Perforation Blocking Sleeves with Expandable Members for Well Restimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production rate of hydrocarbon resources from hydraulically fractured wells decreases over time due to fissure closure, and existing perforation blocking techniques for well restimulation are unreliable and costly.

Innovation Solution

A downhole assembly comprising perforation blocking sleeves with anchoring devices and expandable members, which can be remotely deployed and expanded to block existing perforations, allowing for the creation of new perforation clusters for hydraulic fracturing, includes a running tool, sensors for cluster detection, and expandable members that inhibit fluid flow and secure the sleeves in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If currently available perforation blocking techniques (diverting agents, coiled tubing intervention, expandable liners) are used, then well restimulation can be performed, but the techniques suffer from unreliability and high cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperforation blocking reliabilityVSAvoidblocking technique complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wellbore is divided into multiple isolated segments using individually deployable blocking sleeves at different perforation clusters. Each sleeve can be independently positioned and activated to block specific intervals, allowing selective restimulation of different well zones without affecting others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Blocking sleeves are pre-positioned within the wellbore before the fracturing operation begins. The sleeves are deployed to cover perforation clusters in advance, ensuring that fluid diversion is already in place before treatment starts, which improves reliability by preventing premature fluid loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If currently available perforation blocking techniques are used, then well restimulation can be performed, but the techniques incur high cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperforation blocking reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial and operation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking sleeves are designed as disposable, single-use components that are left in place after serving their purpose. Rather than requiring expensive retrieval operations, the sleeves perform their blocking function and are abandoned, significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining reliability during the critical restimulation phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If perforation blocking sleeves are deployed to block existing perforations, then new perforation clusters can be created, but the running tool and driver must be retractable through the flow channel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment and retrieval easeVSAvoidrunning tool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The running tool and driver are designed with retractable capabilities, allowing them to be pulled back through the flow channels of the deployed blocking sleeves. This dynamic retraction feature enables the tool to access different positions in the wellbore for deploying multiple sleeves while maintaining a compact configuration during retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively blocks existing perforations, allows for the creation of new ones, and enhances hydrocarbon recovery by maintaining production rates and increasing ultimate recovery from hydrocarbon reservoirs through reliable and efficient restimulation.

Implementation Method 1

expanding the one or more expandable members to effectively inhibit fluid flow through the perforation clusters

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExpansion:

Implementation Method 2

at least one expandable collar comprising a shape-memory organic polymer which expands when its glass transition temperature is exceeded

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGlass transition:

Data Source

PatentUS10280698B2Well restimulation downhole assembly

Publication Date: 2019.05.07 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A downhole assembly is provided for use in well restimulation, the assembly having a plurality of perforation blocking sleeves each comprising an anchoring device; one or more expandable members secured to an external surface of each of the perforation blocking sleeves; a running tool for transporting the plurality of perforation blocking sleeves and expandable members within a perforated well casing; a running tool driver for moving the running tool, perforation blocking sleeves and expandable members within the well casing; and one or more sensors to detect perforation clusters within the well casing. The anchoring device is used to secure each sleeve over a perforation cluster within the well casing. Each perforation blocking sleeve defines a flow channel in fluid communication with the principal flow channel of the well casing. The running tool is remotely uncoupled from the blocking sleeves in sequence, and the running tool and the running tool driver are retractable through the flow channel of each the perforation blocking sleeves.