Patent ID: 8196661
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing radial fluid flow between a horizontal well bore and a hydrocarbon bearing formation, comprising: determining that the formation has an axially distributed non-uniform radial flow resistance along a target length of the horizontal well bore; inserting a tubing string having a sidewall defining a tubing bore into the horizontal well bore, an annulus being defined between the horizontal well bore and the tubing string, the tubing string being provided with ports having a selected distribution and geometry communicating fluid between the tubing bore and the annulus; and controlling the annulus geometry selectively along the length of the tubing string through at least one of axial distribution of eccentricity and flow area of the annulus, so as to provide selected flow restriction characteristics along the annulus, such that when fluid is pumped into the tubing string, a resulting flow resistance network is formed by the tubing bore, the ports, the annulus and the formation, resulting in a desired distribution of radial fluid flow between the well bore and the formation, the annulus geometry being selected on one of the following bases: to improve the uniformity of distribution of radial fluid flow between the well bore and the formation in the presence of an axially distributed non-uniform radial flow resistance in the formation along the horizontal well bore; to promote a uniform pressure in the annulus in the presence of an axially distributed non-uniform radial flow resistance in the formation along the horizontal well bore; or to target radial fluid flow into selected formation zones in the presence of an axially distributed non-uniform radial flow resistance in the formation along the horizontal well bore.