US20110315402A1 - Method for forming an isolating plug - Google Patents

Method for forming an isolating plug Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110315402A1
US20110315402A1 US13/142,499 US200913142499A US2011315402A1 US 20110315402 A1 US20110315402 A1 US 20110315402A1 US 200913142499 A US200913142499 A US 200913142499A US 2011315402 A1 US2011315402 A1 US 2011315402A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
catch
fluid
fibers
plug
fiber
Prior art date
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Abandoned
Application number
US13/142,499
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English (en)
Inventor
Konstantin Igorevich Popov
Vadim Kamilievich Khlestkin
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Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
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Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION reassignment SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: POPOV, KONSTANTIN IGOREVICH, KHLESTKIN, VADIM KAMILIEVICH
Publication of US20110315402A1 publication Critical patent/US20110315402A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
    • E21B33/138—Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK 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
    • E21B43/267—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures reinforcing fractures by propping

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the oil and gas production industry, in particular, to methods for isolating near-wellbore zones and fractures, and can be used for plugging fractures in the near-wellbore zone during the fracturing fluid removal, as well as for plugging different kinds of fractures and branches in the casing.
  • Hydraulic fracturing is the main tool used for increasing the productive capacity of a well through creation or expansion of channels from a wellbore to a producing formation. This operation is generally accomplished by injecting a fracturing fluid into a wellbore which intersects an underground deposit, and by exposing the strata to the fluid pressure action. In order to increase the oil and gas production rates, it is necessary to solve the problem of how to remove the fracturing fluid and to plug the near-wellbore zones and fractures. There are a few methods for solving this problem, and these methods are usually based on addition of solid inclusions to fracturing-fluid solutions.
  • an isolating plug starts from the formation of a bridge (so-called “bridging”) which is nothing but a cluster of solid inclusions stably captured from the solution on the fracture surface.
  • the fluid keeps on flowing through the fixed agglomerate of solid inclusions.
  • the solids-containing solution (the slurry) is filtered, which gradually increases the density of the solids arrested and reduces the penetrability of the resulting structure and completely stops the flow.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,588 describes the use of ceramic particles and starch buildups for fluid loss control purposes
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,318,481 describes shape-memory foams which are used as a withdrawal agent
  • Application No. WO2007066254 describes the reversible plugging of a fracture or a well with a degradable material.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,391 describes the use of water-soluble fibers for drilling-mud loss control purposes.
  • Patent No. RU 2330931 describes a device which acts as a temporary plug and which consists of a fiber layer, a fiber-collection element, a grid or a perforated material (made of fabric) and a downhole body reamer (a spring-type or umbrella-type mechanism).
  • a device which acts as a temporary plug and which consists of a fiber layer, a fiber-collection element, a grid or a perforated material (made of fabric) and a downhole body reamer (a spring-type or umbrella-type mechanism).
  • a high fiber concentration is required for successful formation of a plug from fibers.
  • Such an approach encounters a number of problems, namely: financial expenses related to the production/purchase/transportation of large amounts of fibers, and expenses related to the expansion of injection equipment capacities.
  • processing a high fiber concentration may break down the equipment (pumps, mixers, etc.).
  • the technical result achieved with the implementation of the invention consists in providing efficient isolation of fractures in the near-wellbore zone, while reducing the fiber concentration and preventing the pumps and other equipment from clogging.
  • a method for forming an isolating plug comprising the following steps: a catch is placed upstream of a location of the insulating plug being formed so as to prevent passing of fibers and to promote fiber aggregates forming; injecting a fluid containing dispersed fibers into a well; and the catch is periodically opened to release the formed fiber aggregates and to allow their free flow to the location of the insulating plug being formed.
  • the catch which prevents the fiber passing can be made in the form of a grid which crosses the fluid flow and which can be removed during the fluid injection process.
  • the catch which prevents the fiber passing can be made in the form of a rotatable plate which is placed across the fluid flow, some circular sectors of which have fluid-permeable (but fiber-impermeable) holes and other sectors are opened.
  • the catch which prevents the fiber passing can also be made in the form of an element which is placed across the fluid flow and allows the fluid passing but prevents passing of fibers and promotes fiber aggregates forming.
  • FIG. 1 shows the scheme for implementation of the method for forming an isolating plug, according to this invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows optional embodiments of the trap preventing the fiber passing.
  • the method for forming an isolating plug is implemented as follows. Let us consider the flow of a fiber-containing solution (a fiber slurry), e.g. a fracturing fluid ( FIG. 1 ). The flow direction is shown with an arrow ( 3 ). At the initial moment, fibers ( 1 ) are uniformly distributed in the solution. For fracture bridging purposes, the fiber concentration shall be high enough and shall be determined from the flow conditions and the fracture size (usually, a fiber concentration of 100 ppt (pounds per thousand tons) is recommended for the fracture plugging in clay rock).
  • the fluid-permeable (but fiber-impermeable) catch ( 2 ) is closed, the fiber filtration process starts in the catch, with pure (fiberless) fluid flowing further. This will locally increase the concentration of the fibers ( 1 ). The fibers around the catch ( 2 ) will form a more dense three-dimensional grid.
  • the catch ( 2 ) and allow the formed grid to flow it will move on as a separate aggregate ( 4 ) the local concentration of which will be much higher than the initial concentration of the slurry.
  • the size and the density of the generated aggregates ( 4 ) will depend on the time during which the catch was closed, and on the slurry flow velocity. That is, the time during which the catch is closed shall be selected, based on the conditions of the problem posed (i.e. the flow velocities, the initial fiber concentration, the fiber size, and the size of fractures to be plugged). When periodically repeated, such processes produce a series of fiber aggregates which move along with the fluid and which allow an increase in the probability of bridging.
  • FIG. 2 shows a few potential embodiments of a similar device.
  • Option A is represented by a swing-type grid ( 2 ) on the end of the pipe ( 1 ), which can be periodically opened and closed to form fiber aggregates during the injection process.
  • Option B is represented by a rotating plate ( 3 ) some sections of which (e.g. two sections, as shown in the figure) are opened, while others are holed plains.
  • the catch rotates, the produced aggregates are discharged into the slurry.
  • Option C is represented by a catch in the form of an element ( 4 ) which is periodically inserted into and pulled out of the pipe. Fibers start accumulating on the element ( 4 ), which results in the formation of aggregates. After an aggregate of the required size has been formed, the element is pulled out of the pipe, thus allowing the aggregate to move on.
  • Option C was selected as a pilot experiment to check the method under laboratory conditions.
  • the element to be placed across the fluid flow to prevent the fluid from flowing was made in the form of a fork and was inserted/pulled out through the holes in the pipe where the fiber slurry was flowing.
  • Slurries at different concentrations were pumped at different rates through the aggregate generator.
  • the slurry was prepared from an aqueous guar gel and polylactic acid fibers.
  • the guar concentration varied from 10 to 60 ppt (pounds per thousand tons), while the fiber concentration varied from 30 to 120 ppt (pounds per thousand tons).
  • the injection rate varied from 50 ml/min to 250 ml/min. A total of 3.5 litres of slurry were pumped. As a result of the aggregate generation, the probability of plug formation increased drastically.
  • the suggested method for forming an isolating plug allows a local increase of the fiber concentration of the slurry by generating mechanically fiber aggregates (“flocks”).
  • Periodical temporary stops of the fibers dispersed in the fluid accompanied by the filtration of the carrying fluid through the fiber grid, will allow the production of aggregates of a specified size and with a specified fiber content.
  • mechanical generation of flocks will play a crucial role in the plug formation process.
  • the fiber concentration is low and/or the slurry flow velocity is high, separate fibers or small aggregates will not be able to form a plug in a fracture, so the artificial generation of aggregates of a specified size and with a specified fiber content becomes very important.
  • the presented technology will allow the production of a plug at a low initial fiber concentration (the surface concentration, when considering the formation of a plug in a fracture) due to the presence of mechanically generated aggregates. Similar generation can be carried out at any stage (in any point) of the slurry flow. Using degradable or non-degradable fibers will allow you to produce either a permanent or a temporary plug.
  • the catch (the aggregate generator) can be integrated into the casing in any point of the well from the surface (the well head) to the point in immediate proximity to the area where the plug shall be formed.
  • the catch can also be installed on the surface in underwater pipes downstream of pumps and mixers.

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  • 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)
  • Consolidation Of Soil By Introduction Of Solidifying Substances Into Soil (AREA)
US13/142,499 2008-12-29 2009-11-27 Method for forming an isolating plug Abandoned US20110315402A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
RU2008152088/03A RU2393331C9 (ru) 2008-12-29 2008-12-29 Способ формирования изолирующей пробки
RU2008152088 2008-12-29
PCT/RU2009/000654 WO2010077175A1 (ru) 2008-12-29 2009-11-27 Способ формирования изолирующей пробки

Publications (1)

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US20110315402A1 true US20110315402A1 (en) 2011-12-29

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US13/142,499 Abandoned US20110315402A1 (en) 2008-12-29 2009-11-27 Method for forming an isolating plug

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US (1) US20110315402A1 (ru)
RU (1) RU2393331C9 (ru)
WO (1) WO2010077175A1 (ru)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110284213A1 (en) * 2006-09-22 2011-11-24 Dean Willberg Device used in the form of a packer or a temporary plug
US20200270513A1 (en) * 2015-12-21 2020-08-27 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pre-processed fiber flocks and methods of use thereof

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1609153A (en) * 1924-09-02 1926-11-30 Eagle Picher Lead Company Oil-well plug
US1631419A (en) * 1926-06-04 1927-06-07 Myron M Kinley Apparatus for plugging wells
US6672384B2 (en) * 2002-01-31 2004-01-06 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Plug-dropping container for releasing a plug into a wellbore
WO2008036002A1 (fr) * 2006-09-22 2008-03-27 Schlumberger Holdings Limited Dispositif ayant la fonction d'un packer ou d'un bouchon provisoire
US7380600B2 (en) * 2004-09-01 2008-06-03 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Degradable material assisted diversion or isolation

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU717284A1 (ru) * 1975-09-09 1980-02-25 Alekhin S Устройство-наполнитель дл бурового раствора
CA2497728C (en) * 1993-04-05 2008-02-19 Roger J. Card Control of particulate flowback in subterranean wells

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1609153A (en) * 1924-09-02 1926-11-30 Eagle Picher Lead Company Oil-well plug
US1631419A (en) * 1926-06-04 1927-06-07 Myron M Kinley Apparatus for plugging wells
US6672384B2 (en) * 2002-01-31 2004-01-06 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Plug-dropping container for releasing a plug into a wellbore
US7380600B2 (en) * 2004-09-01 2008-06-03 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Degradable material assisted diversion or isolation
WO2008036002A1 (fr) * 2006-09-22 2008-03-27 Schlumberger Holdings Limited Dispositif ayant la fonction d'un packer ou d'un bouchon provisoire
US20110284213A1 (en) * 2006-09-22 2011-11-24 Dean Willberg Device used in the form of a packer or a temporary plug

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110284213A1 (en) * 2006-09-22 2011-11-24 Dean Willberg Device used in the form of a packer or a temporary plug
US9309743B2 (en) * 2006-09-22 2016-04-12 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Device used in the form of a packer or a temporary plug
US20200270513A1 (en) * 2015-12-21 2020-08-27 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pre-processed fiber flocks and methods of use thereof
US11795377B2 (en) * 2015-12-21 2023-10-24 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pre-processed fiber flocks and methods of use thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2393331C9 (ru) 2010-12-27
WO2010077175A1 (ru) 2010-07-08
RU2393331C1 (ru) 2010-06-27

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Owner name: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, MASSACHUSETTS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:POPOV, KONSTANTIN IGOREVICH;KHLESTKIN, VADIM KAMILIEVICH;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110829 TO 20110831;REEL/FRAME:026945/0352

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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