Well injection and production method and system

Abstract

A method and system for enhancing petroleum production are provided, in which petroleum is displaced from a fractured formation by selectively injecting fluid into selected fractures in the formation without injecting into the other non-selected fractures. The injected fluid flows out into the fractured formation and enhances recovery from the non-selected fractures. Petroleum is selectively collected from the non-selected fractures.

1 . A method for petroleum production from a well having a well section with a wellbore inner surface in communication with a plurality of fractures in a formation containing reservoir fluid, the method comprising:
 creating a first set and a second set of zones in the well section, each zone for communicating with at least one of the plurality of fractures, and the first set of zones being fluidly sealed from the second set of zones in the well section; and   selectively injecting injection fluid into the formation via at least one zone in the first set of zones.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selectively collecting reservoir fluid from the formation via at least one zone in the second set of zones; and 
 transporting the collected reservoir fluid to surface. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each zone is associated with a flow regulator, the flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid flow therethrough and a closed position which blocks fluid flow therethrough, for controlling one or both of: (i) flow of fluid into the zone; and (ii) flow of fluid out of the zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the flow regulator associated with the at least one zone in the first set of zones is in communication with a supply of injection fluid, and further comprising selectively injecting injection fluid by selectively opening the flow regulator associated with the at least one zone in the first set of zones. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the flow regulator associated with the at least one zone in the second set of zones allows at least some of the reservoir fluid to pass therethrough in the open position, and further comprising selectively collecting reservoir fluid by selectively opening the flow regulator associated with the at least one zone in the second set of zones. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the collected reservoir fluid is transported to surface by one or more of: pumping and gas-lifting. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the flow regulator preferentially allows the flow of petroleum therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the supply of injection fluid flows through a conduit extending along the well section. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the flow regulator is in communication with a conduit extending from surface into the well section, and further comprising permitting reservoir fluid in the at least one zone in the second set to flow into the conduit and transporting the collected reservoir within the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the flow regulator is in communication with a conduit extending from surface into the well section, further comprising supplying injection fluid through the conduit; and selectively injecting injection fluid by selectively opening the flow regulator associated with the at least one zone in the first set of zones. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising ceasing the supply of injection fluid; selectively collecting reservoir fluid by selectively opening the flow regulator associated with the at least one zone in the second set of zones; permitting reservoir fluid in the at least one zone in the second set to flow into the conduit and transporting the collected reservoir within the conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein packers are used to fluidly seal the zones from one another. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein injecting injection fluid and collecting reservoir fluid occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein injecting injection fluid and collecting reservoir fluid occur asynchronously. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the injection fluid is recovered from the collected reservoir fluid. 
     
     
         16 . A method for hydrocarbon production from a well having a well section with a wellbore inner surface in communication with a first set and a second set of fractures in a formation containing reservoir fluid, the method comprising:
 creating a plurality of injection zones in the well section, each injection zone for communicating with at least one fracture in the first set of fractures at the wellbore inner surface;   creating a plurality of production zones in the well section, each production zone for communicating with at least one fracture in the second set of fractures at the wellbore inner surface and for receiving reservoir fluid from the formation via the at least one fracture in the second set of fractures, each production zone being fluidly sealed from the injection zones inside the well section;   selectively injecting injection fluid into the formation via at least one of the injection zones;   selectively collecting reservoir fluid from the formation via at least one of the production zones; and   transporting the collected reservoir fluid to surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each injection zone is in communication with an injection flow regulator, the injection flow regulator being in communication with a supply of injection fluid, and further comprising selectively injecting injection fluid by selectively opening the injection flow regulator in communication with the at least one of the injection zones. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each production zone is in communication with a production flow regulator, and further comprising selectively collecting reservoir fluid by selectively opening the production flow regulator in communication with the at least one of the production zones and allowing at least some of the reservoir fluid to pass through the production flow regulator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the supply of injection fluid flows through an injection conduit extending along the well section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the production flow regulator is in communication with a production conduit extending from the well section to surface, and the collected reservoir fluid is transported within the production conduit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein injecting injection fluid and collecting reservoir fluid occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein injecting injection fluid and collecting reservoir fluid occur asynchronously. 
     
     
         23 . A method for petroleum production involving a first well having a first well section with a first wellbore inner surface in communication with a first set of fractures in a formation containing reservoir fluid and a second well having a second well section with a second wellbore inner surface in communication with a second set of fractures in the formation, wherein some of the fractures in the first set are in close proximity to some of the fractures in the second set, the method comprising:
 creating a plurality of injection zones in the first well section, each injection zone for communicating with at least one of the fractures in the first set that are in close proximity to some of the fractures in the second set, via the first wellbore inner surface;   creating a plurality of production zones in the second well section, each production zone for communicating with at least one of the fractures in the second set that are in close proximity to some of the fractures in the first set, via the second wellbore inner surface, the plurality of production zones configured to receive reservoir fluid from the formation;   selectively injecting injection fluid into the formation via at least one of the injection zones;   selectively collecting reservoir fluid from the formation via at least one of the production zones; and   transporting the collected reservoir fluid to surface.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein some of the fractures in the first set that are in close proximity to some of the fractures in the second set extend between some of the fractures in the second set. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each injection zone is in communication with an injection flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid flow therethrough and a closed position which blocks fluid flow therethrough, the injection flow regulator being in communication with a supply of injection fluid, and further comprising selectively injecting injection fluid by selectively opening the injection flow regulator in communication with the at least one of the injection zones. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each production zone is in communication with a production flow regulator having an open position which allows at least some reservoir fluid to flow therethrough and a closed position which blocks fluid flow therethrough, and further comprising selectively collecting reservoir fluid by selectively opening the production flow regulator in communication with the at least one of the production zones. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the collected reservoir fluid is transported to surface by one or more of: pumping and gas-lifting. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the production flow regulator preferentially allows the flow of petroleum therethrough. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the supply of injection fluid flows through a conduit extending along the first well section. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the production flow regulator is in communication with a conduit extending from the second well section to surface, and further comprising collecting reservoir fluid from the at least one of the production zones into the conduit and transporting the collected reservoir fluid within the conduit. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein injecting injection fluid and collecting reservoir fluid occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein injecting injection fluid and collecting reservoir fluid occur asynchronously. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a portion of the injection fluid is recovered from the collected reservoir fluid. 
     
     
         34 . A system for petroleum production from a well having an inner bore and a well section with a wellbore inner surface in communication with a first set and a second set of fractures in a formation containing reservoir fluid, the system comprising:
 an injection conduit extending inside the inner bore and along at least part of the well section;   a production conduit extending inside the inner bore and along at least part of the well section;   at least one injection zone in the well section for communicating with at least one fracture in the first set of fractures at the wellbore inner surface;   at least one production zone in the well section for communicating with at least one fracture in the second set of fractures at the wellbore inner surface, the at least one production zone being fluidly sealed from the at least one injection zone inside the well section;   at least one injection flow regulator in association with the at least one injection zone, the at least one injection flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid communication between the injection conduit and the at least one fracture in the first set of fractures via the at least one injection zone, and a closed position which blocks fluid communication between the injection conduit and the at least one fracture in the first set of fractures; and   at least one production flow regulator in association with the at least one production zone, the at least one production flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid communication between the production conduit and the at least one fracture in the second set of fractures via the at least one production zone, and a closed position which blocks fluid communication between the injection conduit and the at least one fracture in the second set of fractures.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the production conduit and the injection conduit are positioned side-by-side axially in the well section. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34  wherein one of the production and injection conduits is inside the other conduit in the well section, the conduit on the inside being an inside conduit and the conduit on the outside being an outside conduit. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the at least one injection flow regulator is connected to the injection conduit. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the at least one production flow regulator is connected to the production conduit. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34  further comprising packers for fluidly sealing the at least one production zone from the at least one injection zone. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the well section includes a casing with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface being the wellbore inner surface, and wherein the at least one production flow regulator and the at least one injection flow regulator are installed on the outer surface of the casing or outside of the casing adjacent the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a bypass tube extending through and bypassing the at least one production zone, and fluidly connecting the at least one injection zone with another injection zone. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a bypass tube extending through and bypassing the at least one injection zone, and fluidly connecting the at least one production zone with another production zone. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the wellbore inner surface in the well section defines the outside conduit. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40  further comprising measurement and control system instrumentation which is installed outside of the casing adjacent the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a seal and a bypass tube, the bypass tube extending through the seal between a first end and a second end of the seal, the seal allowing fluid communication between the inner conduit and a zone, and the bypass tube bypassing the zone and fluidly connecting sections of the outer conduit adjacent to the first and second ends of the seal. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the production conduit and the injection conduit are one and the same. 
     
     
         47 . A method for producing petroleum from a well having a wellbore with a wellbore inner surface, the wellbore communicable via the wellbore inner surface with a first set and a second set of fractures in a formation containing reservoir fluid, the method comprising:
 supplying injection fluid to the wellbore via a conduit;   injecting injection fluid from the wellbore to the formation through the first set of fractures, while blocking fluid flow to and from the second set of fractures;   ceasing the supply of injection fluid;   blocking fluid flow to and from the first set of fractures;   permitting flow of reservoir fluid from the formation through the second set of fractures into the wellbore; and   collecting reservoir fluid from the wellbore via the conduit.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the first set of fractures and the wellbore is fluidly communicable through at least one flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid flow therethrough and a closed position which blocks fluid flow therethrough, and further comprising opening the at least one flow regulator to inject injection fluid to the formation through the first set of fractures; and closing the at least one flow regulator to block fluid flow to and from the first set of fractures. 
     
     
         49 . The method  claim 47 , wherein the second set of fractures and the wellbore is fluidly communicable through at least one flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid flow therethrough and a closed position which blocks fluid flow therethrough, and further comprising closing the at least one flow regulator to block fluid flow to and from the second set of fractures; and opening the at least one flow regulator to permit flow of reservoir fluid from the formation through the second set of fractures into the wellbore. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the collected reservoir fluid is transported to surface by one or more of: pumping and gas-lifting. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein a portion of the injection fluid is recovered from the collected reservoir fluid. 
     
     
         52 . A system for petroleum production from a well having a well section with a wellbore inner surface and an inner bore, the inner bore being communicable with fractures in a formation via the wellbore inner surface, the system comprising:
 a conduit extending down the well, the conduit having a lower end in or near the well section and being in fluid communication with the inner bore of the well section; and   a plurality of flow regulators at or near the wellbore inner surface, each being connected to at least one of the fractures and being selectively openable and closeable for allowing and blocking, respectively, fluid communication between the inner bore and the at least one of the fractures.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the well section includes a casing with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface being the wellbore inner surface, and the plurality of flow regulators are installed on the outer surface of the casing or outside of the casing adjacent the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53  further comprising measurement and control system instrumentation which is installed outside of the casing adjacent the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         55 . A method for petroleum production from a well having a well section with a wellbore inner surface in communication with a plurality of fractures in a formation containing reservoir fluid, the method comprising:
 creating a plurality of zones in the well section, each zone for communicating with at least one of the plurality of fractures and each zone being fluidly sealed from adjacent zones in the well section, and two or more zones are fluidly connectable via a conduit extending through the plurality of zones;   selectively supplying injection fluid from the conduit to at least one of the zones and injecting the injection fluid into the formation via the at least one of the zones;   selectively collecting reservoir fluid into the conduit from the formation via at least one of the zones, and the injection of injection fluid and the collection of reservoir fluid occurring asynchronously;   transporting the collected reservoir fluid to surface.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein each zone is associated with a flow regulator connected to the conduit, the flow regulator having an open position which allows fluid flow therethrough and a closed position which blocks fluid flow therethrough, for controlling one or both of: (i) flow of fluid into the zone; and (ii) flow of fluid out of the zone.