Hydrajet Anchor Tool Stabilization for Pinpoint Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pinpoint stimulation techniques, such as hydrajetting, face challenges due to tool movement caused by wellbore geometry, tubing movement, and fluid dynamics, leading to reduced efficiency and increased costs, especially in long horizontal wells where leakoff flow exceeds primary flow, affecting the reliability and cost-effectiveness of hydrocarbon production.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a hydrajet anchor tool with a one-way restrictor device and stabilizer, which allows restricted flow in one direction and free flow in another, helps stabilize the hydrajetting tool, minimize movement, and control fluid diversion, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of pinpoint stimulation operations by reducing leakoff and maintaining primary flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pinpoint stimulation techniques are used, then stimulation operations can be performed, but tool movement occurs due to wellbore geometry, tubing movement, and fluid dynamics, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor tool is deployed and activated before the hydrajetting operation begins. The stabilizer elements are positioned against the wellbore wall in advance to prevent tool movement during the stimulation process, addressing the reliability issue by establishing stability beforehand rather than attempting to correct movement after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer elements act as an intermediary between the hydrajetting tool and the wellbore wall. These elements transfer and distribute the forces generated during jetting operations, preventing direct transmission of turbulent and vibrational forces to the tool, thereby maintaining tool stability and improving reliability.
2Reliability
If longer jetting times are used to compensate for reduced tool performance, then tool movement effects are mitigated, but operational time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By establishing tool stability through the anchor mechanism before jetting begins, the system eliminates the need for extended jetting times to compensate for movement. The preliminary stabilization allows efficient jetting to proceed without requiring time extensions, thus reducing operational time and costs while maintaining effectiveness.
3Productivity
If a large number of fractures are created in long horizontal well bores, then production potential is increased, but leakoff flow increases and may exceed primary flow, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way restrictor device implements a feedback mechanism that monitors and responds to pressure conditions in real-time. When pressure differential conditions indicate potential leakoff issues, the restrictor automatically adjusts to maintain optimal pressure differentials, ensuring that primary flow to new fractures is maintained while limiting secondary leakoff flow, thus preserving efficiency even as multiple fractures are created.
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
The hydrajet anchor tool enhances the performance of hydrajetting operations by minimizing tool movement, reducing leakoff, and optimizing fluid diversion, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs in both vertical and horizontal wells, particularly in long horizontal wells where multiple fractures are desired.
Implementation Method 1
a one-way restrictor device in fluid communication with the housing and configured to allow restricted flow in a first direction, and to allow flow in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
a stabilizer affixed to the housing... which helps stabilize the hydrajetting tool, minimize movement
Implementation Method 3
During the SURGIFRAC process, which uses the Bernoulli principle to achieve fluid diversion between fractures
Implementation Method 4
The COBRAMAX process involves isolating the hydrajet stimulated zones from subsequent well operations. The primary fluid diversion of the previous regions in the COBRAMAX process is achieved by placing sand plugs in the zones to be isolated.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor tool having a housing, a one-way restrictor device in fluid communication with the housing, and a stabilizer affixed to the housing. The one-way restrictor device is configured to allow restricted flow in a first direction, and to allow flow in a second direction.