Selective Wellbore Plugs for Multi-Stage Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well stimulation techniques face challenges in efficiently performing multi-stage operations without compromising fluid barriers, as existing methods lack a reliable mechanism to selectively remove plugs without affecting adjacent stages.
Innovation Solution
Deploying plugs made from materials that react with specific agents, allowing for selective removal by alternating agents downhole, ensuring that only the intended plug is dissolved while maintaining the integrity of adjacent plugs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional plugs are used in multi-stage well stimulation, then fluid barriers can be formed for isolated stages, but the plugs cannot be selectively removed without affecting adjacent stages
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the wellbore are assigned different plug materials with distinct chemical reactivity profiles. Each plug is designed with specific material properties (e.g., acid-soluble vs. base-soluble) that enable selective removal in its designated stage while leaving adjacent plugs intact. This local differentiation of material quality allows precise control over which plug is removed when, resolving the contradiction between reliable selective removal and device complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple stimulation stages are performed sequentially, then each stage can be treated independently, but the wellbore access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple plugs are pre-deployed and positioned in the wellbore before the stimulation operations begin. Each plug is pre-configured with specific material properties that enable rapid selective removal during the stimulation process. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming plug installation and positioning during each stimulation stage, allowing efficient sequential treatment while minimizing wellbore access time.
3Reliability
If a single agent is used to remove plugs, then the removal process is simple, but adjacent plugs are also dissolved compromising fluid barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical parameters of the removal agents are differentiated to match the material properties of specific plugs. Acid-soluble plugs are removed using acid-based agents, while base-soluble plugs are removed using base-based agents. This parameter matching ensures selective dissolution of the intended plug without affecting adjacent plugs with different material compositions, maintaining fluid barrier integrity while enabling straightforward agent communication and application.
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 progression through multiple stages of well stimulation by maintaining fluid barriers, allowing each stage to be treated independently without compromising the integrity of adjacent stages, thereby optimizing wellbore access and stimulation outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a first plug that includes a first material that reacts with a first agent and does not react with a second agent
Implementation Method 2
a second plug that includes a second material that reacts with the second agent and does not react with the first agent
Data Source
AI summary
Plugs are deployed along a wellbore to form fluid barriers for associated stages. The plugs include a first plug that includes a first material that reacts with a first agent and does not react with a second agent and a second plug that includes a second material that reacts with the second agent and does not react with the first agent. A first stimulation operation is performed in the stage that is associated with the first plug; and a first agent is communicated into the well to react with the first material to remove the first plug. A second stimulation operation is performed in the stage that is associated with the second plug. The second agent is communicated into the well to react with the second material to remove the second plug.