A method and apparatus for simultaneously producing fluid from one or more zones of an oil or gas well, while injecting fluid into one or more other zones of the well, and for converting a depleted production zone into an injection zone, by remotely shifting sleeves in the apparatus to selectively align inlet and outlet ports with production and injection flow paths, respectively. A production string is provided within a completion string; the completion string has inlet and outlet ports to the well bore. One or more production sleeves have production conduits which can be selectively aligned with inlet ports by shifting the production sleeves. One or more injection sleeves have injection conduits which can be selectively aligned with outlet ports by shifting the injection sleeves.
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0. 43. A method of producing fluid from and injecting fluid into a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
disposing a completion string into the wellbore, the completion string having a production fluid flow path and an injection fluid flowpath defined therein;
providing selective fluid communication between the production fluid flowpath and the surrounding wellbore to selectively permit production fluid to enter the production fluid flowpath from the wellbore; and
providing selective communication between the injection fluid flowpath and the surrounding wellbore to selectively permit injection fluid to pass into the wellbore from the injection fluid flowpath by shifting a shiftable sleeve from an open position to a closed position and from a closed position to an open position to selectively open and close an injection fluid port within the injection fluid flowpath.
0. 38. A system for injecting fluid into, and producing fluid from, multiple zones in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular completion string;
a production fluid flow path within said completion string adapted to be in selective communication with a plurality of production zones;
an injection fluid flow path within said completion string adapted to be in selective communication with a plurality of injection zones;
a flow control device comprising:
a production sleeve member that is moveable between an open position, wherein fluid communication is permitted between a production zone and a production fluid flow path, and a closed position, wherein fluid communication between the production zone and the production fluid flow path is blocked; and
an injection sleeve member that is moveable between an open position, wherein fluid communication is permitted between an injection fluid flow path and an injection zone, and a closed position, wherein fluid communication between the injection fluid flow path and the injection zone is blocked.
30. A method for producing fluid from a production zone of a well bore and injecting fluid into an injection zone of a well bore, said method comprising:
providing a tubular completion string, said completion string having a production fluid conduit and an injection fluid conduit therein, said completion string having an inlet port and an outlet port through a wall thereof;
aligning said inlet port with a production zone of a well bore;
aligning said outlet port with an injection zone of said well bore;
pumping injection fluid into an injection fluid flow path within said completion string;
selectively shifting said injection fluid conduit and said production fluid conduit relative to said completion string to place said injection fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with said outlet port, and to place said inlet port in fluid flow communication with a production fluid flow path in said completion string; and
injecting fluid through said outlet port into said injection zone and producing fluid through said inlet port from said production zone.
34. A method for producing fluid from a production zone of a well bore and injecting fluid into an injection zone of a well bore, said method comprising:
providing a tubular completion string, said completion string having a production sleeve and an injection sleeve therein, said completion string having an inlet port and an outlet port through a wall thereof;
aligning said inlet port with a production zone of a well bore;
aligning said outlet port with an injection zone of said well bore;
pumping injection fluid into an injection fluid flow path within said completion string;
selectively shifting said injection sleeve relative to said completion string to place said injection fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with said outlet port;
selectively shifting said production sleeve relative to said completion string to place said inlet port in fluid flow communication with a production fluid flow path in said completion string; and
injecting fluid through said outlet port into said injection zone and producing fluid through said inlet port from said production zone.
29. A system for injecting into and producing from multiple zones in a well bore, comprising:
a tubular completion string, said completion string having a production fluid inlet port and an injection fluid outlet port;
a tubular production string within said completion string;
a production sleeve mounted on said production string;
an injection sleeve mounted within said completion string;
a plurality of bypass channels through said production sleeve and said injection sleeve, in fluid communication with a space between said
production string and said completion string; a production fluid conduit in said production sleeve, said production sleeve being adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct production fluid from said production fluid inlet port to said production string, via said production fluid conduit; and
an injection fluid conduit in said injection sleeve, said injection sleeve being adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct injection fluid from said space between said production string and said completion string, to said injection fluid outlet port, via said injection fluid conduit.
1. A system for injecting fluid into, and producing fluid from, multiple zones in a well bore, comprising:
a tubular completion string, said completion string having a production fluid inlet port and an injection fluid outlet port;
a production fluid flow path within said completion string;
an injection fluid flow path within said completion string;
a production fluid sleeve bypass channel connecting a portion of said injection fluid flow path above said production fluid inlet port to a portion of said injection fluid flow path below said production fluid inlet port;
an injection fluid bypass channel connecting a portion of said injection fluid flow path above said injection fluid outlet port to a portion of said injection fluid flow path below said injection fluid outlet port;
a production fluid conduit, said production fluid conduit being adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct production fluid from said production fluid inlet port to said production fluid flow path; and
an injection fluid conduit, said injection fluid conduit being adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct injection fluid from said injection fluid flow path to said injection fluid outlet port.
15. A system for injecting fluid into, and producing fluid from, multiple zones in a well bore, comprising:
a tubular completion string, said completion string having a production fluid inlet port and an injection fluid outlet port;
a production fluid flow path within said completion string;
an injection fluid flow path within said completion string;
a production sleeve mounted within said completion string;
an injection sleeve mounted within said completion string;
a production sleeve bypass channel connecting a portion of said injection fluid flow path above said production sleeve to a portion of said injection fluid flow path below said production sleeve;
an injection sleeve bypass channel connecting a portion of said injection fluid flow path above said injection sleeve to a portion of said injection fluid flow path below said injection sleeve;
a production fluid conduit in said production sleeve, said production sleeve being adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct production fluid from said production fluid inlet port to said production fluid flow path via said production fluid conduit; and
an injection fluid conduit in said injection sleeve, said injection sleeve being adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct injection fluid from said injection fluid flow path to said injection fluid outlet port via said injection fluid conduit.
2. The injection and production system recited in
3. The injection and production system recited in
4. The injection and production system recited in
a first packer surrounding said completion string above said production fluid inlet port and said injection fluid outlet port; and
a second packer surrounding said completion string below said production fluid inlet port and said injection fluid outlet port.
5. The injection and production system recited in
a plurality of said production fluid conduits; and
a plurality of said injection fluid conduits.
6. The injection and production system recited in
7. The injection and production system recited in
said production fluid flow path passes through said production string; and
said production fluid conduit is adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct production fluid from said production fluid inlet port to said production string.
8. The injection and production system recited in
said injection fluid flow path passes through a space between said production string and said completion string; and
said injection fluid conduit is adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct injection fluid from said space between said production and completion strings to said injection fluid outlet port.
9. The injection and production system recited in
said injection fluid flow path includes a space between said production string and said completion string;
said production fluid conduit passes through said space between said production string and said completion string; and
said production fluid sleeve bypass channel bypasses said production fluid conduit from a portion of said space above said production fluid conduit to a portion of said space below said production fluid conduit.
10. The injection and production system recited in
said injection fluid flow path includes a space between said production string and said completion string;
said injection fluid conduit passes through said space between said production string and said completion string; and
said injection fluid bypass channel bypasses said injection fluid conduit from a portion of said space above said injection fluid conduit to a portion of said space below said injection fluid conduit.
11. The injection and production system recited in
12. The injection and production system recited in
13. The injection and production system recited in
14. The injection and production system recited in
16. The injection and production system recited in
17. The injection and production system recited in
18. The injection and production system recited in
a first packer surrounding said completion string above said production and injection sleeves; and
a second packer surrounding said completion string below said production and injection sleeves.
19. The injection and production system recited in
a plurality of said production sleeves; and
a plurality of said injection sleeves.
20. The injection and production system recited in
21. The injection and production system recited in
said production fluid flow path passes through said production string; and
said production sleeve is adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct production fluid from said production fluid inlet port to said production string, via said production fluid conduit.
22. The injection and production system recited in
said injection fluid flow path passes through a space between said production string and said completion string; and
said injection sleeve is adapted to shift relative to said completion string to selectively conduct injection fluid from said space between said production and completion strings to said injection fluid outlet port, via said injection fluid conduit.
23. The injection and production system recited in
said injection fluid flow path includes a space between said production string and said completion string;
said production sleeve bridges said space between said production string and said completion string; and
said production sleeve bypass channel passes through said production sleeve from a portion of said space above said production sleeve to a portion of said space below said production sleeve.
24. The injection and production system recited in
said injection fluid flow path includes a space between said production string and said completion string;
said injection sleeve bridges said space between said production string and said completion string; and
said injection sleeve bypass channel passes through said injection sleeve from a portion of said space above said injection sleeve to a portion of said space below said injection sleeve.
25. The injection and production system recited in
26. The injection and production system recited in
27. The injection and production system recited in
28. The injection and production system recited in
31. The method recited in
providing a plurality of production fluid conduits and a plurality of inlet ports in said completion string;
aligning said plurality of inlet ports with a plurality of production zones of a well bore;
selectively shifting said plurality of production fluid conduits relative to said completion string to place at least one said inlet port in fluid flow communication with a production fluid flow path in said completion string; and
injecting fluid through said outlet port into said injection zone and producing fluid through said at least one inlet port from at least one said production zone.
32. The method recited in
providing a plurality of injection fluid conduits and a plurality of outlet ports in said completion string;
aligning said plurality of outlet ports with a plurality of injection zones of said well bore;
selectively shifting said plurality of injection fluid conduits relative to said completion string to place said injection fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with at least one said outlet port; and
injecting fluid through said at least one outlet port into at least one said injection zone and producing fluid through said inlet port from said production zone.
33. The method recited in
providing a plurality of production fluid conduits, a plurality of injection fluid conduits, a plurality of inlet ports, and a plurality of outlet ports in said completion string;
aligning said plurality of inlet ports with a plurality of production zones of a well bore;
aligning said plurality of outlet ports with a plurality of injection zones of said well bore; selectively shifting said plurality of injection fluid conduits and said plurality of production fluid conduits relative to said completion string to place said injection fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with said plurality of outlet ports, and to place said plurality of inlet ports in fluid flow communication with a production fluid flow path in said completion string; and
injecting fluid through said plurality of outlet ports into said plurality of injection zones and producing fluid through said plurality of inlet ports from said plurality of production zones.
35. The method recited in
providing a plurality of production sleeves and a plurality of inlet ports in said completion string;
aligning said plurality of inlet ports with a plurality of production zones of a well bore;
selectively shifting said plurality of production sleeves relative to said completion string to place at least one said inlet port in fluid flow communication with a production fluid flow path in said completion string; and
injecting fluid through said outlet port into said injection zone and producing fluid through said at least one inlet port from at least one said production zone.
36. The method recited in
providing a plurality of injection sleeves and a plurality of outlet ports in said completion string;
aligning said plurality of outlet ports with a plurality of injection zones of said well bore;
selectively shifting said plurality of injection sleeves relative to said completion string to place said injection fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with at least one said outlet port; and
injecting fluid through said at least one outlet port into at least one said injection zone and producing fluid through said inlet port from said production zone.
37. The method recited in
providing a plurality of production sleeves, a plurality of injection sleeves, a plurality of inlet ports, and a plurality of outlet ports in said completion string;
aligning said plurality of inlet ports with a plurality of production zones of a well bore;
aligning said plurality of outlet ports with a plurality of injection zones of said well bore;
selectively shifting said plurality of injection sleeves relative to said completion string to place said injection fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with said plurality of outlet ports;
selectively shifting said plurality of production sleeves relative to said completion string to place said plurality of inlet ports in fluid flow communication with a production fluid flow path in said completion string; and
injecting fluid through said plurality of outlet ports into said plurality of injection zones and producing fluid through said plurality of inlet ports from said plurality of production zones.
0. 39. The system of
0. 40. The system of
0. 41. The system of
0. 42. The system of
0. 44. The method of
0. 45. The method of
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Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of equipment used in the production of fluids from, and injection of fluids into, oil and gas wells having multiple zones.
2. Background Art
Many oil or gas wells extend through multiple formations, resulting in the establishment of multiple zones at different depths in the well. It may be desirable to produce formation fluids such as gas or oil from different zones at different times, and to inject fluids such as water into different zones at different times, for the purpose of ultimately obtaining the maximum production from the well. Further, it may be desirable to produce formation fluids from one or more zones, while simultaneously injecting fluids into one or more other zones. Finally, it may be desirable to convert a particular zone from a production zone into an injection zone, after the zone is depleted.
Known equipment for these purposes usually requires pulling the completion assembly from the well, and changing or reconfiguring the equipment in the assembly, when it is desired to commence or cease production or injection in a particular zone. Further, known equipment is generally limited to the production of fluid or the injection of fluid at any given time, with simultaneous production and injection not being possible, or at least difficult. More specifically, known equipment is not capable of the simultaneous production from multiple zones and injection into multiple zones.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively injecting into a given zone or multiple zones, or producing from a given zone or multiple zones, without pulling the equipment from the well. A completion unit is positioned next to each zone of the formation, with zones being segregated by packers. An injection sleeve and a production sleeve are provided in each completion unit. Each sleeve essentially bridges between the completion string and the production string, which is within the completion string. Each sleeve is shifted, such as by hydraulic, electrical, or mechanical operation, to selectively align a conduit through the sleeve with its associated port in the wall of the completion string. When aligned with the inlet port, the conduit in the production sleeve conducts formation fluid into a production fluid path in the production string. When aligned with the outlet port, the conduit in the injection sleeve conducts injection fluid from an injection fluid path into the formation. Regardless of sleeve position, both injection flow and production flow can be maintained through the completion unit to other completion units above or below.
By selectively shifting the sleeves, selected zones can be isolated, produced from, or injected into, as desired. One or more lower zones can be injected into while one or more upper zones are produced from, or vice versa. If desired, alternating zones can be even be simultaneously produced from and injected into.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, will be best understood from the attached drawings, taken along with the following description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
As shown in
It also can be seen that, regardless of the position of the production sleeve 18, production fluid can flow through the production fluid flow path 28 in the production sleeve 18 as indicated by the arrow labeled PF. Further, production fluid can flow through the center of the centralizing rings 16, in the production fluid flow path 28 in the production string 14. This allows production fluid to flow completely through the production unit 10 from a lower zone to an upper zone, regardless of the position of the production sleeve 18.
Shifting of the production sleeve 18 could be accomplished by several different means, such as hydraulically, mechanically, or electrically, or a combination thereof.
A formation fluid inlet port 20 is formed through the wall of the completion string 12. The production fluid conduit 22 in the production sleeve 18 does not align with the inlet port 20, when the production sleeve 18 is in the upper position shown in FIG. 1. This isolates the inlet port 20, preventing flow of formation fluid through the inlet port 20, through the production fluid conduit 22, and into the production fluid flow path 28.
As shown in
It also can be seen that, regardless of the position of the injection sleeve 42, production fluid can flow through the production fluid flow path 28 in the injection sleeve 42 as indicated by the arrow labeled PF. Further, production fluid can flow through the center of the centralizing rings 16, in the production fluid flow path 28 in the production string 14. This allows production fluid to flow completely through the injection unit 40 from a lower zone to an upper zone, regardless of the position of the injection sleeve 42.
Shifting of the injection sleeve 42 could be accomplished by several different means, such as hydraulically, mechanically, or electrically, or a combination thereof.
An injection fluid outlet port 44 is formed through the wall of the completion string 12. The injection fluid conduit 46 in the injection sleeve 42 does not align with the outlet port 44, when the injection sleeve 42 is in the upper position shown in FIG. 4. This isolates the outlet port 44, preventing flow of injection fluid through the injection fluid conduit 46, through the outlet port 44, and into the formation.
It can be seen that, by selective shifting of the production sleeves 18 and the injection sleeves 42 in multiple zones, one or more zones can produce formation fluid, simultaneous with the injection of fluid into one or more other zones.
While the particular invention as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended other than as described in the appended claims.
Smith, Robert C., Walker, Neil, Hamilton, Mark D., Revheim, Kjell Einar
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