Fracturing While Drilling BHA With Hydraulic Pilot Hole Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating fractures in reservoir formations surrounding a wellbore are inefficient as they require multiple trips into the well to fracture multiple zones, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A bottomhole assembly with a reamer and pilot hole assembly is used to drill a wellbore, where the reamer creates a larger diameter section and a by-pass sub hydraulically seals the pilot hole, allowing for fracture creation while drilling, reducing the need for multiple trips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple trips into the well are made to fracture multiple zones, then fracture stimulation can be achieved, but operational costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple zones with individual isolation capabilities. Each zone can be independently fractured using packers or plugs to create separate sealed sections, allowing sequential or simultaneous fracture stimulation of different zones without requiring multiple trips into the well.
Solution Approach 2:
The fracturing system is designed to perform multiple functions within a single operational window. The same equipment and infrastructure used for drilling and initial wellbore creation are utilized for fracture stimulation, eliminating the need for separate specialized operations and reducing overall complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple trips into the well are made to fracture multiple zones, then fracture stimulation can be achieved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is prepared in advance with installation of packers, plugs, or other isolation devices during the initial drilling operation. This preliminary setup enables immediate fracture stimulation of multiple zones without requiring additional trips into the well, saving significant operational time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous fracture stimulation operations across multiple zones without interrupting the overall process. Fluid can be pumped continuously through the drill string or wellbore, fracturing different zones in sequence or simultaneously, maintaining productive action throughout the operation.
3Productivity
If a single wellbore is used to fracture multiple zones, then operational efficiency improves, but isolation and selective fracturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple zones with individual isolation capabilities. Each zone can be independently fractured using packers or plugs to create separate sealed sections, allowing sequential or simultaneous fracture stimulation of different zones without requiring multiple trips into the well.
Solution Approach 2:
Packers, plugs, or other isolation devices serve as intermediary elements within the single wellbore. These devices create temporary or permanent seals between zones, enabling selective fracturing of specific intervals while maintaining the benefits of a single wellbore infrastructure.
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 selective and efficient fracture creation in the formation while drilling, reducing operational costs and complexity by integrating fracture creation into the wellbore drilling process.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulically sealing the pilot hole from the first wellbore section
Implementation Method 2
a reamer positioned above a pilot hole assembly... actuating the BHA to drill a first wellbore section with the reamer
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fracturing a formation while drilling a wellbore. The method includes providing a bottomhole assembly (“BHA”) having a reamer positioned above a pilot hole assembly, connecting the BHA to a drill string, actuating the BHA to drill a first wellbore section with the reamer and to drill a pilot hole with the pilot hole assembly, hydraulically sealing the pilot hole from the first wellbore section, and fracturing the formation proximate the pilot hole.