Methods for injecting a consolidation fluid into a wellbore at a subterranian location

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for stabilizing portions of a subterranean formation and controlling the production of water from those subterranean formations. In one aspect, a method of treating a plurality of discrete portions of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of: (a) moving a treatment tool through the wellbore on work tubing to a desired subterranean location, wherein the treatment tool comprises: (i) a fluidic oscillator; and (ii) a lower packer positioned below the fluidic oscillator; (b) expanding the cross-section of the lower packer to engage the wellbore, thereby isolating a portion of the wellbore from another portion below the lower packer; (c) injecting a consolidation fluid through the tubing and through the fluidic oscillator into the isolated portion of the wellbore; (d) reducing the cross-section of the lower packer, thereby disengaging the tool from the wellbore.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]NoneSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]NoneREFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]Not applicableTECHNICAL FIELD[0004]The present inventions relate to methods for controlling the migration of unconsolidated particulates in a portion of a subterranean formation, and more particularly, to the using pressure pulses to enhance the effectiveness of placement of a consolidation fluid in a portion of a subterranean formation.BACKGROUND[0005]Hydrocarbon wells are often located in unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation, that is, portions of a subterranean formation that contain particulate matter capable of migrating with produced fluids out of the formation and into a well bore. The presence of particulate matter, such as sand, in produced fluids may be disadvantageous and undesirable in that such particulates may abrade pumping equipment and other producing equipment and may reduce the fluid productio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for treating a wellbore by using a treatment tool that includes a fluidic oscillator and a lower packer. The lower packer is expanded to isolate a portion of the wellbore from another portion below it, and then a consolidation fluid is injected into the isolated portion of the wellbore. The lower packer is then reduced in size to disengage the treatment tool from the wellbore. This method helps to improve the stability and integrity of the wellbore.

Problems solved by technology

The presence of particulate matter, such as sand, in produced fluids may be disadvantageous and undesirable in that such particulates may abrade pumping equipment and other producing equipment and may reduce the fluid production capabilities of the producing portions of the subterranean formation.

Unconsolidated portions of subterranean formations include those which contain loose particulates that are readily entrained by produced fluids and those wherein the particulates are bonded together with insufficient bond strength to withstand the forces produced by the production of fluids through the zones.

Such resin consolidation methods are widely used but may be limited by the ability to place the resin through enough of the unconsolidated portion of the formation to adequately control the particulates.

The compositions are often unable to achieve significant penetration or uniform penetration into the portion of the subterranean formation.

Conditions such as variable formation permeability; formation damage in the near-well bore area; debris along the well bore, a perforation tunnel, or a fracture face; and, compaction zones along the well bore, a perforation tunnel, or a fracture face may make uniform placement of resin compositions extremely difficult to achieve.

The problems are particularly severe when used to treat long intervals of unconsolidated regions.

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