Packer Jack Fracking for Well Completion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fracking methods are expensive, complex, and limited in the number of stages that can be performed, with high-pressure hydraulic fracturing potentially damaging cemented liners and packers having low reliability and limited life expectancy.
Innovation Solution
The method involves packer jack fracking, where a packer is used to form and seal fractures in successive intervals of a well formation, using a perforated liner and high-pressure drill pipe to inject fracking fluid, allowing for multiple stages and increased proppant injection without the need for external liner pockets or high-strength cemented liners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-strength steel liner with cement is used, then reliability of well structure is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the cemented liner entirely from the system, replacing it with a flexible packer that can be deployed and retrieved. This extraction eliminates the need for high-strength steel liners and cementing operations, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining well integrity through the packer's seal and structural support functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible packer serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates hydraulic seals, and enables fracturing operations. By consolidating these functions into a single deployable device rather than requiring a permanent cemented liner system, the invention reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If more stages are performed, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible packer is designed to be dynamically deployable and retrievable multiple times through the wellbore. This dynamic capability allows the same packer to perform multiple fracturing stages by being repositioned along the wellbore, enabling more stages without requiring additional permanent infrastructure or complex multi-stage equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer is designed to be self-contained and self-sufficient for multiple operations. It can be deployed, sealed, fractured, retrieved, and redeployed without requiring replacement or complex external support systems between stages, enabling increased productivity through repeated use of the same device.
3Productivity
If high pressure is applied for hydraulic fracturing, then flow rate is improved, but harmful factors increase (damage to cemented liner)
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the cemented liner from the system, the invention eliminates the vulnerable component that would be damaged by high pressures. The flexible packer is designed to withstand and contain the high pressures needed for effective hydraulic fracturing without the risk of damaging a permanent liner structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible packer acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure fracturing fluid and the wellbore wall. It contains and directs the high-pressure fluid to create fractures while protecting the wellbore structure from direct exposure to damaging pressures, enabling high flow rates without structural damage.
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 reduces costs, increases the number of fractures and proppant injection, and achieves higher flow rates, making the process more efficient, faster, and cheaper while minimizing damage to well components.
Implementation Method 1
a packer configured to fracture and seal successive intervals in the formation
Implementation Method 2
hydraulically fracturing the first packer fractured formation by injecting a fracking fluid through the packer
Implementation Method 3
packer jack fracking a first interval of the formation using a packer to form a first packer fractured formation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fracking and completing a well (10) having a well bore (12) through a formation (14) includes the steps of: packer jack fracking the formation using a packer (22) to form a packer fractured formation (28), moving the packer (22) to seal the packer fractured formation (28), and hydraulically fracturing the packer fractured formation (28) by injecting a fracking fluid (30) through the packer (22). These steps can then be repeated through successive intervals (I1, I2) of the formation (14). To complete a new well, a perforated liner (16) can be placed in the well bore (12) to direct the fracking fluid (30) into the packer fractured formation (28). To complete an existing or a new well having a cemented liner (58), the packer jack fracking step can also be used to break apart the liner (58) and form at least one opening (64) to provide a flow path for the fracking fluid (30). A system (54) includes a perforated liner (16) having pre-formed openings (18) and a packer (22) in the perforated liner (16) configured to fracture and seal successive intervals (I1, I2) in the formation (28).