Annular Bypass Screen for Proppant Management in Fractured Wellbores
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-zone fracturing, packers exert forces that cause fractures to form near their locations, leading to proppant accumulation in the wellbore during production, which obstructs fluid flow and reduces production efficiency by creating pressure drops and conduit restrictions.
Innovation Solution
An annular passage with a screen is created near the packers to bypass accumulated proppant and solids, allowing unobstructed fluid flow and reducing drag on proppant, using a shunt tube with a screen to maintain production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packers are used to isolate zones and contain fracturing pressures, then fracture containment and zone isolation are improved, but proppant accumulation in the wellbore occurs causing production blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the wellbore flow path into separate segments: the production conduit for proppant-laden fracturing fluid and an annular bypass passage for produced fluid return. This segmentation allows proppant to be contained in the fracture while providing a separate path for fluid production, preventing proppant accumulation blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
An annular bypass passage acts as an intermediary flow path between the production conduit and the wellbore annulus. This intermediate passage allows produced fluids to bypass the proppant-filled fracture area and return to the wellbore without carrying proppant, thus preventing production blockage while maintaining fracture containment.
2Reliability
If packers exert force to seal the borehole, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but fractures preferentially form near packers causing proppant to accumulate near packers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful proppant accumulation from the production path by providing a separate annular bypass passage. Proppant remains in the fracture while produced fluids are extracted from near the packer area and routed through the bypass passage, removing the source of production blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a dimensional element by creating an annular bypass passage surrounding the production conduit. This secondary flow path in a different spatial dimension (annular space around the conduit) allows fluids to bypass proppant accumulation zones without interfering with the primary production flow.
3Productivity
If proppant is pumped into fractures to hold them open, then fracture conductivity is improved, but proppant flows back into the wellbore creating pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The flow system is segmented into a production conduit for proppant injection and an annular bypass passage for fluid production. This segmentation maintains fracture conductivity through proppant placement while preventing proppant from entering the production path, eliminating pressure drops associated with proppant transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular bypass passage provides a continuous flow path for produced fluids to return to the wellbore without interruption from proppant accumulation. This continuous flow path maintains steady-state production and prevents the intermittent pressure drops that occur when proppant blocks the wellbore annulus.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances production by providing an alternate flow path for fluids to bypass proppant and solids, mitigating pressure losses and conduit restrictions, thereby improving overall production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A screen protects the passage from clogging so that production is enhanced
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Wellbores are fractured by setting open hole packers on a string with access through valves on the string between the set packers. Setting the packers creates wellbore stress so that fractures tend to preferentially form near the packers regardless of the orientation of the borehole. When the fracturing is done and the well is put on production some of the proppant comes back into the wellbore and packs around the packers with solids that can be produced from the formation carried by flowing fluids. An annular passage is created near the packer to allow produced fluids to bypass the packed proppant and other solids to get into the production string. A screen protects the passage from clogging so that production is enhanced.