Permeability flow balancing within integral screen joints and method

• US 8,132,624 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael H., Kim, Namhyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, JACOB L
• Application Number:
  US12/476,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 166/303, 166/50, 166/272.7, 166/191, 166/273.3, 166/302, 166/272.1, 166/272.3
• US Class Current: 166/303
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2406 Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]

Abstract

A method for uniform heating of a formation including applying a high temperature fluid to a tubular located within an open hole formation borehole; modifying a permeability of the tubular along its length by reducing permeability at a heel of the borehole and by increasing permeability towards a toe of the borehole; and impeding annular movement of the heated fluid by radially extending one or more baffles from the tubular.

Claims

1. A method for uniform heating of a formation comprising:

applying a high temperature fluid to a tubular located within an open hole formation borehole;

modifying a permeability of the tubular along its length by reducing permeability at a heel of the borehole and by increasing permeability towards a toe of the borehole; and

impeding annular movement of the heated fluid by radially extending one or more baffles having a substantially pointed cross-section from the tubular to the formation borehole.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises anchoring a plurality of portions of the tubular;

and

restricting thermal growth of the tubular with the plurality of anchors.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the impeding is by sealing an annulus defined between the tubular and the formation.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the impeding is by extending the baffles into contact with the formation.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the applying is by injecting steam into the tubular.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the modifying is by positioning one or more permeability control devices in the tubular to control pressure drop across the tubular.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the permeability control devices are configured to be less permeable at a heel of the borehole than at a toe of the borehole.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the one or more permeability control devices is a number of devices positioned in the tubular each having a distinct permeability which increases as the devices become closer to the toe.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the impeding is forcing high temperature fluid to enter the formation in discrete areas between the one or more baffles.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further includes creating a uniformly distributed temperature profile in the formation.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein radially extending one or more baffles includes employing a metal deformable seal.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially pointed cross-section of the one or more baffles includes a tapered cross-section having a substantially pointed end, and radially extending the one or more baffles includes contacting the formation borehole with the pointed end of the one or more baffles.