Single Trip Proppant Fracturing via Cemented Sliding Sleeves
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for extended reach fracturing in oil and gas wells are time-consuming and uneconomical due to the need for multiple installation trips and reduced well diameter for production flow, necessitating a more efficient proppant fracturing system.
Innovation Solution
The system employs cemented reservoir sliding sleeves with a threaded pipe for fracturing, using a jointed service string and modified frac sleeves with dedicated production positions to retain proppants, and includes a flexible no-go locator sub and adaptable sleeve shifting tools for operational robustness, allowing for single-trip proppant fracturing and efficient well control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple installation trips are used for staged perforation and frac sleeve installation, then each stage can be individually stimulated, but the installation time increases to several days per stage
Solution Approach 1:
All frac sleeves are pre-installed and cemented in the liner during the initial liner installation, before any fracturing operations begin. This preliminary action eliminates the need for multiple installation trips during the fracturing process, allowing all stages to be stimulated sequentially through a single drill pipe run.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill pipe is used for multiple functions: it serves as both the conduit for delivering frac fluid to individual sleeves and as the mechanism for actuating the frac sleeves through weight application. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate operations into a single trip.
2Reliability
If the drill pipe string weight is applied to activate frac sleeves, then operational robustness is improved, but the force distribution and activation control become critical
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the drill pipe string's own weight as the activating force for the frac sleeves. By designing the frac sleeve activation mechanism to be triggered by axial compression from the drill pipe weight, the system converts a potentially complex active actuation problem into a passive, gravity-driven process that is inherently robust and reliable.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method, a system (1) and tool(s) (300, 2, 3) for single trip through drill pipe proppant fracturing of subterranean formations (130) surrounding oil and/or gas production wells (100).