Hydraulic Fracturing Process for Deviated Wellbores

Abstract

A method of stimulating an interval in a hydrocarbon reservoir equipped with a deviated wellbore having a casing, wherein said interval comprises at least two sequential stages in said wellbore without isolation means, said method comprising:

• i) introducing a first stage
• ii) introducing a second stage in the same wellbore
• wherein said first stage, and second stage are not separated by any isolation means; and optionally
• iii) recovering hydrocarbon from said hydrocarbon reservoir to a surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention is directed to a method of fracturing a plurality of stages, without the need of any isolation or diversion means, in a subterranean formation from a deviated wellbore penetrating a hydrocarbon containing formation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean rock formations penetrated by wellbores, a commonly used technique for stimulating such production is to create and extend fractures in the formations. Most often, the fractures are created by applying hydraulic pressure to the subterranean formations from the wellbores penetrating them. That is, a fracturing fluid or a combination of fluids are pumped through the wellbore and into a formation to be fractured at a rate and pressure such that the resultant hydraulic pressure exerted on the formation causes one or more fractures to be created therein and / or extends any existing fractures (natural or otherwise) in the formation. The fractures are ex...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0123]In another embodiment of the invention, perforations may be placed in any position within the wellbore. In one example: the interval traditionally referred to as zone three based on sequential stage increments from the bottom or toe section of the wellbore toward the heel of the lateral section of the wellbore, may be perforated before the interval traditionally positioned in the wellbore as zone two, which would be in a position closer to the toe than zone three. Zone one is traditionally the first interval closest to the toe or deepest portion of the accessible cased wellbore. Zone two is traditionally the next interval in the cased wellbore at a predetermined position in the wellbore, often at equally spaced intervals of fixed length. The zones are named such from toe to the upper most accessible portion of the casing sequentially in numeric order, (1, 2, 3, 4 . . . 40). The number of these zones has increased from just two intervals as performed in the early development of the Barnett Shale, to as many as 40 or more zones. In the present invention, the zone three interval position when applying the plugless fracturing process can now be considered as stage two chronologically, even though it is placed sequentially within the wellbore in the zone three position based on wellbore length. Once this stage two fracturing treatment is pumped into this zon

Problems solved by technology

The cost of stimulating production from horizontal wellbores often requires hydraulic fracture stimulation for the well to be commercial.

The cost of hydraulic fracture equipment and wellbore intervention equipment required for these operations are often based on the amount of time the equipment is on location regardless of whether the equipment is in use.

The operations performed during this time are often wellbore preparation such as setting plugs and perforating the pipe while the fracturing equipment is shut down and nonproductive.

The use of isolation or diversion means at each stage is costly, both financially and temporally.

It

Images