Valve Designed to Increase Oil Recovery
Engineering360 News Desk | February 13, 2017Despite the use of inflow control devices, water and gas intrusion still limit recovery rates in oil wells. Many oil wells are only able to extract about 32% of the oil available inside.
An EU-funded project launched to resolve this problem has resulted in a prototype of a new autonomous inflow control valve (AICV). Developed by InflowControl of Norway, the technology autonomously shuts off the gas and/or water from breaking through into the well pipe.
Oil well productivity may be improved with the autonomous inflow control valve.The AICV closes for gas and water but opens to allow oil to flow through, and offers potential to increase oil field production and recovery by up to 80%, developers say. Oil recovery rates improved markedly in five oil wells where the valve was installed over the last year.
About 60 mm in diameter and 3 cm in height, the self-regulating valve comprises 9 or 10 parts. Engineers developed an innovative laminar flow element, new turbulent flow elements, new filters, and seals that can withstand the harsh environment in wells. These parts have been tested under high temperatures, pressures, and in the presence of oil and water.