System For Cyclic Injection and Production From a Well

• US 20080302522A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: de Rouffignac, Eric Pierre, Ascanio Milano, Felix Antonio, Mollinger, Alexander Michiel
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/08 cleaning in situ of down-hole filters, screens, e.g. casing perforations, or gravel packs E21B37/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/162 Injecting fluid from longitudinally spaced locations in injection well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection

Abstract

A system is provided for injecting an injection fluid into an earth formation via a wellbore formed in the earth formation and for producing hydrocarbon fluid from the earth formation via the wellbore. The system comprises an injection conduit extending into the wellbore and being in fluid communication with a plurality of outlet ports for injection fluid, and a production conduit extending into the wellbore and being in fluid communication with at least one inlet section for hydrocarbon fluid. The injection conduit is arranged to prevent fluid communication between the injection conduit and each said inlet section.

Claims

1. A system for injecting an injection fluid into a wellbore formed in the earth formation and for producing hydrocarbon fluid from the earth formation via the wellbore, the system comprising an injection conduit extending into the wellbore and being in fluid communication with a plurality of outlet ports for injection fluid, the system further comprising a production conduit extending into the wellbore and being in fluid communication with at least one inlet section for hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the injection conduit is arranged to prevent fluid communication between the injection conduit and each said inlet section, wherein the injection fluid is a heated fluid which is injected into the formation in order to reduce the viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids within the formation;

said outlet ports are comprised in a plurality of series of outlet ports;

the system comprises a plurality of said inlet sections; and

said inlet sections and said series of outlet ports are arranged in alternating order in longitudinal direction of the wellbore.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the injection conduit and the production conduit are separate conduits.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising, for each pair of adjacent inlet sections, a respective tubular body extending between the inlet sections of the pair, each tubular body being provided with one said series of outlet ports.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the injection conduit extends through a longitudinal passage formed in the tubular body, each outlet port of the series of outlet ports being in fluid communication with the injection conduit via said longitudinal passage.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each outlet port of the series of outlet ports is in fluid communication with the injection conduit via a portion of enlarged diameter of said longitudinal passage.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the injection conduit has an outlet opening debauching in said portion of enlarged diameter.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the injection conduit is capable of sliding in axial direction through the longitudinal passage.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the tubular body is provided with at least one production port passing in longitudinal direction through the tubular body, each production port providing fluid communication between the production conduit and at least one of said inlet sections.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the tubular body is provided with a plurality of said production ports mutually spaced in circumferential direction of the tubular element.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the inlet sections of the pair of adjacent inlet section are connected to the tubular body.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each said inlet section comprises a screen for preventing or reducing inflow of solid particles into the production conduit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said outlet ports and each inlet section are incorporate liner extending into the wellbore.