Pragma公司的井下注汽阀帮助条件恶劣的北海油田开采迈出了一大步！
编译 | 惊蛰
据悉，位于Aberdeen的Pragma油井技术公司已经获得了Pharis能源公司与OGTC公司的许可，在成功进行了可行性研究之后，该公司将继续推动井下注汽阀(DSIV)的制造与原型测试。
通过地面控制的新型井下注汽阀采用了高级材料、独特的流体设计，具有诸多创新的工程特性，最大限度地提高了极端井况下的可靠性，将成为市场上第一款符合英国安全法规的注汽阀。该阀门可承受连续高压注汽的极端井下条件，并可作业于高达343℃的高温环境。
由于Pragma公司的注汽阀采用了地面控制设计，因此DSIV技术还可用于世界各地的其他极端高温应用，包括生产井或地热井。该特点使DSIV可在更广泛的市场上有用武之地与显著优势。极端温度安全阀(ETSV)是生产安全阀的变型，具有ESP电缆旁路，可以配合安装井下泵等设备。
DSIV是实施海上蒸汽驱的关键技术，Pharis公司将使用DSIV阀门保护井筒的完整性，该公司正开采UKCS区块21/27a区域的Pilot油田，进行蒸汽辅助、分阶段的开发。该项目将从蒸汽驱试验开始，向Pilot油田南部注入3.6万桶水的蒸汽。全规模蒸汽驱的目标是达到大约50%的采收率(超过1.2亿桶)，大约是迄今为止在北海稠油项目中应用标准冷水驱技术采收率的三倍。
Pharis公司的首席执行官Steve Brown说：“我们很高兴，能够在开发这种新型阀门技术方面取得创新与合作的进展。在UKCS区块应用蒸汽驱技术，有可能从该区块已发现的浅层稠油油田中，开采出额外4亿桶原先无法开采的储量。
蒸汽驱技术有机会改变一些边际油田的经济前景，吸引新的投资进入该区块，并驱使作业者去勘探以前被忽视的油田。研发出一个经过全面测试与评定的安全阀，对于蒸汽驱作业至关重要。并且，蒸汽增产技术有助于最大限度地提高UKCS区块的经济采收率。”
Pragma公司的首席执行官Gary Smart补充道：“可行性研究的成果与我们的预期非常一致，目前我们期待在原型设计阶段迅速取得进展。我们的技术能够承受极端温度，因为它使用了优质的耐腐蚀材料以及全金属密封件，可在井的全生命周期内，提供可靠的性能。这使其成为市场上唯一具有这些能力的阀门。”
?“这一创新产品反映出Pragma公司的愿景，即提供先进技术，以更低的额外成本实现增产。该技术在蒸汽驱、高温以及其他类型生产井中的应用前景令人兴奋。”
井下注汽阀(DSIV)
与OGTC公司以及UKCS区块一家独立作业者合作，针对以前难以开采的海上稠油油藏，实现蒸汽驱完井。Pragma公司的井下注汽阀（DSIV）与极端温度安全阀（ETSV）是单阀的变型，开发用于极端高温应用，如蒸汽驱开采作业。蒸汽驱开采对油藏具有重要影响，增加了采收率，并提高了产量。
虽然以前曾考虑过将蒸汽驱技术应用于海上油田开发，但技术上的挑战阻碍了它的应用。其中一个挑战便是需要开发出一种高温注汽安全阀，这是大多数海上油田所需要的。
该阀门由地面控制，能够承受高达343°C的温度，具有优质耐腐蚀材料以及全金属对金属的密封，可在井的全生命周期内提供可靠的性能。这将使该技术成为市场上唯一能够承受这些恶劣条件的阀门。
Aberdeen-based oil and gas production technology business, Pragma Well Technology, has been given the green light by Pharis Energy and OGTC to progress with the manufacture and prototype testing of their Downhole Steam Injection Valve (DSIV) following a successful feasibility study.
Using advanced materials, detailed fluid design and innovative engineering features to maximize reliability for extreme downhole conditions, the surface controlled DSIV will be the first steam injection valve available on the market to meet UK safety regulations. The valve will be rated to withstand the extreme downhole conditions required for continuous high-pressure steam injection, and will operate at temperatures of up to 343° Celsius.?
Owing to Pragma’s surface controlled design, the DSIV technology will also be able to be used in other extreme high temperature developments around the world. These could include production or geothermal wells, providing the DSIV with considerable applications and advantages for a wider market. The production safety valve variant, the Extreme Temperature Safety Valve (ETSV), also incorporates ESP cable bypass capability which will allow the installation of downhole pumps. ?
The DSIV is a key enabling technology for the implementation of offshore steam-flood and Pharis will use the DSIV valves to protect well integrity, as the company progresses a steam assisted, phased development of the Pilot field, which lies in UKCS block 21/27a. This project will start with a steam-flood trial injecting up to 36,000 bbl of cold water equivalent of steam into the southern part of the Pilot field. The full scale steam-flood is aiming for approximately 50% recovery (over 120 MMbbls), about three times as much oil as would be expected to be recovered using the standard cold water-flood techniques used in most North Sea heavy oil projects to date.
Steve Brown, CEO of Pharis said, “We are delighted with the innovative and collaborative progress being made in developing this new valve technology. Applying steam-flooding technology in the UKCS has the potential to unlock an additional 4 Bbbl of otherwise stranded reserves from the shallow heavy oil fields that have already been discovered in the basin. Steam-flooding has the potential to transform the economic prospects of a number of marginal fields, attract new investment to the basin and stimulate exploration of previously neglected plays. The creation of a thoroughly tested and appropriately rated safety valve is critical to enable these operations to commence, and for steam based recovery techniques to make their contribution to maximizing economic recovery from the UKCS.”
Gary Smart, CEO of Pragma, added: “The successful results of the feasibility study were very much in line with our expectations and we are now looking forward to progressing quickly with the prototyping phase. Our technology can withstand extremes of temperatures because it uses premium corrosion resistant materials and full metal to metal seals for reliable function over the life of the well. This sets it apart as the only valve of its type on the market with these capabilities.?
“This innovative product reflects Pragma’s vision of delivering advanced technology to enable increased production with lower uplift cost. The roll-out possibilities of the technology for steam-flood, high temperature and indeed many other types of production wells are incredibly exciting.”
DOWNHOLE STEAM INJECTION VALVE (DSIV)
Enabling steam flood completions in previously inaccessible offshore heavy oil reservoirs, in collaboration with OGTC and a UKCS independent operator.
Pragma’s Downhole Steam Injection Valve (DSIV) and Extreme Temperature Safety Valve (ETSV) are variations of a single valve developed for use in extreme high temperature applications such as steam flood recovery. Steam flood recovery can have a significant impact on the reservoir enabling higher recovery rates and increased production.
Whilst steam flooding for offshore developments has previously been considered, technical challenges have prevented its adoption. One of those challenges was the development of a high temperature steam injection safety valve which is required in most offshore regions.
With funding from a pioneering independent UK operator and the government backed Oil and Gas Technology Centre, Pragma are developing their DSIV to enable the use of steam flooding in the UKCS for the first time.
The valve will be able to withstand temperatures of up to 343°C, with surface control, premium corrosion resistant materials and full metal to metal seals for reliable function over the life of the well. This will set apart the technology as the only valve on the market capable of withstanding these harsh conditions.