Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale

During in situ modification, inappropriate thermal insulation measures applied in annulus of injection wells will cause injection technical problems such as tremendous heat loss, wellhead lifting, serious casing damages, and corrosion. Continuous nitrogen injection into annulus is an effective measu...

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Main Authors: Shilin Tao, Xueqi Cen, Xiaocong Yu, Junqing Hu, Changbin Kan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/8034
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author Shilin Tao
Xueqi Cen
Xiaocong Yu
Junqing Hu
Changbin Kan
author_facet Shilin Tao
Xueqi Cen
Xiaocong Yu
Junqing Hu
Changbin Kan
author_sort Shilin Tao
collection DOAJ
description During in situ modification, inappropriate thermal insulation measures applied in annulus of injection wells will cause injection technical problems such as tremendous heat loss, wellhead lifting, serious casing damages, and corrosion. Continuous nitrogen injection into annulus is an effective measure to realize thermal insulation of injection wells. The critical displacement parameters of nitrogen injection in annulus are a key factor in the process of continuous nitrogen injection. However, the critical nitrogen injection rate under various working conditions, such as different well types, different wellhead steam parameters, and insulation pipe parameters, was not fully considered and studied. In this paper, the annular critical nitrogen injection displacement model was established based on the completion structure of injection well by applying the basic principles of heat transfer and fluid mechanics comprehensively. The influencing factors of critical nitrogen injection displacement were calculated and analyzed. The results show that the annular thermal resistance of horizontal wells is larger than that of directional wells for different well types, and the critical nitrogen injection displacement required is higher. The parameter sensitivity analysis shows that with the increase of pressure, steam displacement, and steam dryness, the required critical nitrogen injection displacement rate increases nearly quadratically. However, with the increase of the length and thermal conductivity of insulation pipe, the critical nitrogen injection displacement decreases cubically. The critical nitrogen injection can be reduced by reducing the annular area of the casing annulus and lowering the string deeply. The research results can provide key basic theoretical guidance for improving the heat utilization efficiency of in situ modified wells and reducing the casing damage rate for hot injection wells.
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spelling doaj.art-21378152ed9549d490914e2e5b1f805d2023-11-24T04:30:49ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-10-011521803410.3390/en15218034Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil ShaleShilin Tao0Xueqi Cen1Xiaocong Yu2Junqing Hu3Changbin Kan4School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 102206, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThe First Oil Production Plant of Daqing Oilfield Corporation Limited, CNPC, Daqing 163000, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaDuring in situ modification, inappropriate thermal insulation measures applied in annulus of injection wells will cause injection technical problems such as tremendous heat loss, wellhead lifting, serious casing damages, and corrosion. Continuous nitrogen injection into annulus is an effective measure to realize thermal insulation of injection wells. The critical displacement parameters of nitrogen injection in annulus are a key factor in the process of continuous nitrogen injection. However, the critical nitrogen injection rate under various working conditions, such as different well types, different wellhead steam parameters, and insulation pipe parameters, was not fully considered and studied. In this paper, the annular critical nitrogen injection displacement model was established based on the completion structure of injection well by applying the basic principles of heat transfer and fluid mechanics comprehensively. The influencing factors of critical nitrogen injection displacement were calculated and analyzed. The results show that the annular thermal resistance of horizontal wells is larger than that of directional wells for different well types, and the critical nitrogen injection displacement required is higher. The parameter sensitivity analysis shows that with the increase of pressure, steam displacement, and steam dryness, the required critical nitrogen injection displacement rate increases nearly quadratically. However, with the increase of the length and thermal conductivity of insulation pipe, the critical nitrogen injection displacement decreases cubically. The critical nitrogen injection can be reduced by reducing the annular area of the casing annulus and lowering the string deeply. The research results can provide key basic theoretical guidance for improving the heat utilization efficiency of in situ modified wells and reducing the casing damage rate for hot injection wells.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/8034in situ modification of oil shalethermal injection wellnitrogen insulationcritical nitrogen displacementthermal insulation process
spellingShingle Shilin Tao
Xueqi Cen
Xiaocong Yu
Junqing Hu
Changbin Kan
Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale
Energies
in situ modification of oil shale
thermal injection well
nitrogen insulation
critical nitrogen displacement
thermal insulation process
title Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale
title_full Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale
title_fullStr Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale
title_full_unstemmed Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale
title_short Study on Critical Parameters of Nitrogen Injection during In Situ Modification in Oil Shale
title_sort study on critical parameters of nitrogen injection during in situ modification in oil shale
topic in situ modification of oil shale
thermal injection well
nitrogen insulation
critical nitrogen displacement
thermal insulation process
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/8034
work_keys_str_mv AT shilintao studyoncriticalparametersofnitrogeninjectionduringinsitumodificationinoilshale
AT xueqicen studyoncriticalparametersofnitrogeninjectionduringinsitumodificationinoilshale
AT xiaocongyu studyoncriticalparametersofnitrogeninjectionduringinsitumodificationinoilshale
AT junqinghu studyoncriticalparametersofnitrogeninjectionduringinsitumodificationinoilshale
AT changbinkan studyoncriticalparametersofnitrogeninjectionduringinsitumodificationinoilshale