US20180328169A1 - Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well - Google Patents
Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20180328169A1 US20180328169A1 US16/043,867 US201816043867A US2018328169A1 US 20180328169 A1 US20180328169 A1 US 20180328169A1 US 201816043867 A US201816043867 A US 201816043867A US 2018328169 A1 US2018328169 A1 US 2018328169A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- zone
- well
- previously
- zones
- fracked
- 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
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 abstract description 6
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 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
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/10—Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
-
- 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
- E21B43/14—Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracing an oil/gas well. Individual production zones are tested for flow rates of gas, water and oil to determine which previously fracked production zones are the most productive and consequently the best candidates for refracing.
- the production index is a measure of well's potential or ability to produce fluids as a function of reduction in pressure.
- the production index (PI) is calculated by subtracting the flowing bottom hole pressure (PF) from the static bottom hole pressure (PS) to get a drawdown pressure.
- the production rate in barrels per day (bpd) is divided by the drawdown to arrive at the PI. Thus if the drawdown pressure is 500 psi and the producing rate is 500 bpd, then the PI is 1.
- the FIGURE illustrates a schematic showing of a horizontal well having a plurality of frac zones with an embodiment of equipment for carrying out the invention placed within the well.
- the FIGURE shows a well 10 within formation 11 including a casing having a horizontal portion 41 and a vertical portion 40 and a tubular string 12 which may be coiled tubing or jointed pipe tubing.
- the well includes a vertical section and a horizontal portion which terminates at 42 .
- the well may consist of a vertical section only surrounded by a plurality of vertically spaced frac zones.
- fracked zones 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 wherein the casing 41 has been perforated at 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , and 19 .
- fracing fluids are introduced sequentially into the formation through the perforations in the casing to fracture the formation adjacent the casing to facilitate the flow of oil and other fluids from the formation to the interior of the well.
- coiled or jointed pipe tubing 12 is lowered into the well and includes a jet pump section 20 and, a pup joint 27 having a three phase flow meter 21 located within the pup joint.
- An isolation assembly which includes a first packer 26 , a perforated sub 25 , and a second packer 28 is attached to the tubing 12 at an end thereof via meter 27 and jet pump 21 .
- the isolation assembly will permit only fluid from previously fracked zone 34 to enter the interior of flow meter 21 via the openings in perforated sub 25 .
- power fluid from the jet pump may be diverted to the packers via a conduit 61 for inflating the packers.
- Flow meter 21 also includes temperature and pressure gauges.
- the flow rates of fluid in an different normally adjacent zone can be measured by moving the isolation unit to isolate a different frac zone such as frac zone 33 shown in the FIGURE.
- the Initial Bottom Hole Pressure will be measured before each zone is tested and the straddle packers isolate that zone.
- the Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure will be measured when the jet pump is engaged and drawdown is achieved. Consequently the production index for each frac zone in a producing well can be calculated. Based upon the calculation a determination can be made as to the original frac zones that are most likely to exhibit increased productivity due to a refracing procedure.
Abstract
A method for evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracing a previously fracked oil/gas well is accomplished by isolating a plurality of previously fracked zones of an oil/gas well in a formation and measuring the fluid flow rates from the isolated zones using a three phase flow meter positioned within the well at or near the previously fracked zones. The zones may be isolated by an isolation assembly which includes two packers connected by a perforated pipe and attached to a tubular positioned within the well.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/829,602 filed Aug. 18, 2015 the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto.
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracing an oil/gas well. Individual production zones are tested for flow rates of gas, water and oil to determine which previously fracked production zones are the most productive and consequently the best candidates for refracing.
- Currently when refracing a well the overall productivity of the well is considered before a decision to refrac is made. Little is known about which of the many perforated zones are productive in a well. Therefore, a method of determining which of the zones could benefit from refracturing is very important.
- Furthermore, while some efforts have been made to measure the total production of fluids within a well, very little effort has been made to monitor the individual production rates for gas, water, and oil as well as pressure and temperature at various stages of frac zones for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of refracing an individual zone using the proposed method and tool configuration in this application.
- Consequently there is a need to for a more precise method of measuring the oil output of individual frac zones in order to evaluate the potential effectiveness of refracing a given production zone.
- These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by isolating individual frac zones of a previously fraced formation and measuring the Static Bottom Hole Pressure and Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure, so a productivity index can be calculated and the ratio of Oil, Gas and Water can be measured through the use of a three phase flow meter, such as a Doppler flow meter. The production index is a measure of well's potential or ability to produce fluids as a function of reduction in pressure. The production index (PI) is calculated by subtracting the flowing bottom hole pressure (PF) from the static bottom hole pressure (PS) to get a drawdown pressure. The production rate in barrels per day (bpd) is divided by the drawdown to arrive at the PI. Thus if the drawdown pressure is 500 psi and the producing rate is 500 bpd, then the PI is 1.
- The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
- For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which:
- The FIGURE illustrates a schematic showing of a horizontal well having a plurality of frac zones with an embodiment of equipment for carrying out the invention placed within the well.
- The FIGURE shows a well 10 within
formation 11 including a casing having ahorizontal portion 41 and avertical portion 40 and atubular string 12 which may be coiled tubing or jointed pipe tubing. - As shown the well includes a vertical section and a horizontal portion which terminates at 42. However it is understood that the well may consist of a vertical section only surrounded by a plurality of vertically spaced frac zones.
- In a typical horizontally fraced well, there are a plurality of fracked
zones casing 41 has been perforated at 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. As is known in the art, fracing fluids are introduced sequentially into the formation through the perforations in the casing to fracture the formation adjacent the casing to facilitate the flow of oil and other fluids from the formation to the interior of the well. - According to an embodiment of the invention, coiled or jointed
pipe tubing 12 is lowered into the well and includes ajet pump section 20 and, apup joint 27 having a threephase flow meter 21 located within the pup joint. - An isolation assembly which includes a
first packer 26, aperforated sub 25, and asecond packer 28 is attached to thetubing 12 at an end thereof viameter 27 andjet pump 21. When positioned within the well as shown in the FIGURE the isolation assembly will permit only fluid from previously frackedzone 34 to enter the interior offlow meter 21 via the openings in perforatedsub 25. When inflatable packers are used, power fluid from the jet pump may be diverted to the packers via aconduit 61 for inflating the packers. - To measure the flow rate of fluids from
zone 34, power fluid is delivered tojet pump 20 which will draw fluid fromzone 34 throughperforated sub 25,packer 26 andpup joint 27. Consequently the threephase flow meter 21 inpup joint 27 will record the oil, gas and water flow rates from the previously fracedzone 34.Flow meter 21 also includes temperature and pressure gauges. - According to an embodiment of the invention, once the flow rate of a fluid in a given frac zone has been measured, the flow rates of fluid in an different normally adjacent zone can be measured by moving the isolation unit to isolate a different frac zone such as
frac zone 33 shown in the FIGURE. - The Initial Bottom Hole Pressure will be measured before each zone is tested and the straddle packers isolate that zone. The Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure will be measured when the jet pump is engaged and drawdown is achieved. Consequently the production index for each frac zone in a producing well can be calculated. Based upon the calculation a determination can be made as to the original frac zones that are most likely to exhibit increased productivity due to a refracing procedure.
- Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (10)
1. A method of evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracing a producing oil/gas well that has already been fracked at a plurality of zones along the length of the well comprising:
a) isolating a first producing, previously fracked zone in the well,
b) measuring the oil, water, or gas flow rate, from the producing zone while the zone is being produced,
c) calculating a production index for the isolated previously fracked zone, and
d) determining the previously fracked zones that are most likely to exhibit increased productivity due to a refracing procedure based upon the production index.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of isolating two or more previously fracked zones and measuring the oil flow rate flow from each previously fracked zone.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the previously fracked zone is isolated by placing a packer within the well at the beginning and end of the zone.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the oil, water, or gas flow rate is obtained by placing a three phase flow meter in tubing located within the well, the tubing including a perforated pipe positioned between the packers.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the oil, water, or gas is produced using a jet pump positioned within the production tubing.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the packers are either of the inflatable type or mechanical type and a portion of power fluid for the jet pump is diverted to set the packers.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the well is a horizontal well.
8. The method of claim 1 further including measuring the temperature and pressure of fluid within the previously fraced zone.
9. The method of claim 1 further including measuring an initial static bottom hole pressure and a flowing bottom hole pressure of the previously fraced zone, measuring a production rate of the previously fraced zone, wherein the production index is calculated by subtracting the flowing bottom hole pressure from the static bottom hoe pressure and dividing the production rate by the result of subtracting the flowing bottom hole pressure from the static bottom hole pressure.
10. The method of claim 1 further including the step of refracing the previously fraced zones that are determined to be most likely to exhibit increased productivity.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/043,867 US20180328169A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2018-07-24 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
US16/355,666 US11078778B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2019-03-15 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
US17/393,125 US11613987B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2021-08-03 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/829,602 US20170051605A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2015-08-18 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
US16/043,867 US20180328169A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2018-07-24 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/829,602 Continuation US20170051605A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2015-08-18 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/355,666 Continuation US11078778B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2019-03-15 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20180328169A1 true US20180328169A1 (en) | 2018-11-15 |
Family
ID=58051028
Family Applications (4)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/829,602 Abandoned US20170051605A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2015-08-18 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
US16/043,867 Abandoned US20180328169A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2018-07-24 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
US16/355,666 Active US11078778B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2019-03-15 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
US17/393,125 Active 2035-10-08 US11613987B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2021-08-03 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/829,602 Abandoned US20170051605A1 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2015-08-18 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Refracing a Well |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/355,666 Active US11078778B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2019-03-15 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
US17/393,125 Active 2035-10-08 US11613987B2 (en) | 2015-08-18 | 2021-08-03 | Method and apparatus for zone testing a well |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (4) | US20170051605A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3004414A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2018002097A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017030681A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN107201900B (en) * | 2017-07-28 | 2020-08-07 | 中国矿业大学 | Sliding type multi-type gas reservoir production layer gas-water contribution rate measuring device |
CN107807407B (en) * | 2017-09-30 | 2019-10-11 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | A kind of petroleum zone efficiency evaluation method and apparatus |
WO2019113679A1 (en) * | 2017-12-13 | 2019-06-20 | Source Rock Energy Partners Inc. | Inflow testing systems and methods for oil and/or gas wells |
WO2019133002A1 (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2019-07-04 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular flow meter with a sealing element |
US20200056463A1 (en) * | 2018-08-17 | 2020-02-20 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | System and method to increase production from a borehole |
CN115012896B (en) * | 2022-06-27 | 2024-02-23 | 中国石油天然气集团有限公司 | Wellbore reconstruction method for repeated fracturing of oil and gas well |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5955666A (en) * | 1997-03-12 | 1999-09-21 | Mullins; Augustus Albert | Satellite or other remote site system for well control and operation |
US20030042048A1 (en) * | 2001-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | Hughes William James | Down hole drilling assembly with independent jet pump |
US20130333879A1 (en) * | 2008-06-27 | 2013-12-19 | Wajid Rasheed | Method for Closed Loop Fracture Detection and Fracturing using Expansion and Sensing Apparatus |
US20150211339A1 (en) * | 2014-01-24 | 2015-07-30 | King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals | Quantification of skin in hydraulic fracturing of low and tight reservoirs |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5831156A (en) * | 1997-03-12 | 1998-11-03 | Mullins; Albert Augustus | Downhole system for well control and operation |
US20080302529A1 (en) * | 2007-06-11 | 2008-12-11 | Fowler Jr Stewart Hampton | Multi-zone formation fluid evaluation system and method for use of same |
US7580796B2 (en) * | 2007-07-31 | 2009-08-25 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Methods and systems for evaluating and treating previously-fractured subterranean formations |
US8794316B2 (en) * | 2008-04-02 | 2014-08-05 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Refracture-candidate evaluation and stimulation methods |
CA3157534A1 (en) * | 2013-02-12 | 2014-08-21 | NCS Multistage, LLC | Process for recovering reservoir fluid from a formation |
US20150167437A1 (en) * | 2013-12-13 | 2015-06-18 | Statoil Gulf Services LLC | Stimulation method and system for enhancing oil production |
US9506333B2 (en) * | 2013-12-24 | 2016-11-29 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | One trip multi-interval plugging, perforating and fracking method |
US10280722B2 (en) * | 2015-06-02 | 2019-05-07 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | System and method for real-time monitoring and estimation of intelligent well system production performance |
-
2015
- 2015-08-18 US US14/829,602 patent/US20170051605A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2016
- 2016-07-12 WO PCT/US2016/041912 patent/WO2017030681A1/en active Application Filing
- 2016-07-12 CA CA3004414A patent/CA3004414A1/en active Pending
- 2016-07-12 MX MX2018002097A patent/MX2018002097A/en unknown
-
2018
- 2018-07-24 US US16/043,867 patent/US20180328169A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2019
- 2019-03-15 US US16/355,666 patent/US11078778B2/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-08-03 US US17/393,125 patent/US11613987B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5955666A (en) * | 1997-03-12 | 1999-09-21 | Mullins; Augustus Albert | Satellite or other remote site system for well control and operation |
US20030042048A1 (en) * | 2001-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | Hughes William James | Down hole drilling assembly with independent jet pump |
US20130333879A1 (en) * | 2008-06-27 | 2013-12-19 | Wajid Rasheed | Method for Closed Loop Fracture Detection and Fracturing using Expansion and Sensing Apparatus |
US20150211339A1 (en) * | 2014-01-24 | 2015-07-30 | King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals | Quantification of skin in hydraulic fracturing of low and tight reservoirs |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20170051605A1 (en) | 2017-02-23 |
US11078778B2 (en) | 2021-08-03 |
MX2018002097A (en) | 2018-09-12 |
WO2017030681A1 (en) | 2017-02-23 |
CA3004414A1 (en) | 2017-02-23 |
US20190211668A1 (en) | 2019-07-11 |
US20210363877A1 (en) | 2021-11-25 |
US11613987B2 (en) | 2023-03-28 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TECH FLO CONSULTING, LLC, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:JACKSON, WILLIAM J.;REISSIG, ERIK J.;MILLER, JAMES L. (JAY), II;SIGNING DATES FROM 20150815 TO 20150825;REEL/FRAME:046446/0110 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |