Coplanar Lateral Fracking for Sequential Well Completion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for fracking multiple casing exits are costly and inefficient, requiring multiple drilling rigs and complex completion procedures due to the need for vertical laterals to traverse through non-producing formations before reaching the producing zone, leading to incremental costs and potential issues with unconsolidated or water-producing zones.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows for the sequential fracking of multiple laterals from a main lateral already oriented in the producing zone, enabling coplanar exits that avoid traversing through non-producing zones, thereby reducing the need for multiple drilling rigs and enabling simultaneous production without the need for a drilling or workover rig.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If vertical laterals are drilled through non-producing formations to reach the producing zone, then the laterals can be drilled with a drilling rig, but the cost increases and complex completion procedures are required due to unconsolidated or water-producing zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical lateral drilling through multiple formations to coplanar lateral drilling within the same producing formation. By changing the drilling dimension from vertical (through-time) to horizontal (within-plane), the method avoids unconsolidated and water-producing zones, eliminating complex completion procedures while maintaining drilling feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the problematic vertical drilling segment through non-producing formations and replaces it with direct coplanar lateral drilling in the producing zone. This removes the harmful intermediate steps (drilling through unconsolidated zones and water-producing zones) while preserving the essential function of creating lateral access to the producing formation
2Reliability
If multiple laterals are fracked sequentially with the drilling rig present, then each lateral can be fracked individually, but the operational cost increases due to rig idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by drilling all coplanar laterals to completion and installing isolation packers before fracking operations begin. This allows the drilling rig to be removed early, and subsequent fracking of multiple laterals can be performed sequentially using only a workover rig, eliminating the costly idle time of the drilling rig while ensuring reliable fracking completion
3Manufacturing precision
If laterals are spaced in time for individual fracking, then each lateral receives dedicated fracking attention, but incremental costs increase compared to simultaneous fracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fracking process by using isolation packers to divide the wellbore into separate lateral sections. This allows controlled sequential fracking of each lateral while maintaining the ability to frack multiple laterals in a single workover rig operation, providing precise fracking control for each lateral while minimizing total costs through efficient resource utilization
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fracking multiple laterals sequentially is described. It allows the drilling rig to be moved off site as the laterals are fracked. Thereafter, they can all be produced simultaneously. The laterals begin from a main lateral that is already oriented in the producing zone and preferably exit in a coplanar manner so as to extend immediately into the producing formation.