Magnetic Shifter for Multi-Zone Wellbore Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wellbore completion operations, multi-zone fracturing is inefficient due to the need to mill out obstructions formed by dropped balls used to actuate sliding sleeves, leading to lost time and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a single magnetic shifter device on coiled tubing to selectively open and close sleeve assemblies along the wellbore, allowing for fracturing at multiple zones without the need for milling, by using an electro-hydraulic lock and magnetic sensing system to activate and isolate each sleeve assembly, maintaining a full inner diameter and reducing energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dropped balls are used to actuate sliding sleeves in multi-zone fracturing, then the sleeves can be opened to access different fracturing zones, but obstructions are formed in the wellbore that require milling operations, leading to lost time and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the ball plug actuation mechanism from the system. Instead of using dropped balls that create obstructions, the invention uses a wireline-deployed actuator that opens sleeves without leaving any obstruction in the wellbore, eliminating the need for milling operations and the associated time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical ball plug system with a wireline-deployed actuation system. The new system uses a deployable actuator delivered via wireline that mechanically opens the sleeve without requiring ball plugs, thereby substituting a system that creates obstructions with one that maintains wellbore clearance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sets of sleeves are installed to access different fracturing zones, then selective exposure of formation portions is enabled, but the sliding sleeves create obstructions that must be removed before subsequent operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic ball plug component from the sleeve actuation process. The wireline-deployed actuator opens sleeves without introducing any obstruction into the wellbore, maintaining full inner diameter and eliminating the need for time-consuming milling operations between zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to be deployed via wireline to the desired depth, perform its function of opening the sleeve, and then retrieved or discarded without leaving obstructions. This allows sequential access to multiple zones without the productivity loss associated with milling out ball plugs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ball plug method is used to actuate sleeves, then fracturing operations can be performed at multiple zones, but energy is lost due to milling operations and the process requires multiple trips
Solution Approach 1:
The wireline-deployed actuator enables continuous operation by eliminating the interruption caused by milling operations. The actuator can be deployed to the next zone and open the next sleeve without requiring the wellbore to be cleared of obstructions, maintaining continuous productive action and reducing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the energy-intensive ball plug and milling system with a wireline-deployed actuation system. This replacement eliminates the need for milling operations entirely, significantly reducing the energy consumed in mechanical removal of obstructions and multiple trips to and from the wellbore.
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
Enables efficient multi-zone fracturing with minimal operation time and energy loss, as the system allows for sequential activation of sleeve assemblies without obstructing the wellbore, facilitating faster and more efficient cementing and fracturing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a single magnetic shifter device may be lowered on coiled tubing to shift open multiple sets of sleeves
Implementation Method 2
using an electro-hydraulic lock and magnetic sensing system to activate and isolate each sleeve assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for fracturing multiple zones along a length of a wellbore during a single run are provided. A single magnetic shifter device may be lowered on coiled tubing to shift open multiple sleeve assemblies set along the wellbore to expose different fracture zones for desired fracturing treatments. The sleeve assemblies may each include a magnetic sensing system designed to detect a magnetic field output from the shifter device. The magnetic sensing system may output a control signal to an electro-hydraulic lock to collapse a baffle component of the sleeve assembly. Once the baffle is collapsed, an isolation component of the shifter device may engage the collapsed baffle to form a plug through the wellbore. Pressure applied from the surface may push the baffle and a sliding sleeve of the sleeve assembly downward, thereby exposing fracturing ports through the casing of the wellbore.