# US 2009/0260806 A1 · Bottomhole tool and a method for enhanced oil production and stabilization of wells with high gas-to-oil ratio > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260806 A1 - Document ID: US20090260806A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/103,793 - Filed: 2008-04-16 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16 - Assignees: Tseytlin Software Consulting Inc. - Inventors: Simon Tseytlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260806A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/32: Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells - 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) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A bottomhole tool and a method for optimizing oil production rate from an oil well with high gas-to-oil ratio and stabilizing thereof in case of occurrence of a gas cone or gas skin conditions are disclosed. The resistance of the adjustable multi-stage flow resistor is determined by a position of a telescoping needle, which in turn is defined by a driving means including a motor and a gearbox. The motor is driven via a cable from a surface by a control means adapted to receive information about the bottomhole parameters from local sensors via a sensor cable. Methodology explaining the principles of maintaining well stability is also disclosed. Automatic adjustment of the bottomhole pressure is maintained over a wide range of operating parameters throughout the life of the well to maximize its oil output. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bottomhole tool for adjusting a bottomhole pressure in an oil well containing a pipe between a bottomhole zone and a wellhead, said tool comprising: a tool housing attached to said pipe in said bottomhole zone of said oil well, a multi-stage telescopic fluid resistor contained in said tool housing, a multi-stage needle located inside said telescopic fluid resistor, and a driving means adapted to move said needle in and out of said telescopic fluid resistor, said driving means operated by a control unit, whereby said needle is maintained at a position calculated by said control unit and driven to by said driving means in response to a control signal from said control unit, said position of said needle defining the hydraulic resistance of said multi-stage fluid resistor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said driving means further including at least one sensor to measure at least one bottomhole parameter, said sensor further adapted to transmit said parameter to said control unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bottomhole tool as in claim 2, wherein said control unit is caused to calculate the desired position of said needle using said at least one bottomhole parameter transmitted thereto by said sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said driving means is an electrical motor connected to said needle via a gearbox so as to drive said needle to and maintain said needle at said desired position within said fluid resistor, said position being any position between a predefine top position and a predefined bottom position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said control unit is surface-based and includes a computer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bottomhole tool as in claim 5, wherein said driving means is connected to said control unit by a drive electrical cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The bottomhole tool as in claim 5, wherein said sensor is connected to said control unit by a sensor electrical cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The bottomhole tool as in claim 5, wherein said driving means and said sensor are connected to said control unit by respective drive and sensor electrical cables, said cables combined together into a single cable means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said control unit including a surface-based computer portion and a downhole computer portion mounted on said tool, said portions communicating to each other by an electrical cable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said driving means are controlled is a semi-automatic mode by said surface-based control unit with an option for human intervention. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said control unit is located on said tool and adapted to be lowered to the bottom of said well. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bottomhole tool as in claim 11, wherein said driving means are controlled in a fully automatic mode entirely by said control unit using a predefined program. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bottomhole tool as in claim 12, wherein said control means defining the location of the needle using said predefined program and information supplied by said sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bottomhole tool as in claim 1, wherein said driving means are equipped with a “wet-connect” coupling adapted to allow periodic connection of the cable with said driving system, wherein said control unit may be used for adjustment of said telescopic needle position in more than one well. ### Claim 15 A method of optimizing of oil production from an oil well comprising steps as follows: (a) determine a dependence of the oil flow rate on the bottomhole pressure in said well and create an IPR curve; (b) install a bottomhole tool at the bottom of said well, said tool incorporating a fluid resistor with a movable needle, said resistor and said needle having respective predefined geometries, whereby a position of said needle within said resistor in combination with said geometries defining a fluid resistance through said fluid resistor and a bottomhole pressure in said well, said needle being driven to said position by a driving means controlled from a surface; (c) defining a lift curve and its intersection with said IPR curve by adjusting the bottomhole pressure from the surface; and (d) creating a desired point of operation of said well by shifting the intersection between said lift curve and said IPR curve to a desired location via moving of said needle by said driving means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, wherein said step (c) includes computing the desired position of said needle using a computer model including bottomhole parameters measured before installation of said bottomhole tool. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, wherein said bottomhole tool further includes at least one sensor for measuring at least one bottomhole parameter, said step (c) includes computing the desired location of said needle using a computer model including bottomhole parameters as measured before installation of said bottomhole tool as well as measured on-line by said sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as in claim 17, wherein said at least one parameter measured on-line by said sensor is said bottomhole pressure.