Pipeless steam assisted gravity drainage system and method
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a string defining an axial flow channel and an annular flow pathway, the annular flow pathway comprising an uphole annular flow pathway and a downhole annular flow pathway, the axial flow channel extending continuously through and between the uphole and downhole annular flow pathways, the string selected from at least one of a steam injection string and a production string of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system, the string including an uphole segment and a downhole segment, the uphole segment insertable into the downhole segment, the downhole segment including tubing, and an inside surface of the tubing and an outer surface of the uphole segment defining a portion of the uphole annular flow pathway;
a fluid access structure between the axial flow channel and the annular flow pathway;
a valve disposed within the annular flow pathway, the valve being selectively closable to selectively inhibit annular flow between the uphole and downhole annular flow channels, the string and valve configured such that a fluid flows in a first direction in the axial flow channel and in a second direction opposite the first direction in the uphole and downhole annular flow pathways when the valve is in an open position, the valve configured to slide along the tubing of the downhole segment to selectively expose an opening in the tubing in an open position and block the opening in the tubing in a closed position.
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Abstract
A SAGD system including a string defining an axial flow channel and an annular flow pathway, a fluid access structure between the axial flow channel and the annular flow pathway, and a valve disposed within the annular flow pathway. The valve being selectively closable to selectively inhibit annular flow in an uphole direction. A method for treating a SAGD formation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a string defining an axial flow channel and an annular flow pathway, the annular flow pathway comprising an uphole annular flow pathway and a downhole annular flow pathway, the axial flow channel extending continuously through and between the uphole and downhole annular flow pathways, the string selected from at least one of a steam injection string and a production string of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system, the string including an uphole segment and a downhole segment, the uphole segment insertable into the downhole segment, the downhole segment including tubing, and an inside surface of the tubing and an outer surface of the uphole segment defining a portion of the uphole annular flow pathway; a fluid access structure between the axial flow channel and the annular flow pathway; a valve disposed within the annular flow pathway, the valve being selectively closable to selectively inhibit annular flow between the uphole and downhole annular flow channels, the string and valve configured such that a fluid flows in a first direction in the axial flow channel and in a second direction opposite the first direction in the uphole and downhole annular flow pathways when the valve is in an open position, the valve configured to slide along the tubing of the downhole segment to selectively expose an opening in the tubing in an open position and block the opening in the tubing in a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A completion comprising:
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a borehole string selected from at least one of a steam injection string and a production string of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system, the borehole string defining an axial channel and an annular flow pathway, the borehole string including an uphole segment and a downhole segment, the uphole segment insertable into the downhole segment, the downhole segment including tubing, and an inside surface of the tubing and an outer surface of the uphole segment defining a portion of the annular flow pathway; a plurality of equalizers disposed at the borehole string and defining a predominantly axial flow; a shroud radially outwardly adjacent the equalizers; a selectively closeable valve positioned in the annular flow pathway to selectively inhibit annular flow between an uphole portion of the annular flow pathway and a downhole portion of the annular flow pathway from a point proximate an uphole extent of the plurality of equalizers, the axial channel extending continuously through and between the uphole portion and the downhole portion of the annular flow pathway, such that a fluid flows in a first direction in the axial flow channel and in a second direction opposite the first direction in the uphole and downhole portions of the annular flow pathway when the valve is in an open position, the valve configured to slide along the tubing of the downhole segment to selectively expose an opening in the tubing in an open position and block the opening in the tubing in a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a string defining an axial flow channel and an annular flow pathway, the annular flow pathway comprising an uphole annular flow pathway and a downhole annular flow pathway, the axial flow channel extending continuously through and between the uphole and downhole annular flow pathways, the string selected from at least one of a steam injection string and a production string of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system; a fluid access structure between the axial flow channel and the annular flow pathway; a valve disposed within the annular flow pathway, the valve being selectively closable to selectively inhibit annular flow between the uphole and downhole annular flow channels, the string and valve configured such that a fluid flows in a first direction in the axial flow channel and in a second direction opposite the first direction in the uphole and downhole annular flow pathways when the valve is in an open position, wherein the string comprises an uphole string and an inner string, the inner string including one or more components being sealed to the uphole string through a reservoir control valve, the reservoir control valve being automatically closed upon retrieval of the one or more components of the inner string and automatically openable upon replacement of the one or more components of the inner string. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification