Connected Dual-Lateral Wells for Toe Fracturing and Pressure Drawdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Horizontal wells face challenges such as poor fracturing in toe sections, reduced production due to pressure losses, formation damage from frac water, and complexity in interventions, leading to low profitability and underutilized hydrocarbon resources.
Innovation Solution
A combined well system comprising two wells connected by a connector in a subterranean formation, allowing for enhanced casing size, simultaneous fracturing and production, and partitioning with isolation plugs to manage pressure drawdown and flow, facilitating accelerated production and reduced formation damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional horizontal well completions are used, then well bore path complexity is reduced, but toe section fracturing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The well system is divided into multiple segments including a first lateral well and a second lateral well that connect to form a combined system. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each segment, enabling proper fracturing in toe sections while managing overall well path complexity through modular construction.
2Area of stationary object
If larger casing size is installed, then Area Open to Flow increases, but drilling and installation limitations worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing casing diameter in a single well, the system extends in another dimension by creating a combined well system with multiple laterals connected in the subterranean formation. This provides increased effective flow area through parallel flow paths while avoiding the drilling and installation challenges of oversized single-bore casing.
3Productivity
If frac water is pumped into formation, then fracturing effectiveness increases, but formation damage worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts or removes frac water from the formation through the connected well system, allowing for accelerated removal of frac water to minimize formation damage. The dual-well configuration enables pumping operations that can extract harmful fluids while maintaining the beneficial fracturing effects.
4Length of stationary object
If lengthy well bores are used, then lateral coverage increases, but pressure losses due to friction worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lengthy well bore is segmented into multiple separate lateral wells that are connected in the formation. This segmentation reduces the effective flow path length in each individual lateral, thereby reducing frictional pressure losses while maintaining overall lateral coverage through the combined system.
5Ease of repair
If traditional interventions are performed, then well maintenance is achieved, but risk and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The combined well system enables self-service capabilities where one well can be used to service or maintain the other well through the connecting bore. This allows for simplified intervention operations where tools and fluids can be transferred between wells, reducing the complexity and risk associated with traditional single-well interventions.
Data Source
AI summary
A combined well system which may comprise two or more wells. The wells may be connected in the subterranean earth. Fracking operations may be initiated from the wellhead of one well towards the toe section of a second well. The combined well system may allow for enhanced production by altering pressure drawdown in the toe sections of long lateral wells.