Simulating the effects of syntactic foam on annular pressure buildup during annular fluid expansion in a wellbore
AssigneeLandmark Graphics Corporation
InventorsZhengchun Liu, Robello Samuel, Adolfo Gonzales, Yongfeng Kang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for simulating the effects of syntactic foam on annular pressure buildup during annular fluid expansion in a wellbore to mitigate annular pressure buildup in the wellbore.
Claims20
A method for simulating the effects of syntactic foam on annular pressure buildup during annular fluid expansion in a wellbore, which comprises:
- a) selecting a syntactic foam and calculating one of an elastic foam volume change in a region of a casing string annulus or a crushed foam volume change in the region of the casing string annulus;
- b) calculating an adjusted casing volume change for the region in the casing string annulus using i) one of the elastic foam volume change or the crushed foam volume change;
- and ii) a casing volume change;
- c) calculating an adjusted annular pressure buildup for the region in the casing string annulus using i) a fluid volume change;
- and ii) the adjusted casing volume change;
- d) repeating steps a)-c) for each region in the casing string annulus;
- e) repeating steps a)-d) for each casing string annulus in a combined casing string;
- f) repeating steps a)-e) using a computer processor until a global pressure equilibrium is achieved in the combined casing string;
- and
- g) disposing the selected syntactic foam, the selected foam determined after the global pressure equilibrium is achieved, on a real casing string.
A non-transitory program carrier device tangibly carrying computer executable instructions for simulating the effects of syntactic foam on annular pressure buildup during annular fluid expansion in a wellbore, which comprises:
- a) selecting a syntactic foam and calculating one of an elastic foam volume change in a region of a casing string annulus and a crushed foam volume change in the region of the casing string annulus;
- b) calculating an adjusted casing volume change for the region in the casing string annulus using i) one of the elastic foam volume change or the crushed foam volume change;
- and ii) a casing volume change;
- c) calculating an adjusted annular pressure buildup for the region in the casing string annulus using i) a fluid volume change;
- and ii) the adjusted casing volume change;
- d) repeating steps a)-c) for each region in the casing string annulus;
- e) repeating steps a)-d) for each casing string annulus in a combined casing string;
- and
- f) repeating steps a)-e) using a computer processor until a global pressure equilibrium is achieved in the combined casing string;
- and
- g) disposing the selected syntactic foam, the selected foam determined after the global pressure equilibrium is achieved, on a real casing string.
A non-transitory program carrier device tangibly carrying computer executable instructions for simulating the effects of syntactic foam on annular pressure buildup during annular fluid expansion in a wellbore, which comprises:
- a) selecting a syntactic foam and calculating one of an elastic foam volume change in a region of a casing string annulus and a crushed foam volume change in the region of the casing string annulus;
- b) calculating an adjusted casing volume change for the region in the casing string annulus using i) one of the elastic foam volume change or the crushed foam volume change;
- and ii) a casing volume change;
- c) calculating an adjusted annular pressure buildup for the region in the casing string annulus using i) a fluid volume change;
- and ii) the adjusted casing volume change;
- d) repeating steps a)-c) for each region in the casing string annulus;
- e) repeating steps a)-d) for each casing string annulus in a combined casing string;
- f) repeating steps a)-e) until a global pressure equilibrium is achieved in the combined casing string, wherein the global pressure equilibrium is achieved when i) a difference between the annular pressure buildup calculated with each iteration of step c) converges toward zero;
- and ii) all other forces applied to the combined casing string are balanced;
- and
- g) disposing the selected syntactic foam, the selected foam determined after the global pressure equilibrium is achieved, on a real casing string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.