United States Patent [191
`Hutchison et al.
`
`[11]
`[451
`
`4,099,563
`Jul. 11, 1978
`
`[54] STEAM INJECTION SYSTEM FOR USE IN A
`WELL
`[75] Inventors: Stanley 0. Hutchison, Bakers?eld;
`Glenn W. Anderson, Oildale, both of
`Calif.
`[73] Assignee: Chevron Research Company, San
`Francisco, Calif.
`[21] Appl. No.: 783,131
`[22] Filed:
`Mar. 31, 1977
`[51] Int. Cl.2 .................... .. E21B 33/122; E21B 43/12
`[52] US. Cl. .................................. .. 166/191; 166/202;
`166/317; 166/318; 137/71; 137/874
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 166/191, 186, 147, 202,
`166/317, 318, 325, 306, 303, 269, 127, 194;
`137/71, 625.48, 595, 610
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`2,611,436
`
`9/1952 Carr et al. .......................... .. 166/269
`
`2,662,600 12/1953 Baker et al. ........................ .. 166/ 154
`3,349,849 10/1967 Closmann .... ..
`166/ 303
`3,530,939
`9/1970 Turner ............................... .. 166/ 303
`Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. L. Freeland, Jr.; Edward J.
`Keeling
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A steam injection system including a steam de?ector
`connectable into a tubing string which steam de?ector
`provides for selectively passing steam through the tub
`ing string to the bottom thereof or diverting steam from
`inside the tubing string out into the wall liner-tubing
`annulus and in a direction concentric with and substan
`tially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string
`and above the bottom end thereof utilizing a sliding
`sleeve arrangement and packer cup means packing off
`the well liner-tubing annulus both above and below the
`steam de?ector.
`
`2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures
`
`Page 1 of 6
`
`

`
`United States Patent [191
`Hutchison et al.
`
`[11]
`[451
`
`4,099,563
`Jul. 11, 1978
`
`[54] STEAM INJECTION SYSTEM FOR USE IN A
`WELL
`[75] Inventors: Stanley 0. Hutchison, Bakers?eld;
`Glenn W. Anderson, Oildale, both of
`Calif.
`[73] Assignee: Chevron Research Company, San
`Francisco, Calif.
`[21] Appl. No.: 783,131
`[22] Filed:
`Mar. 31, 1977
`[51] Int. Cl.2 .................... .. E21B 33/122; E21B 43/12
`[52] US. Cl. .................................. .. 166/191; 166/202;
`166/317; 166/318; 137/71; 137/874
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 166/191, 186, 147, 202,
`166/317, 318, 325, 306, 303, 269, 127, 194;
`137/71, 625.48, 595, 610
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`2,611,436
`
`9/1952 Carr et al. .......................... .. 166/269
`
`2,662,600 12/1953 Baker et al. ........................ .. 166/ 154
`3,349,849 10/1967 Closmann .... ..
`166/ 303
`3,530,939
`9/1970 Turner ............................... .. 166/ 303
`Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. L. Freeland, Jr.; Edward J.
`Keeling
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A steam injection system including a steam de?ector
`connectable into a tubing string which steam de?ector
`provides for selectively passing steam through the tub
`ing string to the bottom thereof or diverting steam from
`inside the tubing string out into the wall liner-tubing
`annulus and in a direction concentric with and substan
`tially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string
`and above the bottom end thereof utilizing a sliding
`sleeve arrangement and packer cup means packing off
`the well liner-tubing annulus both above and below the
`steam de?ector.
`
`2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures
`
`Page 1 of 6
`
`

`
`U. S. Patent‘
`
`July 11, 1978
`
`Sheet 1 of2 ‘
`
`4,099,563
`
`Page 2 of 6
`
`

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`U. S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1978
`
`Sheet2 012
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`4,099,563
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`I 32
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`I82
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`\ . ~ \ \ \ \ \ \ \
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`Page 3 of 6
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`1
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`4,099,563
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`5
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`STEAM INJECTION ‘SYSTEM FOR USE IN A
`WELL
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`This application is related to U.S. application Ser.
`No. 714,941, ?led Aug. 16, 1976, by S. O. Hutchison
`now abandoned and to U.S. application Ser. No.
`783,135, ?led Mar. 31, 1977 by S. O. Hutchison and G.
`W. Anderson.
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a steam injection
`system which includes a steam de?ector connectable
`into a tubing string located in a well, and packer cups
`for packing off the tubing-well liner annulus both above
`and below the steam de?ector. The steam de?ector is
`adapted to selectively pass steam through the tubing
`string or to divert steam from the interior of the tubing
`string above the bottom thereof into the well liner-tub
`ing annulus in a direction concentric with and substan
`tially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string
`and the packer cups are adapted to pack off the well
`liner-tubing annulus both above and below the steam
`de?ector.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Steam injection is a standard technique for improving
`oil recovery from a well. It is often desirable to inject
`steam into a well at a location other than the bottom of
`the tubing. This is particularly true in thick formations.
`Initially, the practice was to simply direct the steam into
`a well liner-tubing annulus in the form of a jet at right
`angles to the tubing string. This, however, caused dam
`age to the liner. Later steam de?ectors were used to
`de?ect the steam into the well liner-tubing annulus in a
`downward direction above the outside of the tubing.
`However, uniform and certain placement of the steam
`was not certain utilizing the prior art placement meth
`ods. The present invention provides a steam injection
`system which overcomes these problems.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a steam injection
`system which includes a steam de?ector connectable
`into a tubing string for selectively passing steam down
`the interior of the tubing string or for diverting the
`steam from the interior of the tubing string out into the
`well liner-tubing annulus in a direction concentric with
`and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
`tubing string and above the bottom thereof and at a
`velocity which does not substantially exceed the veloc
`ity of the steam formerly ?owing inside of the de?ector
`to prevent damage to the well liner and packer cup
`means packing off the tubing-liner annulus both above
`and below the steam de?ector. A sliding sleeve and a
`ball are used to close off the interior of the steam de?ec
`tor and to open a concentric annulus to steam ?ow to
`the outside of the steam de?ector. The ?ow area of the
`concentric annulus is at least as great as the ?ow area
`through the interior of the de?ector. A plurality of 65
`steam de?ectors having different size of balls may be
`used to provide for a greater number of steam injection
`intervals.
`
`2
`PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
`The principal objection of the present invention is to
`provide a steam injection system for directing steam
`either down the tubing string or out of the tubing string
`in a direction concentric with and substantially parallel
`to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string and at an
`acceptable velocity into a packed-off portion of the well
`liner-tubing annulus. Other objects and advantages of
`the invention will be apparent from the following speci
`?cation and drawings which are incorporated herein
`and made a part of this speci?cation.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is an elevation view partially in section and
`schematically illustrates apparatus assembled in accor
`dance with the present invention positioned in a well
`adjacent a well liner.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the preferred
`steam de?ector assembled in accordance with the pres
`ent invention in a position to inject steam through the
`lower end of the tubing string;
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-—3 of FIG.
`2;
`
`40
`
`45
`
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred steam
`de?ector assembled in accordance with the present
`invention in position to divert steam into the well liner
`tubing annulus;
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG.
`4;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG.
`4;
`FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken at line 7-—7 of FIG.
`4;
`FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment
`of apparatus assembled in accordance with the inven
`tion and useful in the tubing string above the FIG.
`2-FIG. 7 embodiment to provide for a second level of
`steam injection, the apparatus being in position to direct
`steam down the tubing string;
`FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken at line 9——9 of FIG.
`8;
`FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the FIG. 8 apparatus in
`position to divert steam into the well liner-tubing annu
`lus; and
`FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken at line 11-11 of
`FIG. 10.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1 is an elevation view partially in section and
`illustrates steam de?ector apparatus generally indicated
`by the numerals 20 and 21 connected on a tubing string
`19 located in a well in accordance with the present
`invention. Steam is ?owed into the tubing string from a
`steam generator (not shown) connected thereto. The
`steam de?ector apparatus 20,21 are shown between sets
`of packer cup assemblies 22-23 and 24-25 respectively.
`The preferred form of packer cups useful in accordance
`with the present invention are described and claimed in
`copending application U.S. Ser. No. 714,941, ?led Aug.
`16, 1976. The disclosure of said application is hereby
`incorporated by reference herein.
`The preferred packer cup such as indicated by the
`numeral 24 for example comprises a mandrel section
`connectable into a tubing string 19. A sealing element 17
`is provided with a central opening in snug engagement
`over the mandrel section. The sealing element includes
`
`Page 4 of 6
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`

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`3
`an annulary extending inner lip engaged against the
`mandrel section and an annularly extending outer lip
`engaged against the liner. A frangible annularly extend
`ing backup ring having an outer diamter of less than the
`outer diameter of the sealing element has a central open
`ing slidably engageable over the mandrel section. Stop
`means are provided on the mandrel section abutting
`against the frangible backup ring to maintain the packer
`cup in a predetermined position on the mandrel section.
`The steam de?ectors are positioned adjacent a por
`tion of the slots in well liner 25 in position to de?ect
`steam into a selected portion of the liner-tubing annulus
`26,27. The upper packer cup assemblies 22,24 are look
`ing down to prevent ?uids in the respective portion of
`the tubing l9-liner l8 annulus 27,26 from going up the
`well while the lower packer cup assemblies 23,25 are
`looking up to prevent ?uids in the respective portion of
`the annulus 26,27 from going farther down the well.
`Thus, for example, in a steam injection operation where
`it is desired to inject steam into a particular interval, one
`20
`set of the packer cup assemblies 22,23 are spaced apart
`on the tubing string 19 to bridge the interval and the
`steam is injected down the tubing string 19 and out the
`steam de?ector 20 into annulus 26 and then forced out
`into the formation through the slots located in the liner
`18 between the packer cup assemblies 24,25. When it is
`desired to inject steam into the upper annulus 27, the
`steam is diverted out of steam deflector 21 between
`packer cups 24,25.
`Thus, the present invention is directed to a steam
`injection system comprising a steam de?ector for ini
`tially directing steam ?ow down the interior of a tubing
`string into a well and later out of the steam de?ector
`into the well liner-tubing string annulus in a direction
`concentric with and substantially parallel to the longitu
`dinal axis of the tubing string. Means are provided for
`connecting the steam de?ector into a tubing string and
`means are provided for selectively operating the steam
`de?ector to divert steam ?ow out of the steam de?ector
`into the well liner-tubing string annulus in a direction
`40
`concentric with and substantially parallel to the longitu
`dinal axis of the tubing string. Downward looking
`packer cup means are used to pack off the well liner
`tubing string annulus above the steam de?ector and
`upward looking packer cup means are used to pack off
`45
`the well liner-tubing string annulus below the steam
`de?ector. Steam generating means are connected to the
`tubing string for ?owing steam into the tubing string.
`FIGS. 2 and 4 are sectional views illustrating the a
`steam de?ector indicated generally by the numeral 20
`and useful in the present invention. FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7
`are sectional taken as indicated from FIGS. 2 and 4 as
`there shown. The steam de?ector is used to either per
`mit steam ?ow down the tubing string or to divert
`steam ?ow from the interior of a tubing string into a
`well in a direction concentric with and substantially
`parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string and
`at a velocity which does not substantially exceed the
`velocity of the steam that formerly ?owed down the
`interior of the steam de?ector. Thus, it may be ?rst
`desirable to inject steam through the tubing string out
`the bottom thereof and to later divert the steam through
`the steam de?ector into the well at a higher interval.
`The steam de?ector 20 includes an outer tubular skirt
`section 30. Means, such as adapter collar 32, are pro
`vided for connecting the upper end of skirt section 30 to
`the tubing string 19. The inner tubular section 34 of
`substantially smaller outer diameter than the inner di
`
`60
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`4,099, 563
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`25
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`30
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`4
`ameter of the skirt section 30 is arranged with its upper
`portion extending coaxially interiorly of the lower por
`tion of the skirt section 30 to form an annular chamber
`36 between the skirt section 30 and the inner tubular
`section 34. This annular chamber 36 is substantially
`concentric with and parallel to the longitudinal axis of
`the tubing string 19. When steam is injected into the
`well through annular chamber 36 it enters the well in a
`direction substantially concentric with and parallel to
`the longitudinal axis of the tubing string. A sliding
`sleeve section 38 having a central opening 39 through
`its entire length has an elongated lower portion loosely
`and slidably engaged inside the inner tubular section for
`coaxial travel between an up position (FIG. 2) and a
`down position (FIG. 4) in the inner tubular section 34.
`The sliding sleeve section 38 includes an upper collar
`portion 40 which has an outer diameter substantially
`equal to the outer diameter of the inner tubular section
`34. The collar portion 40 is loosely engagable in the up
`position against the inside of the outer tubular skirt
`section. It is preferred that about 0.0l0-inch clearance
`be maintained between the sliding sleeve section 38 and
`the skirt section 30 as well as the inner tubular section
`34 so that about 2% of the injected steam will leak
`through this clearance when the de?ector is in the FIG.
`2 position to equalize the pressure in the tubing-liner
`annulus below and inside the packer cup assemblies.
`A ball seat 44 is formed in the collar portion 40 of the
`sliding sleeve section adjacent the central opening
`thereof. A shear pin 46 is used to disconnectably con
`nect the sliding sleeve section in the up position,
`thereby blocking off the annular chamber 36 to the
`major portion of ?ow from the inside of the tubular
`skirt section. A coil spring 49 also urges the sliding
`sleeve into the up position. A series of radially extend
`ing ?anges 50,51,52,53 are positioned in the annular
`chamber and welded between the inner tubular section
`34 and the skirt section 30 to connect them together.
`The ?anges 50-53 are sized to maintain the cross-sec
`tional ?ow area through the annular chamber 36 to at
`least a value equal to the cross-section ?ow area of the
`central opening 39 of the lower portion of the sliding
`sleeve section 38. Maintaining the cross-sectional area
`of the annular chamber 38 to a value at least equal to the
`cross-sectional area of the central opening 39 is an im
`portant feature of the present invention because it pre
`vents critical ?ow from occurring through the annulus
`causing a vortex effect which picks up sand and dam
`ages the liner. A ball 48 or the like is sized for engage
`ment in the ball seat 44 to close off ?ow through the
`central opening 39 in the sliding sleeve. Steam pressure
`then causes shear pin 46 to shear and disconnect the
`sliding sleeve section from the skirt section and de
`presses the sleeve section to the down position GIG. 4)
`to open the annular chamber 36 to ?ow from the skirt
`section whereby steam is directed out of the annular
`chamber into the tubing-well liner annulus in a direction
`substantially concentric with and parallel to the longitu
`dinal axis of the tubing string.
`FIGS. 8 and 10 are partial sectional views showing an
`upper steam de?ector 21 useful with the present inven
`tion. FIGS. 9 and 11 are sectional views taken as indi
`cated from FIGS. 8 and 10. Parts in the FIGS. 8 to 11
`embodiment similar to corresponding parts in the
`FIGS. 1 to 7 embodiment are given numerals increased
`by 100 for ease of description. The principal difference
`of the FIGS. 8-11 embodiment is in the diameter of the
`ball seat 144 and ball 148 used to move the sliding sleeve
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`Page 5 of 6
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`134 and the skirt section 130 to connect them together.
`138 between an up and down position. The opening in
`The ?anges are sized to maintain the cross-sectional
`the ball seat 144 is large enough to allow ball 48 to pass
`?ow area through the annular chamber 136 to at least a
`through to activate the lower steam de?ector 10. A
`value equal to the cross-section ?ow area of the central
`larger diameter ball 148 is required to active the upper
`opening 139 of the lower portion of the sliding sleeve
`steam de?ector.
`section 138 to prevent undesirable vortexing of the
`Thus, the upper steam de?ector 21 includes an outer
`steam. A ball 148 or the like is sized for engagement in
`tubular skirt section 130. Means, such as adapter collar
`the ball seat 144 to close off ?ow through the central
`132, are provided for connecting the upper end of skirt
`opening 139 in the sliding sleeve. Steam pressure then
`section 130 to the tubing string 19. An inner tubular
`causes shear pin 146 to shear and disconnect the sliding
`section 134 of substantially smaller outer diameter than
`sleeve section from the skirt section and depresses the
`the inner diameter of the skirt section 30 is arranged
`sleeve section to the down position (FIG. 10) to open
`with its upper portion extending coaxially interiorly of
`the annular chamber 136 to ?ow from the skirt section
`the lower portion of the skirt section 130 to form an
`whereby steam is directed out of the annular chamber
`annular chamber 136 between the skirt section 130 and
`into the the tubing-well liner annulus in a direction
`the inner tubular section 134. This annular chamber 136
`substantially concentric with and parallel to the longitu
`is substantially concentric with and parallel to the longi
`dinal axis of the tubing string.
`tudinal axis of the tubing string 19. When steam is in
`Although certain speci?c embodiments of the inven
`jected into the well through annular chamber 136 it
`tion have been described in detail herein the invention is
`enters the well in av direction substantially concentric
`not to be limited to only those described embodiments
`with and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing
`but rather by the scope of the appended claims.
`string. A sliding sleeve section 138 having a central
`What is claimed is:
`opening 139 through its entire length has an elongated
`1. A steam injection system comprising a tubing
`lower portion loosely and slidably engaged inside the
`string, a steam de?ector connected into said tubing
`inner tubular section for coaxial travel between an up
`string operable for initially directing steam ?ow down
`position (FIG. 8) and a down position (FIG. 10) in the
`the interior of said tubing string into a well and later out
`inner tubular section 134. The sliding sleeve section 138
`of the steam de?ector into the well liner-tubing string
`includes an upper collar position 140 which has an outer
`annulus in a direction concentric with and substantially
`diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the
`parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string,
`inner tubular section 134. The collar portion 140 is
`means for operating said steam de?ector to direct steam
`loosely engagable in the up position against the inside of
`30
`?ow out of said steam de?ector into the well liner-tub
`the outer tubular skirt section. It is preferred that about
`ing string annulus in a direction concentric with and
`0.010-inch clearance be maintained between the sliding
`substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tub
`sleeve section 138 and the skirt section 130 as well as the
`ing string, downward looking packer cup means pack
`inner tubular section 134 so that about 2% of the in
`ing off the well liner-tubing string annulus above said
`jected steam will leak through this clearance when the
`steam de?ector, upward looking packer cup means
`de?ector is in the FIG. 8 position to equalize the pres
`packing off said well liner-tubing string annulus below
`sure in the tubing-liner annulus below and inside the
`said steam de?ector and steam generating means con
`packer cup assemblies.
`nected to said tubing string for ?owing steam into said
`A ball seat 144 is formed in the collar portion 40 of
`tubing string.
`the sliding sleeve section adjacent the central opening
`40
`2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by
`thereof. A shear pin 146 is used to disconnectably con
`a second steam de?ector connected into said tubing
`nect the sliding sleeve section in the up position,
`string, second downward looking and upward looking
`thereby blocking off the annular chamber 136 to the
`packer cup means packing off the well liner-tubing
`major portion of ?ow from the inside of the tubular
`annulus above and below said second steam de?ector
`skirt section. A coil spring 149 also urges the sliding
`and second means for operating said second steam de
`sleeve into the up position. A series of radially extend
`?ector.
`ing ?anges (not shown) are positioned in the annular
`chamber and welded between the inner tubular section
`
`i it
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`it
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`Page 6 of 6