Back to results
US 2023/0407733 A1Published application
System and method to maintain minimum wellbore lift conditions through injection gas regulation
AssigneeWell Master Corporation
InventorDavid A. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A launch point lift gas velocity control system and method of use, the system operating to maintain minimal well bore lift conditions through injection gas regulation. In one aspect, the minimal wellbore conditions enable a gas-liquid mixture or a downhole tool at a selectable well bore launch point to depart from a targeted launch point lift gas velocity and ascend up the well bore. The launch point may be adjusted to account for variability with time and wellbore location.
Claims21
A method of controlling a launch point lift gas velocity of a gas-liquid mixture at a launch point location of a production string of a well casing, the method comprising:
- identifying the launch point location within the production string, the production string disposed within a well bore and configured to allow the gas-liquid mixture to travel within the production string, the production tubing string in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon deposit and having a set of well parameters comprising a first set of well parameters;
- providing a system control device in fluid communication with the production string and having a set of system control device settings comprising an initial system control device setting;
- providing a system controller comprising a computer processor, the computer processor having machine-executable instructions operating to:
- receive the first set of well parameters;
- receive the initial system control device setting;
- receive the launch point location;
- determine a launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location based at least on the first set of well parameters, the launch point lift gas velocity enabling the gas-liquid mixture adjacent the launch point location to depart the launch point location;
- determine an adjusted system control device setting that establishes the launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location;
- communicate the adjusted system control device setting to the system control device;
- and
- adjust the system control device to the adjusted system control device setting from the initial system control device setting;
- wherein:
- the gas-liquid mixture adjacent the launch point location departs the launch point location as a launched gas-liquid mixture that achieves the launch point lift gas velocity.
10 more elements
A launch point lift gas velocity control system comprising:
- a system controller comprising a system processor, the system controller operating to control a launch point lift gas velocity of a gas-liquid mixture at a launch point location of a production string of a well casing, the gas-liquid mixture disposed within a production string fitted within a well bore, the production string configured to allow the gas-liquid mixture to travel within the production string, the production string in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon deposit and having a set of well parameters comprising a first set of well parameters;
- and
- a system control device in fluid communication with the production string and having a set of system control device settings comprising an initial system control device setting, the system control device controlled by the system controller;
- wherein, upon identification of the launch point location within the production string, the system processor executes machine-executable instructions to:
- receive the first set of well parameters;
- receive the initial system control device setting;
- receive the launch point location;
- determine a launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location based at least on the first set of well parameters, the launch point lift gas velocity enabling the gas-liquid mixture adjacent the launch point location to depart the launch point location;
- determine an adjusted system control device setting that establishes the launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location;
- communicate the adjusted system control device setting to the system control device;
- and
- adjust the system control device to the adjusted system control device setting from the initial system control device setting;
- wherein:
- the gas-liquid mixture adjacent the launch point location departs the launch point location as a launched gas-liquid mixture that achieves the launch point lift gas velocity.
11 more elements
A launch point lift gas velocity control system comprising:
- a system controller comprising a system processor, the system controller operating to control a launch point lift gas velocity of a sequence of gas-liquid mixtures at a launch point location of a production string of a well casing, the sequence of gas-liquid mixtures disposed within a production string fitted within a well bore, the production string configured to allow the sequence of gas-liquid mixtures to travel within the production string, the production string in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon deposit and having a set of well parameters comprising a first set of well parameters and having a first production string section associated with a wellhead portion of the production string;
- and
- a system control device in fluid communication with the production string and having an initial system control device setting, the system control device controlled by the system controller;
- wherein, upon identification of the launch point location within the production string, the system processor executes machine-executable instructions to:
- receive the first set of well parameters;
- receive the initial system control device setting;
- receive the launch point location;
- determine a first launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location based at least on the first set of well parameters, the first launch point lift gas velocity enabling a first gas-liquid mixture of the sequence of gas-liquid mixtures adjacent the launch point location to depart the launch point location;
- determine a first adjusted system control device setting that establishes the first launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location;
- communicate the first adjusted system control device setting to the system control device;
- and
- adjust the system control device to the first adjusted system control device setting from the initial system control device setting;
- wherein:
- the first gas-liquid mixture adjacent the launch point location departs the launch point location as a first launched gas-liquid mixture that achieves the first launch point lift gas velocity;
- upon the first launched gas-liquid mixture reaching the first production string section, the system processor executes machine-executable instructions to:
- determine a second launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location, the second launch point lift gas velocity enabling a second gas-liquid mixture of the sequence of gas-liquid mixtures adjacent the launch point location to depart the launch point location;
- determine a second adjusted system control device setting that establishes the second launch point lift gas velocity at the launch point location;
- communicate the second adjusted system control device setting to the system control device;
- and
- adjust the system control device to the second adjusted system control device setting;
- wherein:
- the second gas-liquid mixture adjacent the launch point location departs the launch point location as a second launched gas-liquid mixture that achieves the second launch point lift gas velocity.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.