More oil from old fields
Current methods of extracting crude oil leave about 65 % behind because incoming water or gas interferes with the oil flow. Inflow control devices developed to solve the problem are prone to choking oil production and do not stop the interference. The EU-funded REVIVAL (A novel, autonomous and reversible inflow control valve to increase oil production and reservoir recovery rate by stopping the production of unwanted water and gas locally in the reservoirs) project developed an improvement. The low-cost Autonomous Inflow Control Valve (AICV) prevented breakthrough of water and gas into the well pipe, thus increasing the recovery rate from oil fields. The team first tested individual AICV components according to various criteria. The work identified designs and dimensions of flow elements appropriate to various types of oils. Testing also included resistance to reservoir conditions, plugging, and erosion. Researchers selected the most suitable materials, used for construction of the complete prototype. Testing of the prototype AICV involved various fluids, forces and operational functions. Testing validated the design, proving the AICV suitable for light, medium, and heavy oil production. The AICV closes to unwanted fluids when breakthrough occurs. REVIVAL's device enabled further extraction from previously unviable oilfields, saving exploration costs, and offering oil security for Europe. The highly profitable system has already entered the global market.
Keywords
Oil, autonomous, REVIVAL, inflow, control, valve
