DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Waterflood control system for maximizing total oil recovery

Abstract

A control system and method for determining optimal fluid injection pressure is based upon a model of a growing hydrofracture due to waterflood injection pressure. This model is used to develop a control system optimizing the injection pressure by using a prescribed injection goal coupled with the historical times, pressures, and volume of injected fluid at a single well. In this control method, the historical data is used to derive two major flow components: the transitional component, where cumulative injection volume is scaled as the square root of time, and a steady-state breakthrough component, which scales linearly with respect to time. These components provide diagnostic information and allow for the prevention of rapid fracture growth and associated massive water break through that is an important part of a successful waterflood, thereby extending the life of both injection and associated production wells in waterflood secondary oil recovery operations.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Oakland, CA
  2. Pleasant Hill, CA
  3. San Jose, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
913095
Patent Number(s):
7248969
Application Number:
10/993,598
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Patzek, Tadeusz Wiktor, Silin, Dimitriy Borisovich, and De, Asoke Kumar. Waterflood control system for maximizing total oil recovery. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
Patzek, Tadeusz Wiktor, Silin, Dimitriy Borisovich, & De, Asoke Kumar. Waterflood control system for maximizing total oil recovery. United States.
Patzek, Tadeusz Wiktor, Silin, Dimitriy Borisovich, and De, Asoke Kumar. Tue . "Waterflood control system for maximizing total oil recovery". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/913095.
@article{osti_913095,
title = {Waterflood control system for maximizing total oil recovery},
author = {Patzek, Tadeusz Wiktor and Silin, Dimitriy Borisovich and De, Asoke Kumar},
abstractNote = {A control system and method for determining optimal fluid injection pressure is based upon a model of a growing hydrofracture due to waterflood injection pressure. This model is used to develop a control system optimizing the injection pressure by using a prescribed injection goal coupled with the historical times, pressures, and volume of injected fluid at a single well. In this control method, the historical data is used to derive two major flow components: the transitional component, where cumulative injection volume is scaled as the square root of time, and a steady-state breakthrough component, which scales linearly with respect to time. These components provide diagnostic information and allow for the prevention of rapid fracture growth and associated massive water break through that is an important part of a successful waterflood, thereby extending the life of both injection and associated production wells in waterflood secondary oil recovery operations.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2007},
month = {7}
}