Bottom Hole Assembly Fluid Management via Bypass Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellbore completion methods require large volumes of treatment fluids and are costly, particularly due to the need for extensive perforation and fluid circulation to achieve effective fracturing, which increases operational expenses.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool assembly comprising three telescopic assemblies: a flow control assembly, a packer assembly, and a shifting device, which allows for selective operation of the packer and fluid management, enabling efficient fluid treatment, pressure equalization, and debris clearance, reducing the need for extensive fluid circulation and minimizing equipment length and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional perforation methods using explosive charges are used to create flowpaths through casing, then localized openings are achieved, but the volume of treatment fluids required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is pre-machined with ports during manufacturing before insertion into the wellbore. These ports are initially sealed by dissolvable plugs or burst port assemblies, eliminating the need for downhole perforation operations and reducing treatment fluid requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The perforation function is extracted from the downhole completion process and performed upstream during casing manufacturing. The sealing mechanism is also extracted as a separate removable component (dissolvable plug or burst port assembly) that can be independently managed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sleeves are used to seal ports in ported subs, then ports can be selectively opened, but the device complexity and equipment length increase
Solution Approach 1:
Dissolvable plugs made from water-soluble or acid-soluble materials are used to seal ports temporarily. These plugs dissolve automatically when exposed to formation fluids or injected chemicals, providing selective port opening without requiring mechanical sleeve actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Burst port assemblies utilize pressure-induced phase transitions where the sealing element ruptures at a predetermined pressure threshold. This provides automatic selective opening based on formation pressure conditions without requiring external actuation mechanisms.
3Reliability
If extensive fluid circulation is performed to achieve effective fracturing, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Ports are pre-created in the casing during manufacturing, eliminating the need for extensive downhole perforation operations. This reduces the volume of fluid required for perforation and subsequent fracturing operations while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid circulation required for perforation is extracted from the treatment process. Since ports are pre-machined, the treatment fluid can be directed directly into the formation through these ports without requiring extensive circulation for perforation creation.
Data Source
AI summary
A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) tool and methods of downhole fluid management are disclosed. The BHA is deployed on a conveyance string to access a completion string and forming a tool annulus therebetween. A first assembly having a first bore fluidly connected to the conveyance string. A second assembly supports a packer for releasably sealing to the completion string, and a third assembly supporting a packer actuator thereon, the second assembly telescopically movable within the third assembly for forming a resettable packer releasably sealable to the completion string. A bypass valve is formed between the first and second assembly. Closing of the bypass valve directs fluid through a treatment port uphole of the resettable packer to the tool annulus and opening of the bypass valve bypasses fluid about the resettable packer. The packer actuator can further comprise an anchor for releasably anchoring to the completion string.