CA2532295A1 - Packer cups - Google Patents

Packer cups Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2532295A1
CA2532295A1 CA002532295A CA2532295A CA2532295A1 CA 2532295 A1 CA2532295 A1 CA 2532295A1 CA 002532295 A CA002532295 A CA 002532295A CA 2532295 A CA2532295 A CA 2532295A CA 2532295 A1 CA2532295 A1 CA 2532295A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
coiled tubing
cups
fracturing
pressure
wellbore
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002532295A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Daryl Moore
Tom Brocklebank
Scott Sherman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Trican Well Service Ltd
Original Assignee
Trican Well Service Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Trican Well Service Ltd filed Critical Trican Well Service Ltd
Priority to CA002532295A priority Critical patent/CA2532295A1/en
Priority to CA002552072A priority patent/CA2552072A1/en
Priority to US12/160,058 priority patent/US8561687B2/en
Priority to AU2007203723A priority patent/AU2007203723B2/en
Priority to RU2008132319/03A priority patent/RU2413837C2/en
Priority to CN200780001974.XA priority patent/CN101365863B/en
Priority to CA2674268A priority patent/CA2674268C/en
Priority to PCT/CA2007/000015 priority patent/WO2007076609A1/en
Publication of CA2532295A1 publication Critical patent/CA2532295A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/124Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/126Packers; Plugs with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/25Methods for stimulating production
    • E21B43/26Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

Split and moveable packer cups for use above a conventional coiled tubing fracturing tool to be used for a secondary pressure containment device to avoid pressure communication with uphole formations.

Description

PACKER CUPS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations with coiled tubing for improved production of oil and gas, and in particular, to packer cups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations to increase oil and gas production has become a routine operation in the petroleum industry. In hydraulic fracturing, a fracturing fluid is injected through a wellbore into the formation at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to overcome the overburden stress and to initiate a fracture in the formation. The fracturing fluid may be a water-based liquid, oil-based liquid, liquefied gas such as but not limited to carbon dioxide, dry gases such as but not limited to nitrogen, or combination of liquefied and dry gases, or some combination of any of these or other fluids. It is most common to introduce a proppant into the fracturing fluid, whose function is to prevent the created fractures from closing back down upon itself when the pressure is released. The proppant is suspended in the fracturing fluid and transported into a fracture. Proppants in use include 20-40 mesh size sand, ceramics, and other materials that provide a high-permeability channel within the fracture to allow for greater flow of oil or gas from the formation to the wellbore. Production of petroleum or natural gas can be enhanced significantly by the use of these techniques.

Hydraulic fracturing with coiled tubing is a common operation. It generally uses a bottomhole assembly comprised of opposing sets of one or more pressure-containing cups fixed to a length of piping typically heavier in wall thickness than the coiled tubing string. The distance between the two sets of opposing fracture cups determine the length of formation interval to be fractured by virtue of the fact that the cups are fixed to the bottomhole assembly. In typical operations, it is desirable to leave the well in a live condition, meaning it is left to flow while operations are being conducted and is not killed with water or heavier liquids. In the case of live-well operations, coiled tubing is seen as having a significant advantage over jointed pipe operations as pressure control at surface is continuous while moving the coiled tubing in and out of the well and there are no joints to be made in the string after the tools are in the welibore.

To effect a live-well operation, tools used for fracturing are lubricated in and out of the wellbore, a process in which the tools are attached to the coiled tubing and housed in a length of pressure-integral piping known as lubricator and attached to the wellbore above the coiled tubing blowout preventers (BOPs), which themselves are attached to a pressure control valve, commonly referred to as a master valve.
After connecting the lubricator housing the coiled tubing fracturing tool and coiled tubing to the master valve, the lubricator system is tested to ensure it holds wellbore pressure without leaking. Well pressure is then contained by the coiled tubing stripper or stuffing box, situated between the lubricator and the injector.
Once pressure integrity of the system has been established through testing, the master valve can be opened and the fracturing tool and coiled tubing run into the wellbore to the desired depth for fracturing operations, with the entire operation conducted under live conditions.

This conventional method of fracturing with coiled tubing is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

In conducting these operations, it is not uncommon for the fracture initiated in one zone or zones to breakthrough behind the casing to an upper zone or zones through open perforations in the casing, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the current fracture treatment, and also potentially impairing future fracture treatments on the upper zone or zones. This possible occurrence is illustrated in Figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in one embodiment is a set of opposing fracture cups for use in fracturing a subterranean formation using coiled tubing. An additional upper cup or set of cups that can be strategically placed at a location on the coiled tubing to allow a pressure barrier inside the casing to prevent pressure communication with uphole zone or zones from within the casing.

Split Cups In one embodiment, there is provided a common coiled tubing fracturing tool with opposing solid cups or sets of cups to contain fracture pressures between the cups or sets of cups. Unlike in conventional configurations, however, a second upper cup or set of cups is placed above the first cup or set of upper cups, but the second cup or set of upper cups are not solid one-piece in design, but rather are split or two-pieced such that they can be placed on the coiled tubing while the coiled tubing is in the wellbore without access to the end of the coiled tubing or the fracturing tool. This is illustrated in Figure 4.

A split cup design, in one embodiment according to the invention, can be used in a coiled tubing fracturing process as follows:

= A traditional coiled tubing fracturing tool is connected to the coiled tubing and lubricated into the wellbore as per conventional methods;

= A coiled tubing work window is added to the wellhead assembly between the coiled tubing BOPs and lubricator. The work window is a pressure integral device that can be opened and closed to allow access to the coiled tubing while the master valve is opened and the coiled tubing is in the wellbore.
Protection from well pressure when the window is open is provided by closing the annular bag and / or pipe rams of the coiled tubing BOPs, depending on the BOP configuration required;
= The fracturing tool is run into the wellbore under live conditions to a depth determined by the desired interval of secondary pressure containment to be obtained. Once at this depth, the coiled tubing BOPs (annular bag and / or pipe rams) are activated to contain wellbore pressure, the lubricator system depressured, and the work window opened to gain access to the coiled tubing;

= With the coiled tubing exposed to atmosphere, one or more sets of split cups are attached to the coiled tubing, and held in place by one or more sets of retaining or joining means. This is illustrated in more detail in Figure 5.
Embodiments of a split packer cup/ matrel unit according to the invention are shown in detail in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Embodiments of split packer cups with various means for joining together the halves of the cup are shown in Figs. 10 to 28;

= Once the split cup assembly (which includes cups and retaining means) is fixed to the coiled tubing, the work window is closed, the system pressure tested, and the BOPs opened to allow the coiled tubing to be run to the desired depth for fracturing operations; and = At the completion of the fracturing operations, the coiled tubing is pulled out of the wellbore, the upper cup or cups are landed in the work window and removed following the reverse of the procedure used to install them on the coiled tubing.

Solid Moveable Cups A second embodiment uses a solid one-piece secondary upper cup or cups which are placed in the desired position on the coiled tubing string by way of a set of locating rams situated in the BOP stack. The procedure would still require a work window to fix the secondary upper cup or cups to the coiled tubing string, such that the surface equipment would be the same as described above. This procedure would be as follows:

= The secondary upper cup or set of cups are placed over the coiled tubing string before the coiled tubing is attached to the fracturing tool carrying the bottom set of cup or cups and the primary upper cup or set of cups. A
retaining means may also be placed over the coiled tubing at this stage, may be integral to the secondary upper cup assembly itself, or alternatively a split retaining device may be installed at a later stage in the operation. After the secondary upper cups are put onto the coiled tubing, the frac tool is connected. The secondary upper cups are manually situated on the coiled tubing above a set of locating rams, which are situated just below the work window and are designed to hold the secondary upper cup or cups stationary while the coiled tubing is run into the well;

= The fracturing tool is run into the wellbore under live conditions to a depth determined by the desired length of interval to be fractured. Once at this depth, the coiled tubing BOPs (annular bag and / or pipe rams) are activated to contain wellbore pressure, the lubricator system depressured, and the work window opened to gain access to the coiled tubing and the secondary upper cup or cups which have been held at surface by the locating rams. This is illustrated in Figure 6;

= With the coiled tubing exposed to atmosphere, one or more sets of retaining devices are, in the case where they were installed before the tool was run in hole, operated or activated such that they are fixed to the coiled tubing and hold the upper cup in place. In the case where they were not installed before the tool was run in hole, they are now attached to the coiled tubing in the work window such that the cup or cups are held securely in place on the coiled tubing. This retaining means may be a split clamp that is joined in the window, a helical holding device that can be wound onto the coiled tubing, or another such device that holds the cup or cups in place;

= Once the secondary upper cup assembly (which includes cups and retaining means) is fixed to the coiled tubing, the work window is closed, the system pressure tested, the BOPs opened, and the locating rams opened to allow the coiled tubing and upper cup assembly to be run to the desired depth for fracturing operations; and = At the completion of the fracturing operations, the coiled tubing is pulled out of the wellbore, the locating rams are closed such that the upper cup or cups are landed in the work window and removed following the reverse of the procedure used to install them on the coiled tubing.

It is understood that the basis of this invention is adjustable-depth or moveable fracture cups for use on coiled tubing to provide secondary pressure containment in the event of pressure breakthrough behind casing from fracture treatments of lower zones. There are several ways in which to introduce moveable or adjustable depth cups into the wellbore on coiled tubing.

The invention, in another embodiment, relates to a method comprising injecting pressurized gas, liquid, solid proppant material, or a combination of these materials, at high rate and pressure to create, open, and propagate fractures within the formation. A coiled tubing fracturing tool is used to contain the injected pressure and material across the intended formation. The invention provides a means of strategically locating a means of secondary pressure containment to protect other formations above the intended formation in the event that pressure breaks through to those formations behind and then into the wellbore casing.
The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein.

In particular, modifications to the process and devices can be made including:
= The use of specially coated or treated coiled tubing between the fracturing tool and the secondary upper cup or set of cups to protect the coiled tubing from abrasion; and = Alternative methods of introducing the top cup or cups to the coiled tubing.

Claims

Claim
1. A packer cup for sealing an annulus within a pipe comprising two elongated hollow sleeve halves with joining means for releasably joining to form an elongated hollow sleeve.
CA002532295A 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Packer cups Abandoned CA2532295A1 (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002532295A CA2532295A1 (en) 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Packer cups
CA002552072A CA2552072A1 (en) 2006-01-06 2006-07-14 Packer cups
US12/160,058 US8561687B2 (en) 2006-01-06 2007-01-08 Pressure containment devices and methods of using same
AU2007203723A AU2007203723B2 (en) 2006-01-06 2007-01-08 Pressure containment devices and methods of using same
RU2008132319/03A RU2413837C2 (en) 2006-01-06 2007-01-08 Procedure for maintaining pressure in borehole of well (versions) and device for its implementation
CN200780001974.XA CN101365863B (en) 2006-01-06 2007-01-08 Pressure containment methods of shaft
CA2674268A CA2674268C (en) 2006-01-06 2007-01-08 Pressure containment devices and methods of using same
PCT/CA2007/000015 WO2007076609A1 (en) 2006-01-06 2007-01-08 Pressure containment devices and methods of using same

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002532295A CA2532295A1 (en) 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Packer cups

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2532295A1 true CA2532295A1 (en) 2007-07-06

Family

ID=38229449

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002532295A Abandoned CA2532295A1 (en) 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Packer cups

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CN (1) CN101365863B (en)
CA (1) CA2532295A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BR112013032877B1 (en) * 2011-08-29 2020-10-27 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc Downhole fluid flow control method and system

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3897826A (en) * 1972-07-24 1975-08-05 Chevron Res Method for well workover operations
US5845711A (en) * 1995-06-02 1998-12-08 Halliburton Company Coiled tubing apparatus
US6446727B1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2002-09-10 Sclumberger Technology Corporation Process for hydraulically fracturing oil and gas wells
US6260623B1 (en) * 1999-07-30 2001-07-17 Kmk Trust Apparatus and method for utilizing flexible tubing with lateral bore holes
CA2314412C (en) * 2000-07-25 2004-12-14 Vanoil Equipment Inc. Stripper packer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101365863A (en) 2009-02-11
CN101365863B (en) 2013-04-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8561687B2 (en) Pressure containment devices and methods of using same
RU2395667C1 (en) Method of borehole conditioning with collection of productive intervals
US9249652B2 (en) Controlled fracture initiation stress packer
CA2660219C (en) System and method for thru tubing deepening of gas lift
US11028665B2 (en) Method and apparatus for hydraulic fracturing
US20070193741A1 (en) Method and Apparatus For Testing And Treatment Of A Completed Well With Production Tubing In Place
US8794323B2 (en) Completion assembly
US9328600B2 (en) Double hydraulic fracturing methods
US4076079A (en) Full bore fracture treating assembly
NO20111506A1 (en) Universal frachylse
CN205605156U (en) Workover device is pressed in oil gas field area
US7128157B2 (en) Method and apparatus for treating a well
US8490701B2 (en) Methods of releasing at least one tubing string below a blow-out preventer
US20230250708A1 (en) Bell nipple with annular preventers and coolant injection
NO20101750A1 (en) Parallel fracturing system for wellbores
US20140345869A1 (en) Moving liner fracturing method
US20080029269A1 (en) Method and system for installing equipment for production and injection operations
CA2532295A1 (en) Packer cups
US9404350B2 (en) Flow-activated flow control device and method of using same in wellbores
US11867030B2 (en) Slidable isolation sleeve with I-shaped seal
US20230349257A1 (en) Protecting wellhead equipment from treatment fluids
RU2442877C1 (en) Method for gas well suspension
US20230167713A1 (en) Isolation sleeve with i-shaped seal
Carpenter Drilling and Completing Cascade and Chinook Wells: A Case History
Webster et al. Deep Duals Simplified

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued

Effective date: 20131113

FZDE Discontinued

Effective date: 20131113