A unit for automatic detection and reduction of produced water

Unwanted water production is one of the major challenges being faced by the oil industry, which in its ultimate consequence can result in well abandonment earlier than planned. Therefore both preventing and delaying water production are of high value for the operator companies. The innovation concept in this project is the development of an integrated, permanent, cost effective multi-functional water reducing unit called RESGUARD. The system will be integrated to the production pipes in new oil wells and detect and reduce produced water, without use of energy, interventions or cables. It will function through autonomous reacting polymers that will reduce the total water inflow, while allowing for efficient production of hydrocarbon fluids and simultaneously identify the location of water breakthrough. RESGUARD is intended to introduce minimal risk and will be removable in case this is needed. Such a multifunctional unit might increase the oil recovery and reduce the need for handling large volumes of produced water, thus likely reducing the environmental footprint. As a permanent conformance control unit, it will avoid the risks with logging and placement of plugs and chemicals. This will The development is done in cooperation with SINTEF, based on their expertise in polymer materials. The project group has so far developed a range of materials with different surface chemistry, porosity and swelling properties in water, and is now approaching the end of characterization and optimization of these key factors. Inflow rates into oil producing wells are mimicked in the test systems, and the materials' response to hydrocarbons and water separately or mixed has also been tested, as well as the functionality and durability when exposed to well fluids and fines. Also near wellbore simulations are performed to verify the functionality. The resulting material properties will show how RESGUARD can be integrated to the completion as a flexible solution.

The objective of the project is to develop a permanent automatic water reducing unit for conformance control. As a permanent conformance control unit, this will avoid the risks with logging, interventions and placement of plugs and chemicals. The water re ducing unit (WRU) completion is comprised of polymer matrix systems which respond automatically and differently to the types of produced well fluid, and will be integrated seamlessly in the completion. Matrix systems will be designed to allow produced oil to go unhindered through the systems, while reducing the inflow and production of formation water, injection water or mixture of both. The matrix systems may further contain unique chemical tracers that serve to verify the reduction of water inflow in th ese particular zones. In order to succeed in developing such a WRU, it is essential to combine the knowledge of surface science and material properties, such as hydrophilic/hydrophobic and porous properties. The most critical challenge is to obtain a mat erial that allows the oil to pass through and at the same time hinder the water. It is also a challenge to make it reversible if the water content goes down over time. In addition the unit need to be stable at well conditions such as pressure and temperat ure and when exposed to well fluids. The water reducing unit to be developed in this project detects and reduces water production and simultaneously identifies the location of water breakthrough, while simultaneously allowing for efficient production of hydrocarbon fluids. Such a multi-function unit will increase the oil recovery and reduce the need for handling large volumes of produced water, thus likely reducing the environmental footprint. As a permanent conformance control unit, it will avoid the r isks with logging and placement of plugs and chemicals. It will significantly improve reservoir management practices.