Single entry fracturing process

Abstract

A method is provided to provide fractures in a subterranean formation that utilizes set of first wire line controllable valves (108) to open communication between the inside of a casing (107) and an outside of a casing that has been cemented into a wellbore (101). A wire line controllable valve associated with each of the first valves isolates the inside of the casing downstream of the first valve. The two valves are operated by a wire line actuator. After each successive fracture is formed, the wire line actuator is moved past the next set of valve, changing their positions, and then the next fracture is formed. The valve isolating the downstream portions of the casing are either opened, milled out, or made of degradable material after the operation is complete to enable production from the formation through the fractures into the well bore.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Hydraulic fracturing is used to increase the area of a formation that is in communication with a wellbore and therefore increasing either production of fluids, or increasing the amount of fluids that may be injected into the formation from the wellbore. Hydraulic fracturing has been in commercial use for many decades, but gradual improvements in the size of fractures that can be created and the cost effectiveness of the fractures, along with developments like improved horizontal drilling and directional drilling, have resulted in hydraulic fracturing enabling production of hydrocarbons from formations such as source rocks or other very low permeability formations, that were previously not considered to be economically producible.[0002]Typically, gas and / or oil is produced from low permeability formations such as source rocks, by providing horizontal wells in the formations for distances of a mile or more. The formation is then fractured from the wellbores in as many ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention allows for fracturing using a single point entry of fluids for each fracture. However, the system is designed to quickly and reliably move from one fracture to the next, addressing a common issue with single point entry systems. In simple terms, this patent allows for more efficient and effective fracturing using a single entry point for fluids.

Problems solved by technology

Hydraulic fracturing has been in commercial use for many decades, but gradual improvements in the size of fractures that can be created and the cost effectiveness of the fractures, along with developments like improved horizontal drilling and directional drilling, have resulted in hydraulic fracturing enabling production of hydrocarbons from formations such as source rocks or other very low permeability formations, that were previously not considered to be economically producible.

Polymers used to increase the viscosity of fracturing fluids may be detrimental to formation permeability in the vicinity of the fractures, so techniques referred to as slick water fracturing have been developed.

These techniques do not utilize thickening polymers, but instead rely on rapid injection of fracturing fluids.

Providing one fracture at a time is a slow process and there are numerous opportunities for equipment to fail, causing further delays.

This saves a considerable amount of rig time, but results in fracture that vary in size.

The fractures are therefore not of an optimal size.

These valves are generally not cost effective because they considerably increase the cost of a well.

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