Common Pumping Source for Multi-Wellbore Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing processes are inefficient due to high pumping rates that lead to pump erosion, fatigue, and increased operational costs, as well as premature screen outs and non-uniform fracture formation, resulting in decreased capital efficiency and profitability.
Innovation Solution
Pumping multiple wellbores from a common pumping source with fluid pumps operating within known capacity ranges to manage fracturing fluid and proppant flow rates, reducing friction pressure and operating in a damage avoidance mode to prevent erosion and fatigue, while optimizing fracture formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pumping rate is increased to complete fracturing job faster, then productivity is improved, but pump erosion and fatigue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single high-rate pumping operation into multiple lower-rate pumping operations to different wellbores. The common pumping source distributes fluid to multiple wellbores simultaneously, effectively segmenting the total flow rate across multiple targets. This reduces the pumping rate to each individual wellbore while maintaining overall productivity, thereby reducing pump erosion and fatigue on any single line.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple wellbore fracturing operations into a single integrated system using a common pumping source. By merging the pumping operations and distributing fluid to multiple wellbores simultaneously, the system achieves the productivity of high-rate pumping while operating at lower rates on individual lines, thus protecting pump integrity.
2Productivity
If pumping rate is increased to complete fracturing job faster, then productivity is improved, but friction pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total fluid flow into multiple separate streams directed to different wellbores. By dividing the total pumping rate across multiple wellbores, the friction pressure in each individual wellbore is reduced while the overall fracturing job completion rate is maintained through parallel operations.
3Productivity
If pumping rate is increased to complete fracturing job faster, then productivity is improved, but erosion of pump components and connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-velocity fluid stream into multiple lower-velocity streams directed to different wellbores. This segmentation reduces the erosive impact on pump components and connections by distributing the total flow across multiple pathways, thereby maintaining productivity while minimizing erosion damage.
4Productivity
If pumping rate is increased to complete fracturing job faster, then productivity is improved, but uniformity of fracture formation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fracturing operation into multiple discrete wellbore treatments, allowing controlled and uniform fracture formation in each wellbore. By operating at lower rates to each individual wellbore, the fracture formation process can proceed more uniformly while the overall job completion rate is maintained through parallel processing of multiple wellbores.
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
This approach reduces equipment damage, operational costs, and enhances capital efficiency by maintaining pump integrity and achieving more uniform fracture formation, thereby improving the overall hydraulic fracturing process.
Implementation Method 1
pumping at high rates increases friction pressure in the wellbore caused by drag of the fracturing fluid and the solid particles passing through the wellbore
Implementation Method 2
friction pressure in the wellbore caused by drag of the fracturing fluid and the solid particles passing through the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for pumping multiple wellbores from a common pumping source. A fluid pump of known operating pump capacity can be selected. The pump can be fluidly connected to a common pumping source that is fluidly connected with each of a plurality of cased wellbores in a subterranean formation for providing pumped fracturing fluid to each of the wellbores. Each of the plurality of wellbores can have at least one perforation through a casing of the wellbore with a known rate range within which fracturing fluid is required to be provided to the perforation to successfully fracture the subterranean formation outside the perforation, through the perforation. Further, the wellbores can be configured so that the common pumping source provides fracturing fluid to each of the perforations within the known rate range of the respective perforation to successfully fracture the subterranean formation.