CONFORMANCE CONTROL THROUGH STIMULUS-RESPONSIVE MATERIALS

摘要

A method, apparatus and production well system that utilize stimulus- responsive materials for "conformance control" and profile control along the fluid flow path in a well as part of a gravel pack or a coating on a well tool. The stimulus- responsive materials are also known as intelligent or smart polymers and are typically polymeric materials that reversibly or irreversibly swell or collapse in the presence of stimulus such as changes in concentration of a fluid media in contact with the stimulus-responsive material, pH or polarity of the media the stimulus-responsive material is in contact with, salinity, current; or temperature. The stimulus-responsive materials may swell upon contact with a first stimulus and shrink or collapse upon contact with a second stimulus or vice-versa. The changes between production and injection profiles may be automatic with the application of the stimulus-responsive materials and may occur without user intervention.