JPT Consulting, in collaboration with ICP–Ecopetrol, has successfully completed the research and development of a third-generation special regulating valve for polymer injection control in completions using sidepocket mandrels. Initial tests indicate a significant reduction in polymer damage, expanding the operational range compared to the original design.
The tests evaluated the regulating module, which integrates geometrical elements in tandem with damper sections and a pre-conditioning section designed to reduce stress on the polymer. Testing was also conducted using a modified sidepocket mandrel to assess degradation across the complete system—including the mandrel, valve body, and control module. Results show clear improvements over the 2023–2024 tests conducted with standard sidepocket mandrels used for water injection. These findings reinforce the importance of evaluating the full system when analyzing polymer shear during EOR injection.
Further modifications have achieved even lower damage levels, reducing it to approximately 30% for the integrated system. Development is ongoing, with targets of reducing damage to the 15–30% range at differential pressures up to 1,000 psi, and to 25–40% at pressures up to 2,000 psi, across the full system (mandrel, valve, and regulation module).
Polymer degradation is highly dependent on factors such as orifice size, geometric shape, tortuous flow paths, abrupt diameter transitions, polymer molecular weight, and water salinity. We are currently developing simulation models under varying conditions to predict expected damage prior to deployment.