Dissolvable Diverter Shape and Density Control for Wellbore Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In well operations, particularly during frac operations and when hydrocarbon production declines, there is a need to temporarily seal or block pathways to redirect fluid flow and create new fractures, as existing methods fail to effectively manage fluid flow and seal off initial perforations or permeable sections, leading to inefficient hydrocarbon extraction.
Innovation Solution
The use of dissolvable materials with varying surface area to mass ratios, such as flake and bead shapes made from polylactic acid or other metals, which are designed to effectively transport and bridge fluid paths, allowing for precise placement and sealing in low viscosity fluids, even at low flow rates, using techniques that manipulate density and shape to enhance transport and bridging properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional diverters are used in low viscosity fluids at low flow rates, then the diverters settle out before reaching the desired location, but using higher flow rates increases turbulence and prevents proper placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the diverter by manipulating the surface area to mass ratio. By creating elongated, thin-profile diverters with high surface area relative to their mass, the diverter's transport characteristics are altered to enable suspension in low viscosity fluids at low flow rates, resolving the contradiction between placement precision and flow rate requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite or engineered materials with specific surface area to mass ratios. The diverter material is designed with elongated, thin profiles that maximize surface area while minimizing mass, creating a composite structure that optimizes both transportability in low flow rates and effective bridging at the target location
2Ease of operation
If diverter material with high surface area to mass ratio is used, then transport in low viscosity fluids is improved, but the bridging and sealing capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the surface area to mass ratio parameter to a specific range that balances transport and sealing functions. The elongated, thin-profile geometry is designed with precise dimensional parameters that allow sufficient surface area for fluid interaction and suspension, while maintaining adequate mass and structural integrity for effective bridging and sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The diverter design incorporates local quality variations where different portions of the diverter have optimized characteristics. The elongated profile provides high surface area for transport, while the material composition and structural density are optimized at critical locations to ensure effective bridging and sealing capability when the diverter reaches the target position
3Productivity
If traditional plug and perf operations are used, then initial fractures are created, but the same pathways continue to conduct fluid preventing creation of new fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dissolvable diverter materials that temporarily block fracture pathways during the treatment process. These disposable diverters are designed to dissolve after serving their purpose of redirecting fluid flow, allowing the pathways to be reopened for production while having temporarily prevented fluid loss during the treatment phase
Solution Approach 2:
The diverter material acts as an intermediary substance that temporarily occupies and blocks existing fracture pathways. This intermediary blocks the path of least resistance, forcing high-pressure fluid to create new fractures, and then dissolves to allow both old and new pathways to function for hydrocarbon production
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 enables the effective temporary sealing and redirection of fluid flow, allowing for more comprehensive fracture development and improved hydrocarbon access, enhancing the efficiency of well operations by ensuring that diverters can reach and seal desired locations within the wellbore, even at low flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
manipulating the ratio of surface area to mass of particulant diverters for improved placement of the diverter at low fluid flow rates
Implementation Method 2
maximize the bridging qualities of certain shapes with the compressive strength of other shapes
Implementation Method 3
flakes or desired in order to bridge fluid flow paths
Implementation Method 4
the beads are desired once the bridge is formed to provide sufficient compressive strength to actually seal the flowpath
Data Source
AI summary
A mixture of at least two shapes of a dissolvable diverter material. The shapes range from a flake having a high surface area to mass ratio to beads having a low surface area to mass ratio. The density of the various shapes may be manipulated by including voids or low-density materials within the shape. The density manipulation allows matching the transport properties of the at least two shapes to the transport fluid so that both shapes may arrive at the desired location at the desired time.