Conformance Control Through Stimulus-Responsive Materials

Abstract

A method, apparatus and production well system that utilize stimulus-responsive materials for “conformance control” and profile control along the fluid flow path in a well as part of a gravel pack or a coating on a well tool. The stimulus-responsive materials are also known as intelligent or smart polymers and are typically polymeric materials that reversibly or irreversibly swell or collapse in the presence of stimulus such as changes in concentration of a fluid media in contact with the stimulus-responsive material, pH or polarity of the media the stimulus-responsive material is in contact with, salinity, current; or temperature. The stimulus-responsive materials may swell upon contact with a rust stimulus and shrink or collapse upon contact with a second stimulus or vice-versa The changes between production and injection profiles may be automatic with the application of the stimulus-responsive materials and may occur without user intervention.

1 . A method of changing a flow profile along a length of a well, the method comprising:
 coating a particulate solid with at least one stimulus-responsive material, wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material swells or shrinks in volume in the presence of at least one stimulus, wherein the at least one stimulus consists primarily of contact by non-aqueous fluids, changes in concentration of the at least one stimulus-responsive material, changes in pH of a media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material, changes in temperature, changes in electric current, changes in the magnetic polarity of the media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material; and   placing a pack of particulate solids in or adjacent to a formation, wherein at least a portion of the pack of particulate solids is coated with the at least one stimulus-responsive material.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the swelling or shrinking of the at least one stimulus-responsive materials in the presence of at least one stimulus is reversible. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the particulate solid comprises one of graded sands, gravels and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising using alternate path technology to place the pack of particulate solids, deliver stimuli to the stimulus-responsive material, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  comprising producing hydrocarbons from the well. 
     
     
         6 . A method of changing a flow profile along a length of a Well, the method comprising:
 coating a particulate solid with at least one stimulus-responsive material, wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material swells in volume when acted upon by a first stimulus and shrinks in volume when acted upon by a second stimulus; and   placing a pack of particulate solids in or adjacent to a formation, wherein at least a portion of the pack of particulate solids is coated with the at least one stimulus-responsive material.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one stimulus comprises at least one of: aqueous fluids, non-aqueous fluids, changes in salinity, changes in concentration of the at least one stimulus-responsive material, changes in pH of a media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material, changes in temperature, changes in electric current, changes in the magnetic polarity of the media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the particulate solid comprises one of graded sands, gravels, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is at least one of ethylene propylene, crosslinked polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6  comprising using alternate path technology to place the pack of particulate solids, deliver stimuli to the stimulus-responsive material, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6  comprising producing hydrocarbons from the well. 
     
     
         12 . A method of changing a flow profile along a length of a completed well comprising:
 coating at least a portion of well equipment with at least one stimulus-responsive material, wherein the stimulus-responsive material swells in volume when acted upon by a first stimulus and shrinks in volume when acted upon by a second stimulus; and   placing the at least a portion of well equipment coated with the at least one stimulus-responsive material in or adjacent to a formation.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one stimulus comprises at least one of: changes in concentration of the at least one stimulus-responsive material; changes in pH of a media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material; changes in salinity; changes in temperature; changes in electric current; changes in the magnetic polarity of the media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the swelling and shrinking of the at least one stimulus-responsive material in the presence of the at least one stimulus is reversible. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the well equipment comprises at least one of valve parts, valve coatings, orifice coatings, well head, tubing, casing, screen, inflow conformance device coatings, and fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is at least one of ethylene-propylene, crosslinked polyacrylamide, and polyacrylate. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for changing a flow profile along a length of a completed well comprising:
 a length of production tubing comprising well equipment and disposed in a well substantially adjacent to a formation, wherein at least a portion of the well equipment is coated with at least one stimulus-responsive material, wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material swells or shrinks in volume in the presence of at least one stimulus.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one stimulus comprises at least one of: changes in concentration of the at least one stimulus-responsive material; changes in pH of a media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material; changes in salinity; changes in temperature; changes in electric current; changes in the magnetic polarity of the media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the swelling and shrinking of the at least one stimulus-responsive material in the presence of the at least one stimulus is reversible. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the well equipment comprises at least one of valve parts, valve coatings, orifice coatings, well head, tubing, casing, screen, inflow conformance device coatings, and fibers. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is at least one of ethylene-propylene, crosslinked polyacrylamide, and polyacrylate. 
     
     
         22 . A production well system for hydrocarbon production comprising:
 at least one stimulus-responsive material placed in or adjacent to a formation accessed by a well, wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material swells in volume when contacted with a first stimulus and shrinks in volume when contacted with a second stimulus.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is coated on a solid particulate. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is placed inside the well as at least a portion of a pack of solid particulates. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is coated on a portion of well equipment placed inside the well. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the well equipment comprises valve parts, valve coatings, orifice coatings, well head, tubing, casing, screen, inflow conformance device coatings and fibers. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the swelling and shrinking of the at least one stimulus-responsive material in the presence of at least one stimulus is reversible. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one stimulus consists primarily of non-aqueous fluids, changes in concentration of the at least one stimulus-responsive material, changes in pH of a media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material, changes in temperature, changes in electric current, changes in the magnetic polarity of the media contacting the at least one stimulus-responsive material. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one stimulus-responsive material is at least one of etheylene propylene, crosslinked polyacrylamide, and polyacrylate. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for passive wellbore conformance control comprising:
 a tubular member having at least one flow orifice;   a particle comprising a flow control material, wherein the flow control material swells in the presence of a first stimulus and shrinks in the presence of a second stimulus;   a flow control material retainer at or near the at least one flow orifice, wherein the flow control material is retained at or near the at least one flow orifice so as to permit the flow of a first fluid in the swollen state and substantially restrict the flow of a second fluid in the shrunken state.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the first fluid is hydrocarbons and the second fluid is water. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the flow control material is ethylene-propylene. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the particle is spherical in shape.