United States Patent [19]
`Hutchison et al.
`
`[1 11
`[45]
`
`4,099,553
`Jul. 11, 1978
`
`
`
`[54] STEAM INJECIION SYSTEM FOR USE IN A
`WELL
`Inventors: Stanley 0. Hutchison, Bakersfield;
`[75]
`Glenn w. Anderson, Oildale, both of
`Calif.
`
`Baker et al. .......................... 166/154
`12/1953
`2.662.600
`Closmann
`166/303
`10/1967
`3,349,849
`9/1970 T
`r ................................. 166/303
`3,530,939
`.
`“me
`.
`_
`PNWW Examlnerfiames A- Lepvmk
`Attorney, Agent, orFtrm—R. L. Freeland, Jr.; Edward J.
`Keeling
`
`[73] Assignee: Chevron Research Company, San
`Francisco, Calif.
`[21] Appl_ No; 783,131
`[22] Filed
`Mar 31 1977
`‘
`-
`9
`[51]
`Int. c1.2 ...................... E2lB 33/122; E21B 43/12
`
`[52] U.S. Cl. ............................ 166/191; 166/202;
`166/317; 166/318; 137/71; 137/874
`[58] Field of Search ............... 166/191, 186, 147, 202,
`166/317, 318, 325, 306, 303, 269, 127, 194;
`137/71, 625.48, 595, 610
`
`_
`
`[56]
`
`2,611,436
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`9/1952 Carr et al.
`............................ 166/269
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A steam injection system including a steam deflector
`connectable into a tubing string which steam deflector
`provides for selectively passing steam through the tub-
`ing string to the bottom thereof or diverting steam from
`inside the tubing string out into the wall liner-tubing
`annulus and in a direction concentric with and substan-
`tially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe tubing string
`and above the bottom end thereof utilizing a sliding-
`sleeve arrangement and packer cup means packing off
`the well liner-tubing annulus both above and below the
`steam deflector.
`
`2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures
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`U.S. Patent
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`July 11, 1978
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`2
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`STEAM INJECTION ‘SYSTEM FOR USE IN A
`WELL
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to U.S. application Ser.
`No. 714,941, filed Aug. 16, 1976, by S. O. Hutchison
`now abandoned and to U.S. application Ser. No.
`783,135, filed Mar. 31, 1977 by S. O. Hutchison and G.
`W. Anderson.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a steam injection
`system which includes a steam deflector connectable
`into a tubing string located in a well, and packer cups
`for packing off the tubing-well liner annulus both above
`and below the steam deflector. The steam deflector is
`adapted to selectively pass steam through the tubing
`string or to divert steam from the interior of the tubing
`string above the bottom thereof into the well liner-tub-
`ing annulus in a direction concentric with and substan-
`tially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string
`and the packer cups are adapted to pack off the well
`liner-tubing annulus both above and below the steam
`deflector.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Steam injection is a standard technique for improving
`oil recovery from a well. It is often desirable to inject
`steam into a well at a location other than the bottom of
`the tubing. This is particularly true in thick formations.
`Initially, the practice was to simply direct the steam into
`a well liner-tubing annulus in the form of a jet at right
`angles to the tubing string. This, however, caused dam-
`age to the liner. Later steam deflectors were used to
`deflect the steam into the well liner-tubing annulus in a
`downward direction above the outside of the tubing.
`However, uniform and certain placement of the steam
`was not certain utilizing the prior art placement meth-
`ods. The present invention provides a steam injection
`system which overcomes these problems.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
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`The present invention provides a steam injection
`system which includes a steam deflector connectable
`into a tubing string for selectively passing steam down
`the interior of the tubing string or for diverting the
`steam from the interior of the tubing string out into the
`well liner-tubing annulus in a direction concentric with
`and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
`tubing string and above the bottom thereof and at a
`velocity which does not substantially exceed the veloc-
`ity of the steam formerly flowing inside of the deflector
`to prevent damage to the well liner and packer cup
`means packing off the tubing-liner annulus both above
`and below the steam deflector. A sliding sleeve and a
`ball are used to close off the interior of the steam deflec-
`tor and to open a concentric annulus to steam flow to
`the outside of the steam deflector. The flow area of the
`concentric annulus is at least as great as the flow area
`through the interior of the deflector. A plurality of 55
`steam deflectors having different size of balls may be
`used to provide for a greater number of steam injection
`intervals.
`
`55
`
`PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
`
`The principal objection of the present invention is to
`provide a steam injection system for directing steam
`either down the tubing string or out of the tubing string
`in a direction concentric with and substantially parallel
`to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string and at an
`acceptable velocity into a packed—off portion of the well
`liner-tubing annulus. Other objects and advantages of
`the invention will be apparent from the following speci-
`fication and drawings which are incorporated herein
`and made a part of this specification.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is an elevation view partially in section and
`schematically illustrates apparatus assembled in accor-
`dance with the present invention positioned in a well
`adjacent a well liner.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the preferred
`steam deflector assembled in accordance with the pres-
`ent invention in a position to inject steam through the
`lower end of the tubing string;
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG.
`
`2;
`
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred steam
`deflector assembled in accordance with the present
`invention in position to divert steam into the well liner-
`tubing annulus;
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG.
`
`4;
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`4;
`
`FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG.
`
`FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken at line 7-—7 of FIG.
`
`4;
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`8;
`
`FIG. 8 is a sectional View illustrating an embodiment
`of apparatus assembled in accordance with the inven-
`tion and useful
`in the tubing string above the FIG.
`2—FIG. 7 embodiment to provide for a second level of
`steam injection, the apparatus being in position to direct
`steam down the tubing string;
`FIG. 9 is a sectional View taken at line 9——9 of FIG.
`
`FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the FIG. 8 apparatus in
`position to divert steam into the well liner-tubing annu-
`lus; and
`FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken at line 11-11 of
`FIG. 10.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`FIG. 1 is an elevation view partially in section and
`illustrates steam deflector apparatus generally indicated
`by the numerals 20 and 21 connected on a tubing string
`19 located in a well in accordance with the present
`invention. Steam is flowed into the tubing string from a
`steam generator (not shown) connected thereto. The
`steam deflector apparatus 20,21 are shown between sets
`of packer cup assemblies 22-23 and 24-25 respectively.
`The preferred form of packer cups useful in accordance
`with the present invention are described and claimed in
`copending application U.S. Ser. No. 714,941, filed Aug.
`16, 1976. The disclosure of said application is hereby
`incorporated by reference herein.
`The preferred packer cup such as indicated by the
`numeral 24 for example comprises a mandrel section
`connectable into a tubing string 19. A sealing element 17
`is provided with a central opening in snug engagement
`over the mandrel section. The sealing element includes
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`an annulary extending inner lip engaged against the
`mandrel section and an annularly extending outer lip
`engaged against the liner. A frangible annularly extend-
`ing backup ring having an outer diamter of less than the
`outer diameter of the sealing element has a central open-
`ing slidably engageable over the mandrel section. Stop
`means are provided on the mandrel section abutting
`against the frangible backup ring to maintain the packer
`cup in a predetermined position on the mandrel section.
`The steam deflectors are positioned adjacent a por-
`tion of the slots in well liner 25 in position to deflect
`steam into a selected portion of the liner-tubing annulus
`26,27. The upper packer cup assemblies 22,24 are look-
`ing down to prevent fluids in the respective portion of
`the tubing 19-liner 18 annulus 27,26 from going up the
`well while the lower packer cup assemblies 23,25 are
`looking up to prevent fluids in the respective portion of
`the annulus 26,27 from going farther down the well.
`Thus, for example, in a steam injection operation where
`it is desired to inject steam into a particular interval, one
`set of the packer cup assemblies 22,23 are spaced apart
`on the tubing string 19 to bridge the interval and the
`steam is injected down the tubing string 19 and out the
`steam deflector 20 into annulus 26 and then forced out
`into the formation through the slots located in the liner
`18 between the packer cup assemblies 24,25. When it is
`desired to inject steam into the upper annulus 27, the
`steam is diverted out of steam deflector 21 between
`packer cups 24,25.
`Thus, the present invention is directed to a steam
`injection system comprising a steam deflector for ini-
`tially directing steam flow down the interior of a tubing
`string into a well and later out of the steam deflector
`into the well liner-tubing string annulus in a direction
`concentric with and substantially parallel to the longitu-
`dinal axis of the tubing string. Means are provided for
`connecting the steam deflector into a tubing string and
`means are provided for selectively operating the steam
`deflector to divert steam flow out of the steam deflector
`into the well liner-tubing string annulus in a direction
`concentric with and substantially parallel to the longitu-
`dinal axis of the tubing string. Downward looking
`packer cup means are used to pack off the well liner-
`tubing string annulus above the steam deflector and
`upward looking packer cup means are used to pack off
`the well liner-tubing string annulus below the steam
`deflector. Steam generating means are connected to the
`tubing string for flowing steam into the tubing string.
`FIGS. 2 and 4 are sectional views illustrating the a
`steam deflector indicated generally by the numeral 20
`and useful in the present invention. FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7
`are sectional taken as indicated from FIGS. 2 and 4 as
`there shown. The steam deflector is used to either per-
`mit steam flow down the tubing string or to divert
`steam flow from the interior of a tubing string into a
`well in a direction concentric with and substantially
`parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string and
`at a velocity which does not substantially exceed the
`velocity of the steam that formerly flowed down the
`interior of the steam deflector. Thus, it may be first
`desirable to inject steam through the tubing string out
`the bottom thereof and to later divert the steam through
`the steam deflector into the well at a higher interval.
`The steam deflector 20 includes an outer tubular skirt
`section 30. Means, such as adapter collar 32, are pro-
`vided for connecting the upper end of skirt section 30 to
`the tubing string 19. The inner tubular section 34 of
`substantially smaller outer diameter than the inner di-
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`4,099,563
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`4
`ameter of the skirt section 30 is arranged with its upper
`portion extending coaxially interiorly of the lower por-
`tion of the skirt section 30 to form an annular chamber
`36 between the skirt section 30 and the inner tubular
`section 34. This annular chamber 36 is substantially
`concentric with and parallel to the longitudinal axis of
`the tubing string 19. When steam is injected into the
`well through annular chamber 36 it enters the well in a
`direction substantially concentric with and parallel to
`the longitudinal axis of the tubing string. A sliding
`sleeve section 38 having a central opening 39 through
`its entire length has an elongated lower portion loosely
`and slidably engaged inside the inner tubular section for
`coaxial travel between an up position (FIG. 2) and a
`down position (FIG. 4) in the inner tubular section 34.
`The sliding sleeve section 38 includes an upper collar
`portion 40 which has an outer diameter substantially
`equal to the outer diameter of the inner tubular section
`34. The collar portion 40 is loosely engagable in the up
`position against the inside of the outer tubular skirt
`section. It is preferred that about 0.010-inch clearance
`be maintained between the sliding sleeve section 38 and
`the skirt section 30 as well as the inner tubular section
`34 so that about 2% of the injected steam will leak
`through this clearance when the deflector is in the FIG.
`2 position to equalize the pressure in the tubing-liner
`annulus below and inside the packer cup assemblies.
`A ball seat 44 is formed in the collar portion 40 of the
`sliding sleeve section adjacent
`the central opening
`thereof. A shear pin 46 is used to disconnectably con-
`nect
`the sliding sleeve section in the up position,
`thereby blocking off the annular chamber 36 to the
`major portion of flow from the inside of the tubular
`skirt section. A coil spring 49 also urges the sliding
`sleeve into the up position. A series of radially extend-
`ing flanges 50,51,52,53 are positioned in the annular
`chamber and welded between the inner tubular section
`34 and the skirt section 30 to connect them together.
`The flanges 50-53 are sized to maintain the cross-sec-
`tional flow area through the annular chamber 36 to at
`least a value equal to the cross-section flow area of the
`central opening 39 of the lower portion of the sliding
`sleeve section 38. Maintaining the cross-sectional area
`of the annular chamber 38 to a value at least equal to the
`cross-sectional area of the central opening 39 is an im-
`portant feature of the present invention because it pre-
`vents critical flow from occurring through the annulus
`causing a vortex effect which picks up sand and dam-
`ages the liner. A ball 48 or the like is sized for engage-
`ment in the ball seat 44 to close off flow through the
`central opening 39 in the sliding sleeve. Steam pressure
`then causes shear pin 46 to shear and disconnect the
`sliding sleeve section from the skirt section and de-
`presses the sleeve section to the down position (FIG. 4)
`to open the annular chamber 36 to flow from the skirt
`section whereby steam is directed out of the annular
`chamber into the tubing-well liner annulus in a direction
`substantially concentric with and parallel to the longitu-
`dinal axis of the tubing string.
`FIGS. 8 and 10 are partial sectional views showing an
`upper steam deflector 21 useful with the present inven-
`tion. FIGS. 9 and 11 are sectional views taken as indi-
`cated from FIGS. 8 and 10. Parts in the FIGS. 8 to 11
`embodiment similar
`to corresponding parts in the
`FIGS. 1 to 7 embodiment are given numerals increased
`by 100 for ease of description. The principal difference
`of the FIGS. 8-11 embodiment is in the diameter of the
`ball seat 144 and ball 148 used to move the sliding sleeve
`
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`138 between an up and down position. The opening in
`the ball seat 144 is large enough to allow ball 48 to pass
`through to activate the lower steam deflector 10. A
`larger diameter ball 148 is required to active the upper
`steam deflector.
`Thus, the upper steam deflector 21 includes an outer
`tubular skirt section 130. Means, such as adapter collar
`132, are provided for connecting the upper end of skirt
`section 130 to the tubing string 19. An inner tubular
`section 134 of substantially smaller outer diameter than
`the inner diameter of the skirt section 30 is arranged
`with its upper portion extending coaxially interiorly of
`the lower portion of the skirt section 130 to form an
`annular chamber 136 between the skirt section 130 and
`the inner tubular section 134. This annular chamber 136
`is substantially concentric with and parallel to the longi-
`tudinal axis of the tubing string 19. When steam is in-
`jected into the well through annular chamber 136 it
`enters the well in a direction substantially concentric
`with and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing
`string. A sliding sleeve section 138 having a central
`opening 139 through its entire length has an elongated
`lower portion loosely and slidably engaged inside the
`inner tubular section for coaxial travel between an up
`position (FIG. 8) and a down position (FIG. 10) in the
`inner tubular section 134. The sliding sleeve section 138
`includes an upper collar position 140 which has an outer
`diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the
`inner tubular section 134. The collar portion 140 is
`loosely engagable in the up position against the inside of
`the outer tubular skirt section. It is preferred that about
`0.010-inch clearance be maintained between the sliding
`sleeve section 138 and the skirt section 130 as well as the
`inner tubular section 134 so that about 2% of the in-
`jected steam will leak through this clearance when the
`deflector is in the FIG. 8 position to equalize the pres-
`sure in the tubing-liner annulus below and inside the
`packer cup assemblies.
`A ball seat 144 is formed in the collar portion 40 of
`the sliding sleeve section adjacent the central opening
`thereof. A shear pin 146 is used to disconnectably con-
`nect
`the sliding sleeve section in the up position,
`thereby blocking off the annular chamber 136 to the
`major portion of flow from the inside of the tubular
`skirt section. A coil spring 149 also urges the sliding
`sleeve into the up position. A series of radially extend-
`ing flanges (not shown) are positioned in the annular
`chamber and welded between the inner tubular section
`
`6
`134 and the skirt section 130 to connect them together.
`The flanges are sized to maintain the cross-sectional
`flow area through the annular chamber 136 to at least a
`value equal to the cross-section flow area of the central
`opening 139 of the lower portion of the sliding sleeve
`section 138 to prevent undesirable vortexing of the
`steam. A ball 148 or the like is sized for engagement in
`the ball seat 144 to close off flow through the central
`opening 139 in the sliding sleeve. Steam pressure then
`causes shear pin 146 to shear and disconnect the sliding
`sleeve section from the skirt section and depresses the
`sleeve section to the down position (FIG. 10) to open
`the annular chamber 136 to flow from the skirt section
`whereby steam is directed out of the annular chamber
`into the the tubing-well liner annulus in a direction
`substantially concentric with and parallel to the longitu-
`dinal axis of the tubing string.
`Although certain specific embodiments of the inven-
`tion have been described in detail herein the invention is
`not to be limited to only those described embodiments
`but rather by the scope of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A steam injection system comprising a tubing
`string, a steam deflector connected into said tubing
`string operable for initially directing steam flow down
`the interior of said tubing string into a well and later out
`of the steam deflector into the well liner-tubing string
`annulus in a direction concentric with and substantially
`parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string,
`means for operating said steam deflector to direct steam
`flow out of said steam deflector into the well liner-tub-
`ing string annulus in a direction concentric with and
`substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tub-
`ing string, downward looking packer cup means pack-
`ing off the well liner-tubing string annulus above said
`steam deflector, upward looking packer cup means
`packing off said well liner-tubing string annulus below
`said steam deflector and steam generating means con-
`nected to said tubing string for flowing steam into said
`tubing string.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by
`a second steam deflector connected into said tubing
`string, second downward looking and upward looking
`packer cup means packing off the well
`liner-tubing
`annulus above and below said second steam deflector
`and second means for operating said second steam cle-
`flector.
`t
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