Classifications

• • 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
  • E21B43/14—Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• • 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
  • E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
  • E21B43/04—Gravelling of wells
• • 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
  • E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
• • 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

Definitions

• One or more embodiments disclosed herein relate to fracturing or gravel packing in subterranean wells. More particularly, one or more embodiments disclosed herein relate to registration within a wellbore of an open-hole completion assembly for fracturing and gravel packing and related methods of use.
• open hole completions refer to a well completion that has no casing or liner set across the reservoir formation, allowing the produced fluids to flow directly into the wellbore.
• closed hole completions refer to a well completion that has a wellbore fated with a string of casing or liner.
• n.mh 2one frac-pack completion techniques to open hole completions is the elimination of production casing across the reservoir interval and associated perforating operations, which are required after casing is installed for fluid production through the casing into the we!lbore. It may be costly and time consuming to install production casing in a wellbore across the reservoir interval, and if that step can be avoided, and the well may be completed for production without casing across the reservoir interval, It may improve efficiency and lower corn pletion costs ,
• embodiments disclosed herein relate to an open-hole assembly for an. open-hole section of a wellbore having a. plurality of production intervals, the completion ssembl comprising (a) an outer tubing string having an upper end adapted for connection with a lower end of a cased section of the wellbore; (h) a plurality of isolation packers that provide zonal isolation between the open-hole wellbore and the outer tubing string; (c) one or more screen assemblies positioned adjacent one or more of the plurality of production intervals; and (d) a plurality of detectable references located along a length of the outer tubing string for registration of the completion assembly within the wellbore.
• embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for multiple zone fracturing, packing and well treatment of an open hole section of a wellbore having casing positioned above the. open hole section, the wellbore having a plurality of production zones, the method comprisin fa) placing into an open hole section of the wellbore an outer tubing string having an upper end adapted for connection with a lower end of a cased section of the. wellbore, each portion of the outer tubing string being positioned adjacent one or a plural ity of production intervals; and (b) registering a location of the outer tubing string with. reference to the well ore by a method being selected from one or both of the following; (i) a pipe tally reference, or (ii) a plurality of detectable refere ces located along a length of the outer tubing string,
• embodiments disclosed herein relate 10 an open-hole multiple zo e fracturing, gravel packing and treatment completion assembly for single trip fracturing and packing operations of an open hole section of vertical, horizontal, or deviated, wellbore having a plurality of production intervals
• the completion assembly comprising (a) an outer tubing string having an upper end adapted for connection with a lower end of a cased section of the wellbore; ⁇ 3 ⁇ 4 ⁇ a plurality of isolation packers that provide zonal isolation between the open-hole wel ibore and the outer tubing siring; fe) one or more screen assemblies positioned adjacent one or more of the plurality of production intervals: and id) one or more radioactive detectable references in tile cased section of the ellbore for registration with reference to the wellbore.
• figure I illustrates an offshore oil and gas platform operating an ope hole completion apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figures 2A-2B illustrate cross-sectional views of an open hole completion assembly operating in a first zone of interest in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figures 3 A-3B illustrate cross-sectional views of an open hole completion assembly operating in a second zone of interest in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 4 i llustrates an open hole single trip main -zone completion assembly that is vertically registered in a wellbore in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
• upstream refers to a direction farther from the bottom or end of the wellborn, whether it be vertical, slanted, or horizontal; and the term “downstream” refers to a direction closer to the bottom or end of the weiibore, whether it be vertical, slanted, or horizont l.
• One or more embodiments disclosed herein provides an apparatus and method for fracturing and gravel packing in an open hole section of a weiibore with only one trip into the weiibore being required.
• registration may be vertical (LeANC in a vertical weiibore), diagonal (i.e., in slanted, or diagonal weiibore), and/or horizontal (i.e., in a horizontal weiibore).
• registration may be performed in a weiibore having any combination or portions that are vertical horizontal, deviated, or diagonal
• the technique of the invention does not require reliance upon a pre- posihoned lower packer in the well
• the technique of the invention does not require first positioning an open hole packer at a specific location in the lower portion of the uncased weiibore for an initial lower reference point or datum.
• embodiments disclosed herein relate to an open-hole multiple zone fractoring, gravel packing and treatment completion assembly for single trip fracturing and packing operations of an open hole section, of weiibore having plurality of production intervals including an outer tubing string h ing an upper end adapted for connection with a lower end of a eased section of the wei ibore, plurality of isolation packers that provide zonal isolation between the open-hole wellborn and the outer tubing string, one or more screen assemblies positioned adjacent one or more of die plurality of production intervals, and.
• Gamma ray formation logging is a measurement of the natural, gamma rays emitted by various elements in the formation. Gamma ray logs are helpful for quantifying shaliness, well-to- well correlation, depth correlation between open- and cased-hole logs, and for correlation between logging runs,
• FIG. 1 Takenate several open hole fracpack mechanisms that are deployed in an offshore oil or gas well are schematically illustrated and generally designated 10 In accordance with one or mom embodiments of the present disclosure.
• One open hole fracpack mechanism used in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein is available from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
• a semi-submersible platform 12 is centered over submerged oil and gas formation 14 located below sea Coot 16.
• a subsea conduit 18 extends from deck 20 of platform 12 to wellhead installation 22, including blowout preventers 24.
• Platform 12 has a hoisting apparatus 26 and a derrick 28 for raising and lowering pipe strings, such as a substantially tubular, longitudinally extending work string referred to herein as an nner tubing string 30,
• Figure 1 depicts a slanted well, it. should be understood by one skilled in the art that the open hole fracpack mechanisms of the present invention are equally well-suited for use in vertical wells, horizontal wells, multilateral wells and the like. Also, even though Figure 1 depicts an offshore operation, it should be understood by one skilled in the art that the open hole fracpack mechanisms of the present invention are equally well - suited for use in onshor e operations .
• a wellbore 32 extends through the various earth strata including formation 14.
• a casing 34 is cemented within a vertical section of wellbore 32 by cement 36,
• An upper end of a completion string, referred to herein as an outer tubing string 56 is secured to the lower end of casing 34 by a liner hanger 60 or other suitable support mechanism,
• Liners and casings may be made from any material such as metals, plastics, composites, or the like, may be expanded or unexpaaded as part of an installation procedure. and may be segmented or continuous. Additionally, it is not necessary for a Hner or easing to be cemented m a w3 ⁇ 4
• Outer tubing string 56 may include one or more packers 44, 46, 48. 50 that provide zonal isolation for the production of hydrocarbons in certain zones of interest within wellbore 32.
• zonal isolation * may refer to isolated zones of the snnulns between we II bore 32 and outer tubing string 56 fluidiy isolated between one or more packers. When set, packers 44, 46, 48, 50 isolate zones of the aonuius between, wellbore 32 and outer tubing string 56.
• formation fluids from formation .14 may enter the nnnlus between wellbore 32 and outer tubing string 56 in between packers 44, 46, between packers 46, 48, and between packers 48, 50, Additionally, fraepack and gravel pack slurries, also known as proppant slurries, may be pumped into the isolated zones provided therebetween.
• outer tubing string 56 includes sand control screen assemblies 38, 40, 42 that are located near the lower end of tubing string 56 and substantially proximal to formation 14. As shown, packers 44, 46, 48. 50 may he located above and below each set of sand control screen, assemblies 38, 40, 42,
• outer tubing string 56 includes closing sleeves 66, 68, 70 that provide a pathway such as a channel or an annular area that prevents proppant slurry from contacting the- surface of formation 14 until the proppant slurry travels downhole to a desired location, such as near or proximal to one of screen control screen assemblies 38, 40, 42.
• the closing sleeves may be either shrouded or without, a shroud more similar to that used in case hole operations.
• closing sleeves 66, 68, 70 are each located in a zone of interest defined by packers 44, 6, 48, 50.
• outer tubing string 56 may include one or more open hole centralizers disposed along a ' length thereof
• the open hole fraepack mechanisms of the present invention may he used in a wellbore having any number of zones of interest For example.
• Figure I shows three zones of interest while Figures 2A-2B and 3A- 3B show two zones of interest.
• the open hole fraepack mechanisms of the present invention may he used in a wellbore having a single zone of interest if desired.
• annul us 86 is formed between casing 34 and outer tubing string 56 that is sealed by gravel pack packer 82 at its upper or upstream end. Additionally, annulus 86 extends downwardly or downstream through the open hole of wellbore 32 and outer tubing string 56. Another annulus 88 is formed between outer tubing string 56 and a working string referred to herein as an inner tubin string 84, Inner tubing stri g 84 further includes an inner central passageway 100 for flowing a treatment fluid such as a fracpaek or gravel pack fluid slurry referred to herein as a proppant slurry 90 to a particular zone of interest, as further described herein..
• a treatment fluid such as a fracpaek or gravel pack fluid slurry referred to herein as a proppant slurry 90
• the present open hole fracpaek mechanism 80 includes a shrouded closing sleeve 91.
• Shrouded closing sleeve 91 includes shroud 92, one or more frac ports 94 and a sliding sleeve 96,
• Shroud 92 is disposed concentrically about the outer surface of outer tubing string 56,
• shroud 92 provides an annular region or other passageway or passageways, which, is referred herein as channel 98, between the outer surface of outer tubing string 56 and the inner surface of shroud 92.
• Frac ports 94 are disposed through outer tubing string 56, thus providing a passageway for proppant slurry 90 to flow into channel 98 of shroud 92.
• shroud 92 is attached, affixed, formed or may be integral with outer tubing string 56 just above or upstream of frac ports 94, thus providing a pathway for proppant slurry 90 to flow outward from frac ports 94, through channel 98 and downward or downstream to opening 134 of shroud 92.
• Open hole fracpaek. mechanism SO further includes a closing sleeve 96 that is slidably positioned or disposed, between outer tubing string 56 and inner tubing string 84 such that it may he actuated to move relative to frac ports 94 for opening and closing the passageway provided by frac ports 94. As illustrated in Figure 2A. frac ports 94 are shown, in a closed position.
• Open hole fracpaek mechanism 80 further includes a sand control screen assembly 1.02 for filtering proppant from proppant slurry 90.
• Sand control screen assembly preferably includes a screen portion 104 and a base pipe 106 that may provide a channel 108
• valve 110 of sand control screen assembly 102 is in a closed position.
• Open hole fracpack mechanism 80 also may include a pair of packers 111 , 1 12 for sealing anmdus 86 to provide zona! isolation.
• open hole fracpack mechanism 80 may be without packer 111 for a to completion interval, and instead cased hole packer 82 may provide the same-function.
• Packers 1 11 , ! 12 ma be any type of packer commonly used and known by those skilled in the art.
• fracpack mechanism 80 includes a shrouded closing sleeve 1 19. Similar to shrouded closing sleeve 1 , shrouded closing sleeve 11 includes shroud 120, one or more frac ports 1 18 and a sliding sleeve 122. Shroud 120 is disposed concentrically about tte outer surface of outer tubing string 56, Preferably, shroud 120 provides an annular region or other passageway or passageways, which is referred herein as channel 152, between the outer surface of outer tubing string 56 and the inner surface of shroud 120,
• Frac ports 113 are disposed through outer tubing string 56» thus providing a passageway for proppant slurry 90 to flow into channel 152 of shroud 120.
• shroud 120 is attached, affixed, formed or may be integral with outer tubing string 56 just above or upstream of frac ports 1 IB, thus providing a pathway for proppant slurry 90 to flow outward from frac ports 1 18, through channel 152 and downward or downstream to opening 156 of shroud 120.
• O03SJ Closing sleeve 122 Is lidahly positioned or disposed between outer tubing siring 56 and inner tubing string 84 such that it may be actuated to move relative to frac ports 118 for opening and closing the passageway provided by frac ports 1 18. As ill ustrated in Figure 2B, frac ports 1 1 8 are shown in an open position..
• Open hole fracpack mechanism 80 further includes a sand control screen assembly 128 for filtering proppant 150 from proppant slurry 90.
• Sand control screen assembly 128 preferably includes a screen portion 132 and a base pipe 130 that may provide a channel 131 therebetween such that filtered fluid 148 is transmitted to one. end of sand control screen assembly 128 where a valve 134 Is located. The upstream or upper end of sand control screen assembly 128 is shown located substantially proximal to opening 156 of shroud 120. As shown in Figure 28, valve 134 of sand control screen assembly 128 is in an open position.
• Open hole iraepack mechanism 80 also includes a pmr of packers ⁇ 12, 1.36 for sealing araiulus 86 and to provide zonal isolation.
• Packers J 12, 136 amy be any type of packer commonly used and. known b those skill d in the art,
• Open hole fracpaek mechanism 80 includes a crossover assembly 114 positioned within inner tubing string 84.
• Crossover assembly 114 may be selectable to move fluids, such as proppant slurry 90 from inner central passageway 100 to annulus 88, for example.
• Crossover assembly 1 .4 may also be selectable to move fluids from inner centra! passageway 00 to annulus SO as further described below.
• crossover assembly 1 14 is sealed against outer tubing string 56 by one or more seal elements i 16 to provide a fluid tight engagement therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, three seal elements 116 are shown; however, any number of seal elements maybe used.
• open hole fracpaek mechanism 80 includes one or mo e seal elements 146 sfidably disposed between inner tubing string 84 and outer tubing string 56, in this manner, proppant slurry 90 flowing from crossover assembly 1 14 is forced through frac ports 11 8,
• crossover assembly 1 1.4 is shown substantial !y adjacent to frac ports i 18 such that ports of crossover assembly 114 provides proppant slurry 90 from inner central passageway 100 through crossover assembly 1 14 to frac ports 1.18.
• closing sleeve 122 is in an open position, which enables proppant slurry 90 to cross through hmertubing string 84 an flow through frac ports 1. 1.8 into channel .152 provided by shroud 120..
• Proppant slurry 90 then flows downstream or downwardly into the wellbore region surrounding sand control screen assembly 128, In the initial portions of the fracpaek operation, a surface valve associated with annulus 88 may he closed or choked to prevent or limit fluid returns.
• proppant slurry 90 is forced into formation 14 creating fractures 148, as best seen in Figure 38.
• the surface val ve may be open such that fluid returns may be taken, as best seen in Figures 2A-2B,
• inner tubing string 84 preferably has an open end 1.40 for receiving fluid.
• Fluid 148 may be conditioned drilling mud to control solids particle size and/or filtered solids-free completion fluid.
• open end 140 may be provided after running Inner tubing string 84 into wellbore 32 and then performing lifting operations on inner tubing string 84 to separate it from a plug 142 and a float shoe 141.
• loner tubing string 84 may further include shifters 138 and 126 for opening and valves 1 10, 134 and closing sleeves 96, 122, respectively.
• saner tubing string 84 may have n o en end 140 for receiving fluid 148 (either conditioned drilling ini to control solids particle size and or filtered solids ree completion fluid).
• open end 140 may be provided after running inner tubing siring 84 into the weiibore 32 and then performing lifting operations on inner tubing string 84 to close a sliding sleeve utilizing shifters above a bull plug (not shown).
• the sliding sleeve may be covered or uncovered with well screen filter media, inner tubing string 84 may farther include shifters 138 and. 126 for opening valves 1 10, 134 and closing sleeves 96, 122, respectively.
• open hole fracpack mechanism 80 may include any number of shrouds 92, 120 and they preferably include a portio that extends radially outwardly from outer tubing string 56, They may be sealed, formed, fastened, or otherwise affixed to the outer surface of outer tubing string 56 at a. location thai is proximal but upstream of frac ports 94, 118. As noted above, they may extend radially outward from this point where they are sealed or joined to outer tubing siring 56. This radial extension may be substantially perpendicular or slanted relative to outer tubing string 56,
• shrouds 92, 120 extends from this point downwardly or downstream to a point that is substantially proximal to sand control screen assemblies 102, 128, respectively.
• the longitudinal portion of shrouds 92, 120 extend substantially parallel to welihore 32 to a point where the openings 1.54, 156 are proximal to a zone of interest.
• the zones of interest relative to figure 2A-2B are those portions of welihore 32 that are substantially adjacent to sand control screen assemblies 1 2, 128, Shrouds 92, 120 provide a barrier that prevents proppaat slurry 90 from, contacting the surface of welihore 32 prior to exiting openings 154, ,156 in their respective zo e of interest By doing so they prevent proppant slurry 90 from dehydrating into formation. 14 in a manner which may cause sand bridging at or near frac ports 94, 118 that may cause inner tubular 84 to become stuck in outer tubular 56,
• the longitudinal portions of the shrouds of the present invention may be any length desired so long as they are of sufficient length to inject the proppant slurry to a location in the weiibore that is remote front die frac ports of the shrouded closing sleeves, i.e., a location in the weiibore sufficiently distant from the frac ports that dehydration of die proppant slurry does not occur at or near the frac ports.
• the length of the longitudinal -portions of shrouds of the present invention may extend for several sections of mhing making up the outer tubing siring or may he only a few fe t, depending on factors such as completion string confi uration, formation characteristics, the type of proppant slurry to be pumped, the flow rate and pressure at which the proppaat slurry will be delivered and the like.
• Shrouds 92, 1.20 may be formed separately and then affixed to outer tubing string 56 prior to running it into wellborn 32, in another example, shrouds 92, 120 may be formed as a unitar part of outer tubing string 56.
• shrouds 92, 120 are of a substantially cylindrical shape reflecting the outer tubing string 56 in which the are disposed about. Preferably, they arc thin- wailed and made from material, such as steel, that is sufficiently rigid to run into we!lbore 32 along with outer tubing string 56 without becoming deformed,
• closing sleeves 96, 12.2 may be actuated by lifting or otherwise moving inner tubing string 84 upstream such that shifters actuate closing sleeves 96, 122,
• closing sleeves 96, 122 may he actuated remotely by wired or wireless communication to a remote motor or actuator, for example,
• Seal elements .! 16, 146 may consist of any suitable sealing element or elements, such as a packing stack with one or more O -rings either alone or in combination with backup rings and the like.
• seal elements 116, .146 may comprise
• AFLAS.RTM C ngs with PEEK back-ups, V3 ⁇ 4on.RTM. O-rings, nitriie ⁇ -rings or hydrogeoated nitriie O -rings or other suitable seal
• open hole fracpack .mechanism 80 Referring collectively to Figures 2A.-2S and 3A.-3B the operation of open hole fracpack .mechanism 80 will now be described.
• open hole tracpack mechanism 80 is being described in the context of a fraepacking operation, but as discussed farther below, open hole fracpack mechanism 80 is also well suited for use in. grave! packing operations and processes
• Open hole tr cpack mechanism 80 is shown before and after fraepacking of a first zone of interest, in operation, open hole fracpack mechanism SO of Figures 2A-2B may he tun into well bore 32 in a single trip or multiple trips on inner tubing string 84 and outer tubing string 56 to a desired depth.
• the gravel pack set packer 82 is then set against casing 34,
• inner tubing string 84 and outer tubing string 56 are run into wellbore 32 with closing sleeve 96, valve .110, closing sleeve 122, and valve 1.34 in a closed position.
• packers 1.1.1, 12 and .136 may also he set fey contacting them with a fluid to cause these packers to swell and seal against formation 14 of wellbore 32,
• inner tubing string 84 When inner tubing string 84 is initially run into wellbore 32, a float shoe 141 is attached to its lower end.
• inner tubing string 84 ma be
• Inner tubing strin 84 may now move upwardly within outer tubing string 56, Preferably, inner tubing string 84 is moved upwardly t -position plug 142 in the radially expanded region 144 of float shoe 142, In this position, fluid may be circulated tfimugh float shoe .141 as desired.
• inner cubing string 84 is mo ed upwardly to position plug 142 in. profile 145 providing a seal therein.. Further upward movement inner tubing string 84 releases plug 142, as best seen in.
• FIG. 2B By shearing inner tubing string 84 from plug 141, open end 140 is opened, for receiving filtered fluid 1.48. Additionally, by setting plug 42- in profile 143, a sealed bottom environment is provided for preventing filtered fluid .1.48 from leaking off into formation 14 of welibore 32,
• inner tubing string 84 may be further lifted or picked tip further such drat shifter 1:26 opens closing sleeve 122 and shifter 138 opens valv 134. Once these elements are opened, inner tubing string 84 may be lowered downstream to a position as best seen in Figures 2 -2B. In one embodiment., these lifting and lowering Operations may operate or actuate crossover assembly 114 into a position to enable the fluid flow paths as shown in Figure -2A-2B.
• seal elements 1 16 and seal elements 1.46 seal between inner tubing string 84 and outer tubing siring 36.
• Proppant slurry 90 is then pumped down inner central passageway 1.00 to crossover assembly 114 where it crosses over to channel 132 via opened closing sleeve 122 and ftac ports 1 IB.
• Proppant slurry 90 then flows between shroud .120 and outer tubing string 56 as shown in Figure 2B where it exits channel 132 at opening 156, After exiting opening 156, proppant slurry 90 then contacts formation 1 and, in one embodiment, fractures formation 14 through the use- of a surface valve to prevent or limit fluid returns.
• proppant 150 contained within proppant slurry 90 is now deposited or packed between formation 14 and sand control screen assembly 128, the results of which are depicted in. Figure 3B.
• the fluid portion of proppant slurry 90 is filtered through sand control screen assembly 128.
• Filtered fluid 148 then flows to opened port 134 where it exits and flows into annulus 88 and then, toward open end 1.40 of inner tubing string 84, Filtered fluid 148 then flows up through inner central passageway 10(5 toward crossover assembly 1 14 where it crosses over to an nuisancens 88 and then flows further upward or upstream where it may exi amttiius 88 into annnlus 86 via an exit port (not shown) located above gravel pack set packer 82, for example. This operation may continue until a desired amount of proppant 150 has been deposited or packed between sand control screen assembly 128 and formation 14, as best seen in Fi ure 3B.
• inner tubing string 84 may be picked up or lifted to the next zone of interest as best seen in figures 3A-3B.
• Inner tubing string 84 is lifted such that shifter 126 and shifter 138 close closing sleeve 122 and valve 134 and open closing sleeve 96 and valve 1 0, respectivel .
• the operations as discussed above may then be repeated to fracpack the second zone of interest.
• proppant slurry 90 is then pumped down inner ceutral passageway 100 to crossover assembly .1 1.4 where it crosses over to channel 98 via opened closing sleeve 96 and frac ports 94.
• Proppant slurry 90 then flows between shroud 92 and outer tubing string 56 as shown in Figure 3 A. where it exits channel. 98 a opening 154, After exiting opening 154, proppant slurry 90 then contacts formation 14 and, in one embodiment, fractures formation 14 through th use of a surface valve to prevent or limit fluid returns. During the fracture process, high pressure and high flow rate proppant slurry 90 Is pumped into formation 14 creating fractures. When it is desired to end the fracture portion of the fr cpack, the surface valve is open to allow fluid returns.
• a radioactive Iraceant may be disposed or mixed within the proppant so that when the proppant has been deposited or packed between the sand, control screen assembly 102 and formation 14, a gamma ray tool will pick up the radioactive traceant in the proppant. and therefore may identify the producing zone.
• Environmentally 5 friendly radioactive traceanis may be mixed with the proppant.
• radioactive elements such as iridium, scandium, and other radioactive elements approved by the EPA known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used.
• shrouds 92, 120 direct proppant slurry 90 to
• a completion assembly 200 with one or more open hole fraepack mechanisms may be vertically registered in relation to the adjacent -wellbore in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein.
• Figure 4 shows m open-hole multiple zone fracturing, gravel packing and treatment completion assembly 200 for single trip fracturing and packing operations of an open-hole section of a wellbore having a plurality
• the completion assembly 200 includes an outer tubing string having an upper end 202 adapted for connection with a lower end of a cased section of the we llbore, a plurality of isolation packers 208 that provide zonal isolation between the open-hole wellbore and the outer tubing string, one or more screen assemblies 206 positioned adjacent one of the plurality of production intervals 5, and a plurality of tags or markers 210 placed
• an accurate pipe tally a length measurement) of the outer tubing string ⁇ L . f workstring or drillpipe may in many instances provide acceptable positioning for the completion assembly 200 in the wellbore.
• an accurate pipe tally a length measurement of the outer tubing string ⁇ L . f workstring or drillpipe may in many instances provide acceptable positioning for the completion assembly 200 in the wellbore.
• vertical registration of the completion assembly 200 may be conducted by reference to locating radioactive tags or markers placed along a length of the dri!lstrmg or within the casing at or near the top of the completion assembly 200 .
• Each of these techniques are further described herein.
• Two primary depth references employed in the dowahole ( ⁇ ; . , sab-surface) environment may be referred to as a "driller's depth" and a 'logger's depth” (also called a wireline logger's depth). These two measutement systems may be recorded quite differently, although each may be used to verify or double-check the other.
• the driller's depth also is referred to herei as a "pipe tally.”
• the logger's depth may be referenced herein by the use of radioactive tags, P1F tags or "RA" tags, which are radioactive tags or .markers in casing threads or perforations that can quickly and positively be found with a gamma ray logging tool , or other tools known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• detectable references (e.g., tags or markers) 210 may be disposed at intervals along a length of the outer tubing string.
• detectable references 210 may be disposed along a length of the outer tubing string at every stand.
• a stand may be at least every 200 feet, every 220 feet, or every 240 fee and up to every 260 ' feet, every 280 feet, or every 300 feet along length of the outer tubing string.
• detectable references 210 may be disposed along a length of the outer tubing string at every other stand, or every third stand, or every fourth stand, and s on as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. Still further, other spacing intervals may be used as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
• detectable references 210 may be evenly spaced or unevenly spaced along the length of outer tubing st ing,
• the detectable references 2.10 may be disposed in threaded connections of the outer tubing string.
• detectable references 210 may be a small wire strand, that is i erted into the threaded connections prior to make up of each threaded connection. After make up of the threaded connection, the wire strand is captured between corresponding male and female threads and held in place.
• the wire may be any radioactive material that is detectable by gamma ray logging tools.
• the wire strand may be cobalt, sdnc-65 or other gamma ray emitting materials. Other methods of attachment may be.
• a radioactive marker sub may also be run in-line with the worksirmg above the packer, but not limited to, adhesive*, welding, brazing, and other attachment methods known to one of ordinary skill i the art,
• a radioactive marker sub may also be run in-line with the worksirmg above the packer, but marker sub may serve as a tubing collar or drilipipe tool joint, with one or two small cavities drilled and threaded to receive a sealing ping,
• a radioactive pip tag may be installed in each cavity.
• a pip tag is a weak Konnier ray source (e.g., cobait-60). All radioactive material is fully recovered when the string is pulled.
• Driller's depth measurements may be used to vertically register the completion assembly in the e!ibore.
• Driller's depth measurements may be associated with drilling operations and other closely associated activities such as logging while drilling (“LWD”), measurement while drilling (“MWD”) and coring.
• Driller's depth may be recorded on a ellsite, and may constitute the primary depth measurement while wells are being drilled unless it is later superseded by the depth, from an open or cased- hole wireline log measurement.
• Driller ' s depth usually includes a unit of measurem nt (e.g., meter or feet), and a datum reference (ieflower the rig floor).
• measurements may be taken that account for stretching of the outer tubing string, as will he understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
• certain software available from Landmark, a Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. company is often used to calculate and account for stretching when using driller's depth measurement.
• DceisionSpaee ⁇ Well Engineering Software is one software that will calculate pip stretch.
• the analysis capabilities allow assessment of forces based on surface parameters, fluid properties, pressures, and temperature, among other variables.
• the bulk of the drill string is drill pipe which has a nominal length of about 9.6 meters per pipe section, however, in reality, not all pipes are the same length.
• Steel pipe has a male" connection at one end (called the pin) and a “female” connection at the other end (called the box), and as each section of pipe is lowered into the hole it is connected to the pipe preceding it by threading together the male and female components.
• Methods of vertically registering the completion assembly in the wellbore may include one of the above methods (i. c. , driller's depth or logger * ss depth), or both.
• the completion assembly may he located upon depth by pipe tally and then adjusted arid/or confirmed by referencing with a gamm ray logging tool a radioactive emitting tag embedded at intervals along a length of the outer tubing string or in the casing above ' the upper end of the completion assembly.
• This latter reference location technique may be referred, to as a completion assembly correlation through drillpipe.
• a rarBoactive tag or marker in the casing threads may be located and referenced with a gamma ray log in some embodiments of the invention.
• this bottom isolation packer 204 may isolate and form a bottom, for the gravel pack at the end of the gravel pack or frac-paek treatment for the lower zone, In the practice of one or more embodiments disclosed herein, this bottom isolation packer 204 is not required to be- pre -installed, and need not be employed as a reference for positioning the mnhi-zone assembly in the open hole.
• the fmc-pack completion assembly may be positioned in the wellbore based upon a woikstring pipe tally. For closer or redundant depth correlation, to serve as a check and confirmation of depth, the relative position of one or more radioactive tags located in the casing or in the completion assembly and in combination with the gamma ray open-hole log may be evaluated using electric line logging equipment, as previously described,
• One- or more embodiments disclosed herein for the multi-zone single trip completion assembly include a number of advantages. For instance, prior to running the completion assembly, an initial trip into the wellbore to run and set a bottom sump packer Is not needed because vertical registration of the completion assembly does not re erie a bottom sump packer. Therefore, fewer trips, in fact a single trip, are needed to vertically register the completion assembly. In addition, vertical registration of the completion assembly using pipe tally and/or radioactive markers detected with, a gamma ray logging tool is more accurate (in certain instances, to within about 20 feet or less). Still further, the completion assembly for open hole completion eliminates the need for casing across the completion interval, cementing, or easing perforations, which may be considered higher risk operations.

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• 2013
  • 2013-01-14 US US13/741,240 patent/US20130180709A1/en not_active Abandoned
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