided with a casing perforated with orifices distributed all along said producing zone by disposing a tubing string with a lower part fitted with at least one opening provided with means for controlling a cross-sectional area thereof and modulating a negative pressure applied to a determined part of the well where improvement of production is needed by moving said at least one opening to a position at a selected distance from said part of the well and by adjusting said area whereby a pressure drop results over said selected distance with respect to the pressure prevailing at said opening which is compatible with the needed negative pressure.

4. A method according to according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising providing said casing perforated with openings with a distribution of said openings that is selected for obtaining a predetermined distribution of pressure along said deflected well.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising using pumping means for increasing a negative pressure applied to the producing zone.

2. A method for selectively improving production of effluents out a subterranean producing zone penetrated by at least one deflected well comprising positioning in said deflected well a casing perforated with orifices distributed all along said producing zone, disposing a tubing string with an elongated part fitted with several openings at least one of said openings being provided with means for controlling the opening area, and modulating the distribution of pressure applied locally all along said producing zone by positioning said openings to respective positions along said deflected well and controlling said at least one opening area whereby combined pressure drops over the distances between said openings and any point of the deflected well results in a pressure distribution compatible with the needed improvement.

3. A method for selectively improving production of effluents out a subterranean producing zone penetrated by at least one deflected well comprising positioning in said deflected well a casing perforated with orifices distributed all along said producing zone, disposing a tubing string with an elongated part fitted with a determined distribution of openings, at least one of said openings being provided with means for controlling the opening area, and modulating the distribution of pressure applied locally all along said producing zone by positioning said distribution of openings to respective positions along the deflected well and controlling said at least one opening area whereby combined pressure drops over the distances between said openings and any point of the deflected well results in a pressure distribution compatible with the needed improvement.