EP2730740A1 - Device for fracturing the formation rock of a well - Google Patents
Device for fracturing the formation rock of a well Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2730740A1 EP2730740A1 EP12191755.3A EP12191755A EP2730740A1 EP 2730740 A1 EP2730740 A1 EP 2730740A1 EP 12191755 A EP12191755 A EP 12191755A EP 2730740 A1 EP2730740 A1 EP 2730740A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- piston
- space
- fracturing
- chamber
- end plate
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 20
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 235000015076 Shorea robusta Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 244000166071 Shorea robusta Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 206010017076 Fracture Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000013201 Stress fracture Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011067 equilibration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004941 influx Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/25—Methods for stimulating production
- E21B43/26—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures
Abstract
The invention relates to a device (10) for fracturing the formation rock of a well by generating hydraulic pressure pulses within the wellbore, comprising a chamber (20) and a piston (22) moveable relative to each other and a linear motor (18) for driving the relative motion of chamber (20) and piston (22).
Description
- The invention relates to a device for fracturing the formation rock of a well.
- To improve the fluid flow from oil or gas wells with low formation pressure or low formation permeability, hydraulic fracturing is usually applied. A well-known approach is to pump a fracturing fluid down the wellbore at pressures of 500 to 1000 bar. This leads to the development of cracks within the formation and to the extension of existing crack systems, providing flow paths for the fluids from the formation to the wellbore.
- Since the handling of such pressures is problematic and can be dangerous, it is attempted to reach the desired fracturing at more gentle conditions. One approach is the so called pulsed pressurization method, based on creating hydraulic pressure pulses from within the well. This method works particularly well in gas shales composed of relatively ductile rocks.
- A device for pulsed pressurization of wellbores is disclosed in
US 3 422 760 A . The device consists of a housing with several gas-generating charges, which can be lowered into the wellbore. With the device in place, the charges are ignited and rupture pressure seals at predetermined pressures, thereby creating the desired shock waves within the formation rock. - The use of charges to generate the pressure waves renders such devices single-use only. If further fracturing is desired, the device has to be removed from the wellbore and replaced. This leads to costly delays in the completion or treatment process of the well.
- It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a device for fracturing the formation rock of a well which is reusable and can provide an unlimited amount of pressure pulses within the wellbore.
- This objective is achieved by a device according to claim 1.
- Such a device for fracturing the formation rock of a well by generating hydraulic pressure pulses within the wellbore comprises a chamber and a piston moveable relative to each other and a linear motor for driving the relative motion of chamber and piston.
- The device can be lowered into the wellbore, where the relative movement of piston and chamber is initiated. Due to the low compressibility of the fluid in the bore, such movements lead to high pressure waves which in turn lead to the desired fracturing of the formation rock. Since the device can be precisely placed within the wellbore, fracturing can be finely controlled. The use of an electric linear motor to drive the motion allows for an unlimited number of pulses without the need to replace the device, thereby saving time and costs.
- The relative movement of piston and chamber can be precisely controlled via the electric linear motor. By adjusting frequency and current, the fracturing parameters can be fine-tuned to the geological conditions in the formation rock, thus improving the fracturing result.
- In a further embodiment of the invention, the piston is fixed relatively to the linear motor, while the chamber is movably supported. Alternatively, the chamber can be fixed, while the linear motor drives the movement of the piston.
- Preferably, the device comprises an end plate oriented upwards when the device is inserted into the wellbore. This plate is designed to provide a smooth fit of the device within the well's casing and separates the space above the device from the space below, so that the generated pressure waves are confined to the borehole area below the device. In this manner, the energy of the pressure waves are directed more efficiently to the formation, yielding better fracturing results.
- In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a first fluid communication channel connecting the space between the piston and the end plate to the space above the end plate. This allows for pressure equilibration after a movement cycle of the device is complete. The same role is filled by a second fluid communication channel connecting the space below the piston to the space above the end plate. The fluid communication channels are preferably of a small diameter compared to the wellbore diameter, so that the pressure buildup is not hampered.
- It is further of advantage, if the first and/or second fluid communication channel comprises at least one check valve preventing backflow from the space above the end plate into the respective other space connected to the fluid communication channel, so as to better control the fluid flow during device operation.
- In the following section, the invention and its embodiments is further explained with reference to the drawings, which show in:
- FIG 1
- a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention with moveable chamber and fixed piston; and
- FIG 2
- a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention with fixed chamber and moveable piston.
- A
device 10 for fracturing the formation rock of oil or gas wells comprises acylindrical mantle 12 which fits the inside of the well'scasing 14. Thestator part 16 of an electricallinear motor 18 is mounted on the inner surface of themantle 12. - In the embodiment of
FIG 1 , themoveable part 20 of thelinear motor 18 forms a chamber enclosing afixed piston 22. Thechamber 20 is closed against the inner volume of thecasing 14 byend plates 24, which containcheck valves 26 to allow the influx of fluid into thechamber 20. - The
piston 22 is fixed to a hollow tube 28 which extends throughout thedevice 10 and through the device'send plate 30 and opens into thespace 32 in thecasing 14 above thedevice 10. The tube 28 further connects to thehollow interior 34 of thepiston 22, which in turn is connected to thespace 36 above and thespace 38 below the piston withrespective check valves 26 allowing fluid to enter thepiston 22. - When an alternating current is applied to the
stator 16, thechamber 20 moves periodically up and down relative to thepiston 22, alternatively compressing the fluid in thespaces check valves 26 allow for a slow reequilibration of pressure. The compression waves generated this way propagate through the borehole and into the formation rock, where they induce the desired fracturing. - An alternative design is depicted in
FIG 2 . In this case, thechamber 20 is fixed relative to thestator 16, while thepiston 22 forms the moveable part of thelinear motor 18. In contrast to the embodiment shown inFIG 1 , thepiston 22 is solid and moves on a solid axis 40. Thespace 36 above thepiston 22 is connected to thespace 32 above thedevice 10 by afirst tube 42 with acheck valve 26 opening to thespace 32. In a similar manner, thespace 38 below thepiston 22 connects to thespace 32 via asecond tube 44 with acheck valve 26 also opening to thespace 32. Anothercheck valve 26 in thelower end plate 24 of thechamber 22 allows fluid to enter thelower space 38, whereas acheck valve 26 in theupper end plate 24 of the chamber serves as point of entry for fluids into theupper space 36. - Analogous to the embodiment of
FIG 1 , applying a current to thelinear motor 18 induces movement of the moveable part, in this case thepiston 22. Here again, this leads to the generation of pressure waves which penetrate the formation rock and lead to fracturing. - By manipulation amplitude and frequency of the current applied to the
linear motor 18, various patterns of pressure waves can be generated and optimized depending on the geological conditions in the formation. This allows for particularly good fracturing results in ductile rocks, such as oil shales. Furthermore, it is possible to create large fractures at the beginning of the fracturing process and, by changing the frequency and amplitude later, switch to the generation of microfractures in the near wellbore zone of the formation, thus improving the permeability of the rock and the resulting flow out of the reservoir. - The localized application of pressure by using the
device 10 helps to constrain the fracturing to the oil or gas bearing formation itself and to avoid damage to the overburden, alleviating environmental concerns associated with conventional fracturing techniques, such as the contamination of aquifers by fracturing fluids.
Claims (7)
- Device (10) for fracturing the formation rock of a well by generating hydraulic pressure pulses within the wellbore, comprising a chamber (20) and a piston (22) moveable relative to each other and a linear motor (18) for driving the relative motion of chamber (20) and piston (22).
- Device (10) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the piston (22) is fixed relatively to the linear motor (18). - Device (10) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the chamber (20) is fixed relatively to the linear motor (18). - Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) comprises an end plate (30) oriented upwards when the device (10) is inserted into the wellbore.
- Device (10) according to claim 4,
characterized in that the device (10) comprises a first fluid communication channel (42) connecting the space (36) between the piston (22) and the end plate (30) to the space (32) above the end plate (30). - Device (10) according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that the device (10) comprises a second fluid communication channel (44) connecting the space (38) below the piston (22) to the space (32) above the end plate (30). - Device (10) according to claim 5 or 6,
characterized in that the first and/or second fluid communication channel (42, 44) comprises at least one check valve (26) preventing backflow from the space (32) above the end plate (30) into the respective other space (36, 38) connected to the fluid communication channel (42, 44).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP12191755.3A EP2730740A1 (en) | 2012-11-08 | 2012-11-08 | Device for fracturing the formation rock of a well |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP12191755.3A EP2730740A1 (en) | 2012-11-08 | 2012-11-08 | Device for fracturing the formation rock of a well |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2730740A1 true EP2730740A1 (en) | 2014-05-14 |
Family
ID=47172485
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP12191755.3A Withdrawn EP2730740A1 (en) | 2012-11-08 | 2012-11-08 | Device for fracturing the formation rock of a well |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2730740A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020103393A1 (en) * | 2018-11-21 | 2020-05-28 | 重庆地质矿产研究院 | Bottom sealing type pulse hydraulic fracturing tool of coiled tubing dragging belt and method |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3422760A (en) | 1966-10-05 | 1969-01-21 | Petroleum Tool Research Inc | Gas-generating device for stimulating the flow of well fluids |
US20050260089A1 (en) * | 2001-03-13 | 2005-11-24 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Reciprocating pulser for mud pulse telemetry |
-
2012
- 2012-11-08 EP EP12191755.3A patent/EP2730740A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3422760A (en) | 1966-10-05 | 1969-01-21 | Petroleum Tool Research Inc | Gas-generating device for stimulating the flow of well fluids |
US20050260089A1 (en) * | 2001-03-13 | 2005-11-24 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Reciprocating pulser for mud pulse telemetry |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020103393A1 (en) * | 2018-11-21 | 2020-05-28 | 重庆地质矿产研究院 | Bottom sealing type pulse hydraulic fracturing tool of coiled tubing dragging belt and method |
US11098566B2 (en) | 2018-11-21 | 2021-08-24 | Chongqing Institute Of Geology And Mineral Resources | Pulse hydraulic fracturing tool and method for coiled tubing dragging with bottom packer |
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Effective date: 20141115 |