Stimulation Sleeve with Time Delay Mechanism for Sequential Wellbore Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sequentially targeting short compartments in subterranean wellbore reservoir sections during hydraulic stimulation require multiple interventions and result in barriers that must be removed after the final treatment stage, increasing operational risk and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A stimulation sleeve system with an adjustable time delay mechanism that allows for controlled opening and closing of flow ports using a single obturator, eliminating the need for interventions between stages and enabling sequential treatment without leaving barriers, utilizing a sliding sleeve with a housing and flow ports, and a time delay mechanism that can be adjusted for individual sleeves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireline intervention is used to set bridge plugs and create perforation clusters for each stage, then sequential compartment targeting is achieved, but operational complexity and risk increase due to multiple interventions and barriers that must be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple discrete stimulation compartments, each controlled by an individual sliding sleeve. Each sleeve can be independently activated and deactivated, allowing sequential treatment of different reservoir sections without requiring physical barriers between stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the need for permanent barriers (bridge plugs) and retrieval operations. The obturator is temporarily inserted to activate sleeves, then removed and reused for subsequent stages, eliminating the extraction/removal operations required in conventional methods.
Solution Approach 3:
A single obturator serves multiple functions: it activates each sliding sleeve in sequence and can be reused across all stimulation stages. This universal tool replaces the need for multiple stage-specific barriers and retrieval operations.
2Device complexity
If coiled tubing is used to operate sliding sleeves, then barriers are eliminated, but operational risk increases due to coiled tubing remaining in the wellbore during stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The obturator is temporarily inserted to activate sleeves, then removed and reused for subsequent stages. This eliminates the need for coiled tubing or wireline to remain in the wellbore during stimulation, removing the associated operational risks while still achieving barrier-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sleeves are designed to be self-activating through differential pressure when the obturator is in place, eliminating the need for continuous presence of intervention equipment during the actual stimulation process.
3Ease of operation
If multiple obturators with different dimensions are used for each stage, then individual compartment control is achieved, but device complexity increases due to multiple obturator and seat combinations
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal obturator with consistent dimensions activates all sliding sleeves in the wellbore. Each sleeve is designed with compatible seating features, allowing one obturator to control multiple compartments without requiring different obturator sizes or configurations for each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having different obturators for different compartments, the invention inverts the approach by having identical obturators work with standardized sleeves. The differentiation is achieved through the sleeve design and positioning rather than obturator variation.
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 sequential stage treatment of the wellbore without interventions, maintaining control over stimulation fluid entry points and reducing operational risks by using a single obturator for all stages, ensuring efficient and controlled fluid distribution across the reservoir section.
Implementation Method 1
differential pressure across the obturator drives the sleeve down to expose the ports and allow fluid to enter the formation
Implementation Method 2
engaging a time delay mechanism for controlled travel of the sliding sleeve in the housing to hold the flow ports open a predetermined time
Implementation Method 3
dropping an obturator into a well stream in the tubing and to land the obturator on a first obturator seat to partially or fully close fluid communication in the through channel of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
Stimulation sleeve (1) for well intervention in a subterranean wellbore, comprising: a housing (10) having a through channel (11) with a first end (11a) and a second end (11b), and one or more flow ports (14), and a sliding sleeve (13) disposed axially movable within the housing (10) to open or close said flow ports (14). Said sliding sleeve (13) is equipped with at least a first obturator seat (15) for receipt of a obturator (17) to partially or fully close fluid communication in the through channel (11) of the housing (10), and a time delay mechanism (20) to allow the sliding sleeve (13) to axially travel in the housing (10) at a predetermined speed to open or close said flow ports (14). The invention also discloses a method for well completion in a subterranean wellbore using a sliding sleeve (1).