WO2015001451A2 - Packer apparatuses - Google Patents

Packer apparatuses Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015001451A2
WO2015001451A2 PCT/IB2014/062557 IB2014062557W WO2015001451A2 WO 2015001451 A2 WO2015001451 A2 WO 2015001451A2 IB 2014062557 W IB2014062557 W IB 2014062557W WO 2015001451 A2 WO2015001451 A2 WO 2015001451A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bore
packer
work string
hydraulic fracturing
well bore
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2014/062557
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2015001451A3 (en
Inventor
Paul Bernard Lee
Original Assignee
BYWORTH, Ian
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BYWORTH, Ian filed Critical BYWORTH, Ian
Priority to US14/902,823 priority Critical patent/US20160177658A1/en
Publication of WO2015001451A2 publication Critical patent/WO2015001451A2/en
Publication of WO2015001451A3 publication Critical patent/WO2015001451A3/en

Links

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
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/126—Packers; Plugs with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt
    • 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
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/04—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion
    • E21B23/0412—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion characterised by pressure chambers, e.g. vacuum chambers
    • 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
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/04—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion
    • E21B23/0421—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion using multiple hydraulically interconnected pistons
    • 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
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/128—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure
    • E21B33/1285—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure by fluid pressure
    • 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

  • the present invention relates to packer apparatuses for providing annular seals in a wellbore, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to packer apparatuses for downhole work strings for use in hydraulic fracturing operations to retrieve hydrocarbons from wellbores.
  • packer apparatuses In order to fracture a formation in a hydrocarbon producing wellbore, packer apparatuses are used to isolate and seal sections of the wellbore to enable a working fluid to be pumped at pressure into the formation.
  • the working fluid used in hydraulic fracturing in certain locations requires a proppant material such as sand to be mixed with the working fluid. This ensures effective fracturing in certain types of geological formation.
  • Inflatable packer apparatuses are known in which rubber elements are inflated into contact with the sides of the wellbore by pumping the working fluid into the rubber element.
  • the hydraulic fracturing fluid can be grainy in nature as a result of sand and/or proppant being mixed into the fluid. This can prevent the inflatable packer elements from deflating as a result of resistance of the working fluid to moving out of the inflated packer element.
  • a packer apparatus for providing an annular seal in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising: a body arranged to be disposed in a well bore, the body defining a first bore to enable working fluid to flow through the packer apparatus; a first channel formed in the body for holding hydraulic fluid; a first floating piston disposed in the first channel, the first floating piston being in fluid communication with said first bore such that working fluid flowing through the first bore is arranged to cause the first floating piston to move along the first channel to pressurise hydraulic fluid disposed in the first channel; an activation member mounted to the body, wherein the activation member is moveable relative to the body to deform an elastomeric packer element outwardly relative to the body to form an annular seal in a well bore in use; and a plurality of pistons arranged to move the activation member relative to the body, each said piston defining a respective pressure chamber being in fluid communication with said first channel such that pressurisation of the hydraulic fluid moves each of the plurality of
  • said first channel is an annular channel disposed concentrically around the first bore and said first floating piston comprises an annular member disposed in the annular channel.
  • a work string for use in a wellbore comprising: a first packer apparatus as defined above; a second packer apparatus as defined above; and a hydraulic fracturing tool connected between said first and second packer apparatuses, the hydraulic fracturing tool comprising : a second bore connectable to the respective first bores of the first and second packer apparatuses to enable working fluid to flow through the work string; and at least one nozzle to enable working fluid to flow out of the work string to cause hydraulic fracturing of a formation in which the work string is disposed.
  • This also provides the advantage that the work string operates in a dynamic manner to use the pressure differential between hydraulic fracturing fluid flowing down the work string and the annulus between the work string and the formation to both energise the multiple pistons to deploy the sealing packer elements as well as fracture the formation.
  • a method of hydraulic fracturing a formation to retrieve hydrocarbons comprising: locating a work string as defined above at a location in a well bore at which a hydraulic fracturing operation is to be conducted; and pumping working fluid through the work string to: i. deform the elastomeric packer elements of each said packer apparatus outwardly relative to the work string to form two annular seals in the well bore and form an isolated section of well bore located between the two respective annular seals; and ii. cause working fluid to be exhausted from the work string through said at least one nozzle into the isolated section of well bore to cause hydraulic fracturing of the formation at the location of the isolated section of well bore.
  • This provides the advantage of a method of hydraulic fracturing that involves simply locating a work string at a position at which hydraulic fracturing is to be conducted and commencing pumping.
  • Many known methods of hydraulic fracturing require the work string to be manipulated by rotation or reciprocation to deploy the annular packer elements to provide seals. This step is removed in the present method and the only operation required at the surface is to commence and monitor pumping. This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of hydraulic fracturing operations. This also simplifies retrieval and repositioning of the work string.
  • This also provides the advantage that the method works in a dynamic manner to use the pressure differential between hydraulic fracturing fluid flowing down the work string and the annulus between the work string and the formation to both energise the multiple pistons to deploy the sealing packer elements as well as fracture the formation. This simplifies work string operation for the user.
  • a packer apparatus for providing an annular seal in a well bore, the apparatus comprising: a body arranged to be disposed in a well bore, the body defining a third bore for holding hydraulic fluid; a second floating piston disposed in the third bore such that working fluid pumped into said third bore causes the second floating piston to move along the third bore to pressurise hydraulic fluid disposed in the third bore; an activation member mounted to the body, wherein the activation member is moveable relative to the body to deform at least one elastomeric packer element outwardly relative to the body to form an annular seal in a well bore in use; and a plurality of pistons arranged to move the activation member relative to the body, each said piston defining a respective pressure chamber being in fluid communication with said third bore such that pressurisation of the hydraulic fluid moves each of the plurality of pistons relative to the body to cause the activation member to move relative to the body to deform said at least one elastomeric packer element
  • This provides the advantage of a packer apparatus that can be used at the bottom end of a work string to provide a reliable seal at the base of work string.
  • This packer apparatus is particularly reliable in view of the fact that hydraulic fracturing fluid containing sand or another proppant is prevented from entering the mechanical actuation mechanism for the expandable packer element.
  • a work string for use in a wellbore comprising: a first packer apparatus as defined above; a third packer apparatus as defined above; and a hydraulic fracturing tool connected between said first and third packer apparatuses, the hydraulic fracturing tool comprising : a fourth bore connectable to the first bore of the first packer apparatus and the third bore of the third packer apparatus; and at least one nozzle to enable working fluid to flow out of the work string to cause hydraulic fracturing of a formation in which the work string is disposed.
  • This provides the advantage of a hydraulic fracturing work string that isolates the mechanical moving parts required to deploy the packer elements from the working fluid, but also prevents fracturing fluid from exiting the bottom of the work string. This reduces leakage and environmental impact, improves hydrocarbon retrieval and reduces the time and cost required to run hydraulic fracturing operations.
  • This also provides the advantage that the work string operates in a dynamic manner to use the pressure differential between hydraulic fracturing fluid flowing down the work string and the annulus between the work string and the formation to both energise the multiple pistons to deploy the sealing packer elements as well as fracture the formation.
  • a method of hydraulic fracturing a formation to retrieve hydrocarbons comprising: locating a work string according to claim 6 at a location in a well bore at which a hydraulic fracturing operation is to be conducted; and pumping working fluid through the work string to: i. deform the elastomeric packer elements of each said packer apparatus outwardly relative to the work string to form two annular seals in the well bore and form an isolated section of well bore located between the two respective annular seals; and ii. cause working fluid to be exhausted from the work string through said at least one nozzle into the isolated section of well bore to cause hydraulic fracturing of the formation at the location of the isolated section of well bore.
  • Figure la is a perspective view of a packer apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure lb is a cross-sectional view of the packer apparatus of Figure la shown with the elastomeric packer element in the inactivated undeformed condition;
  • Figure lc is a cross-sectional view of the packer apparatus of Figures la and lb showing the elastomeric packer element in the outwardly deformed activated condition;
  • Figure 2a is a perspective view of a packer apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2b is a cross-section view of the packer apparatus of Figure 2a showing the elastomeric packer element in the undeformed deactivated condition;
  • Figure 2c is a cross-sectional view of the packer apparatus of Figures 2a and 2b showing the elastomeric packer element in the outwardly deformed activated condition;
  • Figures 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a are longitudinal cross sectional drawings showing a work string embodying the present invention from top to bottom, the upper most portion of the work string being shown in Figure 3a and moving sequentially downwardly through Figures 4a, 5a, 6a Lo the lower most portion of the work string shown in Figure 7a, the work string of Figures 3a to 7a being shown with the packer elements in the undeformed deactivated condition as a result of no hydraulic fracturing fluid being pumped at pressure down the work string;
  • Figures 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b and 7b are longitudinal cross sectional drawings showing the work string of Figures 3a to 7a with the hydraulic packer elements in the outwardly deployed activated condition as a result of hydraulic fracturing fluid being pumped at pressure down the work string;
  • Figure 8a is a cross sectional view of a bottom end of a hydraulic fracturing work string incorporating an alternative example of the packer of Figures 2a and 2b with the two elastomeric packer elements in the deactivated condition;
  • Figure 8b is a cross-section view of corresponding to Figure 8a showing the elastomeric packer elements in the activated conditions.
  • a packer apparatus 2 of a first embodiment of the present invention for providing an annular seal in a wellbore comprises a body 4, the body 4 defining a first bore 6 to enable working fluid such as hydraulic fracturing fluid containing sand and/or proppant to flow through the packer apparatus 2.
  • a first channel 8 is formed in the body and is arranged to hold hydraulic fluid.
  • a first floating piston 10 is disposed in the first channel, the first floating piston being in fluid communication with the first bore 6 via passage 12 such that working fluid flowing through first bore 6 is arranged to cause the first floating piston to move along the first channel 8 to pressurise hydraulic fluid disposed in the first channel 8.
  • An activation member 14 is mounted to the body.
  • activation member is moveable relative to the body 4 to deform an elastomeric packer element 16 outwardly relative to the body 4 to form an annular seal in a wellbore in use.
  • the outwardly deformed condition of the elastomeric packer element 16 is shown in Figure lc where it can be seen that activation member 14 has advanced to the left of the drawing from the condition shown in Figure lb.
  • a plurality of pistons 18 are arranged to move the activation member 14 relative to the body 4. Each piston 18 defines a respective pressure chamber 20 being in fluid communication via plurality of ports 22 with the first channel 8.
  • Pressurisation of the hydraulic fluid in first channel 8 therefore moves each of the plurality of pistons 18 relative to the body to cause the activation member 14 to move relative to the body 4 to deform the elastomeric packer element outwardly relative to the body.
  • the first channel 8 is an annular channel disposed
  • the first floating piston 10 is an annular member located in the annular channel 8.
  • the first channel 8 can be formed by disposing a length of tubing 24 in first bore 6 to create an annular passage in fluid communication with ports 22.
  • the ports 22 and pressure chambers 20 can be isolated by the first floating piston 10 from hydraulic fracturing fluid flowing in first bore 6. Consequently, when hydraulic fracturing fluid is pumped along first bore 6, the hydraulic fracturing fluid flows through passage 12 and bears against one side of first floating piston 10. This pushes first floating piston 10 along first travel 8 to pressurise the hydraulic fluid disposed in the first channel 8 and pressure chambers 20.
  • Packer apparatus 42 is arranged to provide an annular seal in a wellbore.
  • Packer apparatus 42 comprises a body 44 arranged to be disposed in a wellbore, the body defining a third bore 46 for holding hydraulic fluid.
  • a second floating piston 50 is disposed in the third bore such that working fluid such as hydraulic fracturing fluid containing a proppant such as sand pumped into the upper end 57 of the third bore 46 bears against second floating piston 50 and causes the second floating piston 50 to move along the third bore 46 to pressurise hydraulic fluid disposed in the third bore.
  • An activation member 54 is mounted to the body 44 and is moveable relative to the body to deform an elastomeric packer element 56 outwardly relative to the body 44 to form an annular seal in a wellbore in use.
  • a plurality of pistons 58 is arranged to move the activation member 54 relative to the body, each piston 58 defining a respective pressure chamber 60 being in fluid communication via ports 62 with the third bore.
  • Packer apparatus 42 is intended to be placed at the bottom end of a work string and therefore the lowermost point in a wellbore in which hydraulic fracturing is being conducted. Since no through flow is required for hydraulic fracturing fluid, the second floating piston 50 is disposed in the central bore 46 of the packer.
  • the upper most part of the work string 100 is arranged to be located in a wellbore (not shown) on which hydraulic fracturing is to be conducted.
  • hydraulic fracturing fluid which may contain sand or another proppant against the walls of the wellbore to fracture the rock formation in which the wellbore has been drilled to retrieve hydrocarbons in a manner that will be familiar to persons killed in the art.
  • first packer 2a is disposed in the work string and comprises first elastomeric packer element 16a.
  • First packer apparatus 2a is identical to that of the embodiment of Figures la to lc and the elastomeric packer element 16a is expanded outwardly into the condition shown in Figure 3b against the wall of a wellbore in use as a result of pumping hydraulic fracturing fluid along first bore 6 which moves first floating piston 10 downwardly (to the right in the drawing) to cause deformation of the elastomeric packer element 16a as described in connection with the embodiment of Figures la to lc.
  • first hydraulic fracturing tool 102a Connected to the lower end of first packer apparatus 2a is first hydraulic fracturing tool 102a which in an example of the present invention is a nozzle stimulation sub.
  • Hydraulic fracturing tool 102a comprises a second bore 106a connected to first bore 6 and at least one nozzle 130a which enables hydraulic fracturing fluid flowing along bores 6 and 106a to exit the work string 100 and be directed against the
  • a second packer apparatus 2b identical to that described in the embodiment of Figures la to lc is connected to the lower end of first hydraulic fracturing tool 102a.
  • an isolated section of wellbore is formed between first elastomeric packer element 16a and second elastomeric packer element 16b when the respective elastomeric packer elements are expanded outwardly against the surface of the wellbore in the
  • a second hydraulic fracturing apparatus 102b is disposed to conduct hydraulic fracturing.
  • Redundancy can be built into the system by using multiple packer apparatuses should one of the annular seals fail.
  • the lowermost packer apparatus 42 could have more than one elastomeric packer element 56. It has been found that a single floating piston 50 can be used to operate two sets of plural pistons 58a and 58b because there is enough volume of hydraulic fluid and travel on the floating piston 50 the energise both the lower packers 56. By the use of multiple chambers, this apparatus has been found to be particularly effective at sealing in very high pressure environments.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Press Drives And Press Lines (AREA)
  • Sealing Devices (AREA)
  • Consolidation Of Soil By Introduction Of Solidifying Substances Into Soil (AREA)
PCT/IB2014/062557 2013-07-04 2014-06-24 Packer apparatuses WO2015001451A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/902,823 US20160177658A1 (en) 2013-07-04 2014-06-24 Packer apparatuses

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1312011.8A GB201312011D0 (en) 2013-07-04 2013-07-04 Packer apparatuses
GB1312011.8 2013-07-04

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015001451A2 true WO2015001451A2 (en) 2015-01-08
WO2015001451A3 WO2015001451A3 (en) 2015-11-12

Family

ID=49033323

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2014/062557 WO2015001451A2 (en) 2013-07-04 2014-06-24 Packer apparatuses

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20160177658A1 (es)
AR (1) AR096784A1 (es)
GB (1) GB201312011D0 (es)
WO (1) WO2015001451A2 (es)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104727776A (zh) * 2015-02-12 2015-06-24 中国海洋石油总公司 水平井多段压裂用悬挂封隔器
CZ306351B6 (cs) * 2015-06-23 2016-12-14 Watrad, Spol. S R.O. Hydraulický pakr
EP3966418B1 (en) * 2019-05-09 2023-06-07 Paul Bernard Lee Packer assembly
EP3380699B1 (en) * 2015-11-25 2023-11-29 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Stage cementing tool and method

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10584558B2 (en) * 2015-06-24 2020-03-10 Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc. Downhole packer tool
CN108999587B (zh) * 2017-06-06 2020-09-11 中石化石油工程技术服务有限公司 一种泵送可回收电控液压皮碗工具
GB201916285D0 (en) 2019-11-08 2019-12-25 Coretrax Tech Limited Apparatus & method
GB202000026D0 (en) * 2020-01-02 2020-02-19 Lee Paul Bernard method and apparatus for creating an annular seal in a wellbore
US20220081982A1 (en) * 2020-09-03 2022-03-17 Defiant Engineering, Llc Downhole intervention and completion drone and methods of use
CN112324382B (zh) * 2020-11-03 2022-12-02 中国石油化工股份有限公司 一种全集流式产气剖面测试仪器封堵装置及方法

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3508610A (en) * 1968-09-27 1970-04-28 Schlumberger Technology Corp Retrievable well packer apparatus
US3731740A (en) * 1971-05-24 1973-05-08 Dresser Ind Floating piston for selective hydraulic packer
US20110209873A1 (en) * 2010-02-18 2011-09-01 Stout Gregg W Method and apparatus for single-trip wellbore treatment
GB201100975D0 (en) * 2011-01-20 2011-03-09 Lee Paul B Downhole tools
US8646537B2 (en) * 2011-07-11 2014-02-11 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Remotely activated downhole apparatus and methods

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104727776A (zh) * 2015-02-12 2015-06-24 中国海洋石油总公司 水平井多段压裂用悬挂封隔器
CZ306351B6 (cs) * 2015-06-23 2016-12-14 Watrad, Spol. S R.O. Hydraulický pakr
EP3380699B1 (en) * 2015-11-25 2023-11-29 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Stage cementing tool and method
EP3966418B1 (en) * 2019-05-09 2023-06-07 Paul Bernard Lee Packer assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2015001451A3 (en) 2015-11-12
GB201312011D0 (en) 2013-08-21
US20160177658A1 (en) 2016-06-23
AR096784A1 (es) 2016-02-03

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