SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRILLING AND FRACTURING IN A WELL BACKGROUND When preparing wells for the production of fluids containing the formation, a well is frequently subjected to drilling and fracturing processes. Conventionally, drilling has been accomplished with a single wire line gang that uses a dedicated wire line unit, a harvester and personnel specifically trained to operate the wire line unit and conduct drilling procedures. A separate single fracturing gang has been used to carry out the pumping or fracturing portion of the total process. The fracturing crew similarly uses a crane and its own dedicated vehicles, equipment and trained personnel to carry out the fracturing procedures. The use of separate crews, separate vehicles and separate equipment for processes that are frequently conducted simultaneously can lead to inefficiencies. For example, separation of drilling and fracturing procedures may require extra vehicles and extra personnel. This, in turn, creates increased costs, increased time requirements, and increased logistical difficulty, particularly when alternating drilling and fracturing procedures are conducted. in a certain well. Additionally, the relatively large number of vehicles and personnel requires a relatively large location footprint at a particular well site. COMPENDIUM In general, the present invention provides a system and method for creating greater efficiency during drilling and fracturing procedures in a well. The system and method use a vehicle that has a crane to lower and raise fracturing and drilling equipment in a borehole. Additionally, a wire line crank is mounted directly to the crane to facilitate the running of the conductive wire line for drilling procedures. This combination greatly facilitates the procedures in drilling and fracturing sequence. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote like elements, and: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a well site with an example of a crane and a control vehicle, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of an example of a crane base with a combined wire line crank, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of an example of a crane truck with crane in an operating position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a side view of the crane truck illustrated in Figure 3, with the crane in a transport position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic view of an example of a control system used to control and monitor aspects of drilling and fracturing procedures, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is an illustration of a well with several zones in which drilling and fracturing procedures have been conducted, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a procedural flow chart illustrating an example of a drilling / fracturing process, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications of the described modalities may be possible. The present invention relates generally to well preparation processes. When preparing or building certain wells, drilling and fracturing procedures are frequently used to facilitate the production of desired fluids, eg, oil, from underground formation. The present invention generally combines aspects of drilling and fracturing techniques to increase the efficiency with which These procedures are carried out at a certain well site. Efficiency is improved, at least in part, by combining a wire line crank system with a crane used in fracturing. In at least some modalities, wireline crank control / acquisition systems can also be combined with fracturing control and supervision systems. This combination eliminates the previous need for separate wireline vehicles and also reduces the number of personnel required to integrate drilling experiences and personnel with the fracturing crew. In some applications, this allows personnel reduction in at least two individuals. Referring generally to Figure 1, a well site 20 is illustrated as having a well comprising a drilling well 24 drilled into a formation 26. The drill hole 24 extends down from a well head 28 placed in a well. 30 surface of the earth. The borehole 24 provides access for equipment used in drilling and fracturing processes designed to improve the production of desired fluids from the formation 26. As illustrated, the aspects of the drilling and fracturing processes combine to provide greater efficiency with respect to to the well preparation project. For example, a combined drilling and fracturing unit 32 is used to deploy and remove drilling and fracturing equipment 34 to and from borehole 24. In this embodiment, the combined unit 32 comprises a crane 36 a wire line crank 38 mounted directly to the crane 36. The combined unit 32 may also comprise a vehicle, such as a 40 crane truck, for transporting the crane and crank. Combined wire line. In this mode, the crane truck 40 is a legal highway vehicle that allows the transport of the crane 36 and the crank 38 of the wire line from one well site to another. In the illustrated example, the equipment 34 comprises fracturing equipment 42 and drilling equipment 44, such as a piercing cannon 46. The crane 36 is used to move the equipment 34 to desired locations within the borehole 24 through, for example, a cable 48. The wire line crank 38 is used to supply a line 50 of conductive wire to the well 24 of sounding to allow the passage of signals to the drill barrel to start drilling at desired locations within the borehole. The conductive wire line can also be used for other purposes, such as providing a path for signal flow during data acquisition. Consequently, a single vehicle can be used to support both drilling and fracturing in a combined process as opposed to using separate vehicles, separate crews and different procedures. In accordance with other aspects of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, a control system 52 can be used for aspects of control and supervision of both drilling and fracturing processes. For example, the control system 52 may comprise controls 54 dedicated to controlling the wire line crank 38 as well as the wire line computer control / acquisition system. Additionally, the control system 52 may comprise fracturing controls 56, such as those used to control / monitor the various aspects of a fracturing process. The control system 52 can also be used to control the crane 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the total control system 52 is placed in a vehicle 58 that can be deployed in the well site 20. By way of example, the vehicle 58 may comprise a "fracturing van" in which the fracturing control system has been combined with a control system for the wire line crank 38, the wire line 50 and any data acquisition equipment which provides signals through line 50 of wire. As illustrated, a communication line 60 extends between the crane truck and the vehicle 58. The communication line 60 may comprise a cable or other hard wire communication line that directly couples the control system 52 to the control crank. wire line, the crane 36 and the equipment 34. However, the communication line 60 can use other types of communication, including wireless communication. In turn, the signals can be sent between the control system 52 and the truck crane via additional lines or communication networks. In this latter embodiment, the control system 52 could be used to control / supervise the fracturing and drilling processes of a location separate from the well site. Referring generally to Figure 2, one embodiment of the combined unit 32 is illustrated in amplified form. As illustrated, the wire line crank 38 is attached to the crane 36 in a fastener 62. The fastener 62 may comprise welds, fasteners, e.g., bolts, or other mechanisms to securely secure the crank 38 wire line to the crane 36. In this way, the wire line crank 38 and the crane 36 can be rotated together about a rotation axis 64. In most applications, the axis 64 will be oriented generally perpendicular to a surface in the truck 40 crane is parked. In this embodiment, the crane 36 comprises a rotatable base 66 which is rotatable, for example, by hydraulic inlet as with conventional crane units. A platform 68 and a crane turret 70 are mounted above the base 66. As illustrated, the wire line crank 38 is fixed to the turret 70 and is rotatable with the turret 70, the platform 68 and the base 66 around of the shaft 66, the crane 36 further comprises an arm 72 pivotally mounted to the turret 70 by means of a pivot joint 74. An actuator 76, such as a hydraulic cylinder, is used to pivot the arm 72. Additionally, the crane 36 comprises a reel 78 around which the cable 48 is wound. The reel 78 is mounted on an arm 80 extending from the turret 70, and the spool is rotated by an activated device 82. An example of a suitable device 82 is a hydraulic motor supplied with hydraulic fluid through the flow lines 84. The hydraulic motor 82 can be activated to wind the cable 48 or to release additional cable 48 as desired for proper movement of the equipment 34 into the borehole 24. The wire line crank 38 comprises a frame 86 which is mounted to the crane 36. For example, the frame 86 can be fixed through the fixing 62 to the crane turret 70 so that the frame 86 extends from the axis 64 generally in the same direction as the arm 80, the wire line crank 38 further comprises a wire line spool 88 rotatably mounted to the frame 86. The wire line spool 88 is driven by an activated device 90, such as an electric motor or a hydraulic motor. Accordingly, the conductor wire line 50 can be wound or released by controlling the rotation of the wire line spool 88 through the activated device 90. The wire line crank 38 further comprises a guide arm 92 pivotally mounted to the frame 86 through a mounting portion 94. The guide arm 92 can be pivoted by an actuator 96, such as a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic fluid can be supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 96 and device 90, for example, through hydraulic lines 98. Additionally, a wire line guide 100 is disposed on the arm 92 to guide the conductor wire line 50 as the wire line spool 88 is rotated during the piercing / acquisition procedures. In a mode utilizing hydraulically activated components, such as hydraulic actuators 76 and 96, hydraulically driven spools 78 and 88, and a hydraulically rotated crane, pressurized hydraulic fluid can be supplied through a hydraulic control system 102, such as those commonly used in a variety of computer applications. The hydraulic control system 102 may have separate sections 104 dedicated to controlling different applications, e.g., wire line hand crank components or crane components. Additionally, the hydraulic control system 102 can be controlled remotely through the total control system 52.
A type of truck crane 40 is illustrated in Figure 3. In this embodiment, the truck 40 crane is a legal highway truck that has a chassis 106 supported on front wheels 108 and rear wheels 110, Co or illustrated, wheels 110 The rear wheels are mounted on a pair of axles. However, the 40 crane truck may comprise a single rear axle or multiple rear axles, depending on the weight of the driven equipment as well as the regional regulations pertaining to the use of vehicles on public roads. A cab 112 is mounted to the chassis 106, and the combined unit 32 is mounted to the chassis 106 rearwardly of the car 112, The combined unit 32 can be mounted to the chassis 106 through a platform 114 that is supported by the chassis 106 In this embodiment, the combined unit 32 is mounted towards the rear of the platform 114 to create a load region 116 between the booth 112 and the combined unit 32 for carrying materials, a type or other items related to the drilling procedures and / or fracturing. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the truck 40 crane is illustrated in an operating state. Accordingly, the crane 36 and the wire line crank 38 have been rotated to the rear of the crane truck 40 and are in a raised condition. In fact, the arm 72 comprises at least one extendable section 118 that is extended to a degree that allows the cable 48 and the wire line 50 to extend downwardly toward the well 22. The cable 48 extends from the reel 78 to an end 120 remote from the extended section 118 and on a pulley or pulleys 122. Similarly, the wire line 50 extends from the wire line crank 38 and on a wire line pulley system 124 suspended from the end 120 distant. It should be noted that protrusions (not shown) or other mechanisms can be used to stabilize the 40 crane truck during crane operation 36. Upon completion of the drilling and fracturing procedures at the 20 well site, the 40 crane truck it can be reconfigured to a transport state, as illustrated in Figure 4, In other words, the cable 48 and the wire line 50 are wound on, and the extended section 118 retracts. Additionally, the crane 36 and the wire line crank 38 are rotated together about the axis 64, and the arm 72 as well as the guide arm 92 are lowered for transport to the next well site in the next drilling project. fracturing. Additionally, materials, equipment, etc., may be placed on the platform 114 in the transport load region 116. Another unique aspect of the combined unit 32 is that the drilling and fracturing procedures may be controlled with the control system 52 only, as illustrated further in Figure 5, By way of example, the control system 52 can be enclosed in the vehicle 58 for easy transportation from one well site to another. At each well site, the control system 52 is coupled to the combined unit 32 via, for example, communication lines 60 to allow the flow of signals between the operating unit, i.e. the combined unit 32, and the remote mobile control system. As illustrated, the control system 52 may be a computer-based control system having a processor or processors 124 for handling the data input and output. Additionally, the control system 52 may comprise a display 126 for presenting to a worker a variety of information related to the operation of the crane, the wire line crank and the acquisition of data related to the well. By way of example, the system 52 can be coupled to a variety of components, such as the components 128 and 130 to monitor aspects of operation of the crane 36 and / or the wire line crank 38. In this example, the component 128 is a camera, such as a digital video camera.
, which is mounted in or in proximity to the crane 36 and / or the wire line crank 38. The video camera 128 allows, for example, that an operator supervise the winding of the wire 48 or wire line 50 during the procedures drilling and fracturing. The component 130 may comprise another video camera or other type of sensor or other component that allows an operator to monitor the operation aspects of the crane 36 and / or the wire line crank 38. The control system 52 can also be used to directly control the operation of the crane 36 and the line crank 38 of wire. For example, the control system 52 can be coupled to the hydraulic control system 102 and each of the control components 104 that regulate the hydraulic inlets to the wire line crank 38 and the crane 36. This allows a remote operator inside the vehicle 58 control the operation of the combined unit 32, for example by raising or lowering the arm 72 and the guide arm 92, controlling the speed and direction of the reel 78 and reel 88, and controlling the rotation of the crane 36 and the wire line crank 38 about the axis 64. Additionally, the control system 52 can be coupled to the equipment 34 through the line 50 of conductive wire. This allows the operator to output control signals, for example, to the piercing barrel 46 to initiate piercing. This allows the operator to monitor various parameters related to the well, as long as the equipment 34 includes the appropriate sensors or other instruments. capable of outputting data to the control system 52 through the wire line 50. Consequently, an operator potentially has the great ability to monitor and control many aspects of both drilling procedures and fracturing procedures from a single remote location. In addition, the mobile vehicle 58 allows the movement of the control system from one well site to another. In many applications, such as phased fracturing projects, combined unit 32 improves the efficiency with which drilling procedures and fracturing procedures can be carried out in multiple training zones, eg, areas , 136 and 138 of formation, as illustrated in Figure 6. The perforations 140 may be formed in each of the plurality of forming zones, and the fracturing processes may be conducted after completion of perforations in each zone. This allows different zones to be fractured differently due, for example, to variations in permeability from one area to another. In any case, the procedures can be carried out with the crane 36 and the wire line crank 38 combined in a single vehicle with a single gang as opposed to organizing the cooperative efforts of separate vehicles with separate gangs. An example of the operation of the combination wire crane 36 and crank 38 can be described with reference to FIG. 7. Initially, the equipment 34 is brought into the borehole 24 through the crane 36, as illustrated by the block 142. The equipment 34 is moved by the cable 48 of the crane 36, and simultaneously the line 50 of the conductive wire can be carried towards the borehole 24. When the equipment is in a desired location within the borehole 24, v.gr », the forming region 134, that area of the borehole is drilled by sending a signal through the conductor wire line 50 to the bore 46 of the borehole. perforation, as illustrated by block 144. After drilling, the fracture formation region, as illustrated by block 146. When the initial fracturing procedure is completed, the equipment is lifted to the next well zone of probing / forming, e.g., zone 136, and line 50 of wire is wound to eliminate the gap, as illustrated by block 148. The drilling procedure is then conducted in this zone, as illustrated by block 150. After drilling, fracturing procedures can be conducted in this formation region, as illustrated by block 152. This process can be repeated for additional zones until all well zones The drilling holes are drilled and fractured. After the final fracture procedure, the equipment is raised from the borehole 24 as illustrated by the block 154, the crane 36 and the wireline crank 38 can then be placed into a transport configuration, and the truck 40 crane it can be used to move the equipment to the next well site. It should be noted that the 40 crane truck and the control system 58 vehicle can be constructed in a variety of configurations. Additionally, the equipment used for the drilling and fracturing procedures may vary according to specific project objects, equipment available , environment and other factors. Also, the size and configuration of the crane and wire line crank can vary based on the specific types of projects for which the combined unit is used. Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Consequently, it is intended that said modifications be include within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.