Bp Exploration Operating Company Limited

Patrick James Calvert

Paul Roderick Allen Oram

Gennaro Dello Ioio

Andrew Woods

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing skin in a subterranean wellbore. In an embodiment, the method includes oscillating a drawdown pressure of the subterranean wellbore in a predetermined pattern that comprises a plurality of alternating drawdown pressure increases and drawdown pressure decreases. The drawdown pressure increases of the predetermined pattern comprise increasing the drawdown pressure at a first rate, and the drawdown pressure decreases of the predetermined pattern comprise decreasing the drawdown pressure at a second rate that is different from the first rate.

Systems and methods for managing skin within a subterranean wellbore

Method and apparatus for mitigating slug formation in a multiphase fluid stream flowing through a conduit. The method includes (a) determining the pressure in the conduit upstream of a slugging zone, (b) determining the pressure in the conduit downstream of the slugging zone, (c) determining the actual pressure difference across the slugging zone by subtracting the downstream pressure from step (b) from the upstream pressure from step (a), (d) determining the error between a target pressure difference and the actual pressure difference, (e) producing a signal having a first component which is proportional to the error and a second component which is proportional to the rate of change of the error over time, and (f) using the signal produced in step (e) to control the position of an adjustable choke valve located downstream of the slugging zone so as to stabilize variations arising in the actual pressure difference over time.

Slug mitigation

A method and apparatus for mitigating slug formation in a multiphase fluid stream that is flowing through a conduit wherein the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion which is upwardly inclined to the first portion and wherein the multiphase fluid stream comprises a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the pressure in the conduit upstream of a slugging zone; (b) determining the pressure in the conduit downstream of the slugging zone; (c) determining the actual pressure difference across the slugging zone by subtracting the downstream pressure from step (b) from the upstream pressure from step (a); (d) determining the error between a target pressure difference and the actual pressure difference; (e) producing a signal comprising a first component which is proportional to the error and a second component which is proportional to the rate of change of the error over time; and (f) using the signal produced in step (e) to control the position of an adjustable choke valve located downstream of the slugging zone so as to stabilize variations arising in the actual pressure difference over time.

Growing community of inventors

York, United Kingdom

Patrick James Calvert