Sliding Sleeve for Horizontal Wellbore Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sliding sleeves used in horizontal well completions are complex to manufacture and operate, limited in the number of zones they can perforate and fracture due to incremental size requirements, and often require wellbore intervention for proper ball sizing and sequencing, leading to increased costs and risks.
Innovation Solution
A sliding sleeve design with a tubular housing and concentric tubular sleeve that allows multiple sleeves of the same size to be placed along a wellbore, using a single ball to activate a series of sleeves through hydraulic pressure, with elastomeric seals and shear pins to secure and release the ball, enabling staged fracturing of multiple zones without the need for sequential ball sizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sliding sleeves with incremental size requirements are used, then each zone can be fractured sequentially, but the number of zones that can be perforated and fractured is limited and the complexity of manufacturing and operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing all sliding sleeves with identical dimensions and specifications, allowing a single ball size to activate multiple sleeves throughout the wellbore. This eliminates the need for progressively smaller sleeves and enables fracturing of an unlimited number of zones without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wellbore into multiple zones, each equipped with an identical sliding sleeve. The segmentation is achieved by spacing multiple sleeves along the wellbore at different depths, allowing independent activation of each zone while maintaining uniform sleeve design throughout
2Ease of operation
If progressively smaller sliding sleeves are used to fracture multiple zones, then sequential fracturing can be achieved, but wellbore intervention is required for proper ball sizing and sequencing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for multiple ball sizes by making all sliding sleeves identical in dimension. A single ball size can travel through and activate any number of sleeves at any depth, removing the complexity of ball sizing and sequencing calculations and eliminating wellbore intervention for these purposes
3Reliability
If multiple differently sized sliding sleeves are placed in the wellbore, then each zone can be isolated and fractured, but the cost and risk of well completion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces cost by standardizing all sliding sleeves to identical specifications, allowing bulk manufacturing and simplifying inventory management. The reliability of zone isolation is maintained through the use of elastomeric seals and shear pins in each identical sleeve design, ensuring consistent performance across all zones without increasing completion cost
4Productivity
If traditional sliding sleeve designs are used, then fracturing can be performed, but frequent wellbore intervention and flow-back operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous fracturing operations by allowing multiple identical sleeves to be activated in sequence without requiring wellbore intervention between stages. The same ball can activate multiple sleeves, and the design eliminates the need for flow-back operations, maintaining continuous productive action throughout the completion process
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 design simplifies the process of fracturing multiple zones by allowing the same ball to activate multiple sleeves, reducing complexity and cost, and enabling efficient fracturing of extended reach horizontal wells without the need for frequent wellbore intervention or flow-back operations.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric seal disposed within the housing that engages an outer surface of the ball
Implementation Method 2
A first shear pin secures the tubular sleeve to the tubular housing proximate a first end of the tubular housing and shears in response to a first degree of hydraulic pressure applied to the ball
Implementation Method 3
hydraulic pressure applied to the ball... causing a first shear pin connecting the tubular sleeve to the tubular housing to shear. The shearing of the first shear pin causes the tubular sleeve to slide along the tubular housing
Data Source
AI summary
A method of completing a wellbore involves placing a series of sliding sleeves along a string of production casing in the wellbore and includes dropping a frac ball into the wellbore and landing it on a seat associated with an uppermost sleeve. Pressure is applied to activate the sleeve, open ports along the casing, and fracture a surrounding subsurface formation at a selected zone. Ball sealers are pumped down the well and seated within the sleeve ports. Additional fluid pressure is applied to cause the sleeve to shift further down the well and to release the ball, whereupon the frac ball is pumped to a next lower sleeve. This process may be repeated for multiple sleeves at multiple zones for top-down, multi-stage perforations. A novel sliding sleeve that permits a single ball to be used for activating multiple of the sleeves in series, from heel-to-toe, is also offered.