Downhole Fluid Barrier Formation Using Stabilized Treatment Slurry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well stimulation techniques face challenges in effectively forming and maintaining fluid barriers in multiple stages of a well to isolate zones for fracturing or acidizing operations, particularly in wells with multiple reservoir intervals.
Innovation Solution
A technique involving a stabilized treatment slurry (STS) is used, where a tool with a screen and chamber is pumped downhole to dehydrate a portion of the slurry, creating a fluid barrier by separating the continuous fluid phase and allowing it to flow into the chamber, thereby forming a plug at the target location, allowing for controlled isolation and subsequent stimulation operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tool with chamber and screen is used to dehydrate slurry downhole, then fluid barrier formation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into distinct functional components: a chamber for fluid collection, a screen for filtration, and flow control elements for regulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, resolving the contradiction by making the complex device manageable and effective through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The screen acts as an intermediary element between the slurry and the chamber, filtering and dehydrating the slurry while allowing controlled fluid passage. This intermediary component enables the fluid barrier formation function without requiring the entire tool structure to be overly complex
2Reliability
If slurry dehydration is performed downhole to form fluid barrier, then zone isolation is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilized treatment slurry is prepared and staged before downhole deployment, with all necessary components ready for immediate action. This preliminary preparation reduces the time required for barrier formation once the tool reaches the target zone, as the dehydration process can begin immediately upon deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic pressure differentials between the chamber and the surrounding environment to drive the dehydration process. By leveraging natural pressure gradients and controlled flow through the screen, the system achieves rapid fluid separation without requiring additional time-consuming mechanical processes
3Reliability
If continuous fluid phase is separated and flows into chamber, then fluid barrier effectiveness is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control elements provide feedback regulation of the fluid separation process, monitoring and adjusting the rate at which continuous phase flows into the chamber. This feedback mechanism ensures that fluid is separated and collected at optimal rates, maximizing barrier effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary fluid loss to the formation
Solution Approach 2:
The screen utilizes porous material properties to selectively separate the continuous fluid phase from the slurry while maintaining structural integrity. The porous structure allows controlled passage of fluid molecules while retaining larger particles and droplets, achieving effective dehydration with minimal substance loss to the surrounding formation
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 method enables controlled formation of fluid barriers, facilitating efficient stimulation operations by isolating zones and allowing for effective fracturing or acidizing in multiple stages of a well, enhancing the permeability and production efficiency of hydrocarbon resources.
Implementation Method 1
The chamber has an initial pressure, which is less than a pressure in a region outside of the chamber
Implementation Method 2
opening the chamber to cause a continuous fluid phase to separate from the slurry and flow through the screen into the chamber
Implementation Method 3
The flow control element allows a fluid to be communicated from a stabilized treatment slurry, through the screen and into the chamber to controllably dehydrate a portion of the slurry
Data Source
AI summary
A technique that is usable with a well includes communicating a stabilized treatment slurry downhole into the well and dehydrating a portion of the slurry to form a barrier in the well.