Erosion resistant crossover for fracturing/gravel packing

Abstract

An erosion resistant crossover which may be used in fracturing and / or gravel packing. In one aspect, a fluid delivery system for use in a subterranean well may comprise a fluid discharge apparatus including a flow passage, at least one discharge opening for discharging fluid from the flow passage to an exterior of the apparatus, and a flow diversion device operative to more evenly distribute flow through the opening by diverting fluid flow through the opening in a more upstream direction relative to fluid flow through the passage.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates generally to operations performed and equipment utilized in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides an erosion resistant crossover which may be used for fracturing and / or gravel packing. [0002] In fracturing and gravel packing operations, a fluid is pumped through a work string and is delivered to a wellbore. When fracturing, the fluid is forced under pressure into a formation intersected by the wellbore, and the fluid may also be circulated back to the surface. When gravel packing, the fluid is circulated back to the surface. [0003] The fluid is combined with proppant to form a slurry in fracturing operations. The fluid is combined with a granular filtering material or “gravel” to form a slurry in gravel packing operations. The proppant and the granular material may each be sand, or either of them may be a synthetic material or other type of material. [0004] Typically, su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with multiple embodiments described below, an erosion resistant fluid delivery system is provided which utilizes unique features to reduce or eliminate erosion of a fluid discharge apparatus thereof, or at least to confine a substantial amount of such erosion to a relatively inexpensive and conveniently replaced portion thereof. The system also reduces erosion of structures exterior to the fluid discharge apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

Typically, such slurries are abrasive and gradually erode the equipment used to deliver the slurry into the wellbore.

The equipment is expensive to replace or refurbish, and valuable time is consumed when the equipment becomes unusable due to erosion, for example, when multiple fracturing and / or gravel packing operations are performed using the same equipment.

For example, crossovers (used to deliver fluid from an interior flow passage of the work string to the wellbore external to the work string) are relatively expensive to manufacture and typically experience significant erosion due in large part to a change in direction of the slurry therein.

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