Drilling and Fracturing Wellbore Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for drilling and fracturing subterranean rock formations for hydrocarbon and natural gas recovery involve separate operations, leading to inefficiencies such as delayed fracture treatments, inability to determine real-time effectiveness, and reduced porosity due to repeated fracturing, which limits the productivity of hydrocarbon and gas flow.
Innovation Solution
The method involves placing fracture treatments in a wellbore during ongoing drilling operations, using a temporary isolation fluid to create fractures close together, allowing for real-time assessment of treatment effectiveness and cumulative multi-stage fracturing, enabling immediate hydrocarbon and gas recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drilling and fracturing are performed as separate operations, then equipment availability and operational safety are improved, but time efficiency and productivity deteriorate due to delays of up to 18 months between drilling and fracture treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines drilling and fracturing operations into a single continuous process by integrating the fracturing system with the drilling rig. The drill string serves dual purposes: drilling the wellbore and delivering fracturing fluid to create fractures in the formation during the drilling operation itself, eliminating the need to move equipment or wait between operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling rig is equipped with additional components (fracturing pump, fluid delivery system) that enable it to perform both drilling and fracturing functions. The drill string acts as both a drilling tool and a fluid conduit, allowing the same equipment to execute multiple operations that traditionally required separate specialized equipment.
2Productivity
If multiple fractures are created in the same wellbore section, then hydrocarbon recovery is improved, but porosity and permeability deteriorate due to rock chips and fine particles entering cracks and pore space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cleaning action by circulating drilling fluid through the wellbore before creating subsequent fractures. This circulating fluid flushes out rock chips and fine particles from the wellbore and fracture zones, preventing contamination that would reduce porosity and permeability in areas where multiple fractures will be created.
3Ease of manufacture
If fracture treatment is delayed after drilling, then equipment availability is improved, but treatment effectiveness deteriorates due to inability to assess real-time conditions and optimize fracturing parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where drilling parameters (pressure, flow rate, formation response) are continuously monitored during the drilling operation. This data provides immediate information about formation characteristics, allowing operators to adjust fracturing parameters on-the-spot to optimize fracture creation and hydrocarbon recovery effectiveness.
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 enhances the productivity of fracture treatments by allowing real-time feedback on treatment success, optimizing fracturing fluid composition, and increasing the swept reservoir volume to previously unattainable levels, thereby improving hydrocarbon and gas recovery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
pumping into the wellbore through an opening in the frac string a frac fluid at a pressure sufficient to create fractures in the subterranean formation
Implementation Method 2
pumping into the wellbore through an opening in the frac string an isolation fluid that is sufficient to withstand fracture initiation pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of drilling and stimulating subterranean formations is provided that allows a well operator to determine in real time if a fracture treatment has been successful, and whether the fracture treatment composition is sufficient for subsequent fracking. The method involves placing fracture treatments into a wellbore while the drilling operation is still under way. The fracture treatment is bounded in the open hole on one side by the current end of the hole and on the other side by a temporary pack off isolation fluid that has been introduced to the well by way of pumping down the existing drill string or by pumping down a separate frac string. The objective is to place the frac in the reservoir and flow it back very quickly after placement, thus increasing the chances of flowing back harmful formation damaging materials and increasing the relative productivity of the newly placed fracture treatment.