Shifting Sleeve Well Casing with Deployable Screen Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current completion systems for hydrocarbon wells face challenges in effectively deploying and maintaining screen assemblies to filter out particles and control fluid flow across multiple zones, particularly in ensuring reliable exposure of perforations for fracturing operations.
Innovation Solution
The system involves deploying a casing with sleeves that shift to expose perforations, followed by screen assemblies with degradable or burstable filters and seals to filter and direct fluid flow, allowing for hydraulic fracturing and efficient fluid communication across zones, using diverters and pressure thresholds to activate these components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screens are deployed along casing to prevent particles from flowing into casing, then particle filtration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The completion system is divided into multiple modular screen assemblies, each with its own filter and seal components. These segments can be independently deployed and positioned at different locations along the casing, allowing for targeted filtration where needed while maintaining system modularity and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen assembly employs a nested structure where the filter is positioned within the casing interior, and the seal surrounds the filter assembly. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to be integrated in a compact configuration, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective particle filtration.
2Ease of operation
If sleeves are shifted to expose openings for fracturing, then fracturing accessibility is improved, but control precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is designed as a dynamic component that can shift between a first position (covering openings) and a second position (exposing openings). This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt between different operational modes: preventing particle ingress during normal production, and enabling fracturing operations when needed. The sleeve's movability provides operational flexibility while maintaining precise control over when and where fracturing can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the control system and the perforation openings. By shifting the sleeve position, the system can precisely control access to the openings without requiring direct manipulation of the openings themselves, thereby maintaining control precision while improving ease of operation during fracturing operations.
3Ease of operation
If degradable filters are used to facilitate screen assembly deployment, then ease of deployment is improved, but filter durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The degradable filter is designed to perform its filtration function during the deployment phase and then degrade after deployment is complete. The filter provides necessary particle containment during screen assembly installation, and its subsequent degradation eliminates the need for complex retrieval operations, thereby improving ease of deployment while the filter's service life is sufficient for the deployment operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is designed as a temporary, disposable component that serves its purpose during deployment and then degrades. This approach accepts reduced long-term durability in exchange for significantly improved ease of deployment and retrieval, as the filter naturally breaks down and can be easily removed or allowed to decompose without requiring complex retrieval operations.
4Reliability
If seals are configured to seal around openings, then fluid flow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal serves multiple functions: it seals around the openings to control fluid flow, provides structural support for the filter assembly, and facilitates the shifting mechanism of the sleeve. By integrating these multiple functions into a single seal component, the system achieves reliable fluid flow control without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is combined with other components of the screen assembly, such as the filter support structure and the sleeve interface. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate parts needed, thereby maintaining relatively simple device complexity while achieving reliable fluid flow control through the seal's positioning and sealing action.
Data Source
AI summary
Completion systems and methods to complete a well are disclosed. A method to complete a well includes installing a casing across a plurality of zones of a well. The casing includes an opening and a sleeve positioned inside the casing. The method also includes shifting the sleeve from a first position to a second position to uncover the opening to provide fluid communication from a zone of the plurality of zones to the casing. After shifting the sleeve from the first position to the second position, the method includes flowing a screen assembly having a filter inside the casing and toward the sleeve. The method further includes positioning the filter around the opening and sealing the screen assembly around the opening to confine fluid flow through the opening to flow through the filter.