A Cable-Controlled Separate-Layer Production Technology

Abstract

In high water cut oilfield, the separate-layer producers often face the problems of low separate-layer control level, difficult water locating and plugging, high operation cost and low testing and adjusting efficiency. As to solve these problems, new separate-layer production technology is required. The paper proposes a cable-controlled separate-layer production technology. The cable-controlled separate-layer production system consists of adjustable production regulator, testing and adjusting instrument, ground controller, and some matching tools. In the operation process, the testing and adjusting instrument is run into the wellbore through cable. The locator of the instrument can fix the accurate position where the target regulator is. After the delivery of the instrument, the testing and adjusting instrument connects with the adjustable production regulator. The liquid flow rate of the regulator can be adjusted continuously according to the instructions and the flow rate can be read simultaneously on the ground. The pressure and water cut of the single layer can also be monitored. Once the testing and adjusting of the target regulator are accomplished, the instrument disconnects with the regulator and move on to the next layer under the command from the ground. Field tests showed that the technology realized production adjusting and parameter testing of each layer in the producers. This technology requires the producers to possess well-preserved casing tube and annular testing condition. The technology is applicable to the rod pumped wells with big water cut variation, and the important wells whose reservoir need to be specially monitored. Because the testing and adjusting instrument is run into wellbore through annulus, the operation can be implemented while the pump unit is working, without interfering normal production. The cable-controlled separate-layer production technology effectively relieves the planar, inter layer and interior layer production contradictions. The balanced production of all kinds of reservoirs is realized and the producing capacity of medium-low permeability reservoirs is released, improving production rate and oil recovery.