Chinas Oilfields See Production Rise with Domestic Hydraulic Valves

A technological breakthrough in China's offshore oil industry has been achieved with the successful deployment of the country's first domestically developed hydraulic remote-activated dual barrier valve in the Weizhou 12-2 oilfield. This innovation marks a significant step toward cost-effective development of high-pressure, low-permeability oil and gas fields.

Formation isolation valves serve as essential safety components in high-pressure well completion operations. These devices effectively isolate high-pressure formations below while enabling safe upper wellbore operations. Their absence in high-pressure environments would substantially increase operational risks.

Previously, this critical technology was exclusively controlled by foreign companies, resulting in high procurement costs, lengthy delivery times, and potential supply chain vulnerabilities. Domestic alternatives lacked hydraulic remote activation capabilities, limiting their applicability and creating challenges for China's oilfield development.

Through dedicated research and development, Chinese engineers have successfully created a hydraulic remote-activated dual barrier valve with several key advantages:

• Precision remote control: Enables hydraulic remote activation, providing full process control during well completion to enhance operational efficiency and safety.
• Reservoir protection: Works with permanent wellbore isolation devices to circulate high-density oil-based drilling fluids, effectively removing wellbore solids and protecting valuable reservoirs.
• Cost reduction: Allows substitution with low-density completion fluids, significantly lowering operational expenses.

To address challenges in high-pressure, low-permeability reservoir development, engineers implemented an integrated geological-engineering solution combining multiple innovative techniques:

• Formation isolation valve staged completion for precise control
• High-density oil-based drilling fluid cleaning systems
• Ultra-short radius multilateral drilling combined with oil-based fluid perforation

This comprehensive approach overcomes limitations of conventional production string perforation methods, enabling high-efficiency production from challenging reservoirs.

The Weizhou 12-2 field application yielded remarkable results. While designed for 70 cubic meters per day production, initial output reached 135 cubic meters daily - achieving 193% of target capacity. The project also realized cost savings exceeding 3.5 million yuan.

This success demonstrates enhanced single-well productivity while establishing new technical pathways for developing high-pressure, low-permeability reservoirs. The achievement represents both a milestone in efficient field development and a testament to China's growing technological capabilities in the energy sector.