Degradable Actuation Member for Multi-Stage Hydraulic Fracturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-stage hydraulic fracturing methods face limitations due to the need for high-strength materials in actuation members, which restrict well production, require expensive coiled tubing, and are not millable or degradable, leading to operational challenges and sand bridges during hydrocarbon production.
Innovation Solution
An actuation member with a cylindrical hollow body featuring movable edge portions for resilient deformation, allowing engagement with geometrical profile locations in the wellbore, and made from degradable, dissolvable, or millable materials to facilitate controlled exposure of selected locations for fracturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high-strength materials are used for actuation members, then the structural integrity and pressure resistance are improved, but the material becomes non-degradable and non-millable, leading to well restrictions and sand bridges
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation member is divided into multiple segments that can be independently deployed and activated. Each segment can be millable or degradable, allowing removal or dissolution after serving its isolation function, thereby eliminating well restrictions while maintaining structural integrity during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the actuation member are changed from permanent high-strength materials to millable or degradable materials with controlled mechanical properties. This parameter change allows the actuation member to fulfill its isolation function temporarily and then be removed or dissolved, eliminating the harmful well restrictions and sand bridge formation
2Adaptability or versatility
If coiled tubing is used to activate sliding sleeves, then unlimited intervals can be fractured, but the equipment cost and pumping pressures increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coiled tubing activation system is extracted and replaced with a simpler wireline-based actuation member system. The actuation members are deployed and activated using wireline, eliminating the need for expensive coiled tubing equipment while maintaining the capability to fracture multiple intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The actuation members are designed as disposable or temporary components that serve their isolation function and then can be millable or degradable. This eliminates the need for expensive reusable coiled tubing equipment while achieving the same technical outcome of isolating and fracturing multiple intervals
3Productivity
If actuation members are made from millable or degradable materials, then well production is enhanced, but the material strength and durability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation member system transitions from static permanent materials to dynamic millable or degradable materials that change their state over time. During the fracturing operation, the materials provide sufficient strength and durability; after operation, they can be milled or degraded to enhance well production, achieving both requirements through temporal separation of functions
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
Enables efficient multi-stage hydraulic fracturing without the limitations of high-strength material requirements, reduces well restrictions, and enhances production by allowing remedial operations and minimizing sand bridges.
Implementation Method 1
two proximate edge portions extending between the uphole end and the downhole end. The two edge portions being separate and movable relative to one another to facilitate resilient deformation of the hollow body, wherein the deformation causes a reduction of cross-sectional area of the hollow body
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an actuation member for traveling down a borehole of a casing to engage with one or more geometrical profile locations provided inside the casing, and a system for controllably exposing selected locations along the wellbore to a pressurized fluid. The actuation member comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body extending between an uphole end and a downhole end, and a plug seat configured to receive a plug for blocking the borehole. The actuation member has two edge portions separate and movable relative to one another to facilitate resilient deformation of the hollow body, wherein the deformation causes a reduction of cross-sectional area of the hollow body. An outer surface of the hollow body comprises one or more protrusions and/or grooves configured to matingly engage with the one or more geometric profile locations in the casing.