All-in-one system and related method for fracking and completing a well which automatically installs sand screens for sand control immediately after fracking

Abstract

A system and method for fracking a hydrocarbon formation. An actuating member, flowable along a production string, is provided. A unique key portion thereon engages a desired sliding sleeve covering an associated port in the production string. Applying uphole fluid pressure causes the sliding sleeve and actuating member to move so as to uncover the associated port. After fracking and cessation of supply of pressurized fracturing fluid, a compressed spring on the actuating member decompresses so as to reposition a sand screen immediately beneath the port so as to prevent sand from flowing into the production string. Flowable insertion of additional “keyed” actuating members allows similar opening of additional successive uphole ports and fracking in the regions of such additional opened ports, with similar location of sand screens at each opened port. Plug members on each actuating member thereafter dissolve or are successively burst to thereby allow production.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a system and method for fracking a hydrocarbon formation and completing a well for production, and more particularly relates to a system and method which immediately after completion of fracking automatically locates a sand screen at an opened port in a production string to prevent ingress of sand from the hydrocarbon formation to allow of subsequent immediate production.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0002]After an oil or gas well is drilled within an underground hydrocarbon formation, the well and zones of interest need to be completed prior to production commencing.[0003]Part of the completion process typically firstly includes a fracking operation.[0004]Fracking involves injection of high pressure fluids (namely incompressible liquids, often containing proppants) into the hydrocarbon formation / reservoir to initiate fractures within the surrounding rock to increase porosity of “tight” format...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]It is an object of the invention that a tubular string used for fracking need not be “tripped out” after a fracking step in order to complete the well and allow production from the well after fracking operations.

[0023]It is a further object of the present invention that sand from a hydrocarbon formation containing oil sand as well as additional sand resulting from conducting a fracking operation be substantially prevented from entering a wellbore during production operations and otherwise detrimentally affecting pumping equipment, to say nothing of increased costs of disposing of such sand.

[0024]It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method which reduces instances of damage being inflicted to sand screens when they are positioned within a wellbore downhole.

Problems solved by technology

As explained below, the introduction of large quantities of frac sand into a formation during the fracking process typically results in significant quantities of frac sand being entrained in the oil or gas which flows back into the wellbore for pumping to surface when oil is produced through opened frac ports in a wellbore.

Due to the abrasive nature of sand, deleterious and negative results occur during production, including additional increased and heavy wear on pump components within the well, greatly shortening pump life.

Downhole pumps, and even downhole pumps most resistive to sand abrasion such as progressive cavity pumps, are typically expensive.

Having to frequently replace such pumps results in increased costs not only in the replacing / refurbishing the pump and its components, but further in service rig time and costs in having to “trip out” of a well a downhole pump and “run back in” the production string with a new pump, to say nothing of the lost production and profits due to the well being “off line” during the time of such repairs.

Disadvantageously, however, the aforesaid two-step process having to frac, then trip out the frac string, and then run in a production string with pre-installed sand screens thereon results in considerable additional time and expense in tripping out the frac string, and thereafter running in the production string with elongate cylindrical screens installed thereon.

There is also an inherent risk of damaging the screens during “run in” of the production string in the wellbore.

Again, as in U.S. Pat. No. 9,976,394, two(2) actuating members need to be flowed downhole which not only consume time, but add additional cost.

Numerous other designs exist for moving a sliding sleeve so as to open a port and thereafter to cover the port, but do not provide for sand control or provision of screens.

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