Straddle Packer Velocity Bypass for Proppant Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing straddle packers for wellbore pressure isolation are unreliable, particularly in long lateral bores, and struggle with proppant-laden fracturing fluids, leading to operational issues such as 'wash' and 'screen out', which complicates their use in precision well stimulation and remediation.

Innovation Solution

A long-reach straddle packer with a fluid pressure packer set and velocity bypass, featuring a proppant filtration plug body that excludes solid components while allowing fluid components to flow through, and a slotted frac hub with radial fluid paths to manage high-pressure proppant-laden fluids, ensuring effective pressure isolation and rapid depressurization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If straddle packers are used in long lateral bores with proppant-laden fracturing fluids, then well stimulation and remediation treatments can be performed, but the packers experience wash and screen out leading to operational failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestraddle packer reliabilityVSAvoidproppant wash and screen out

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A velocity bypass sub is introduced as an intermediary component between the packer and the proppant-laden fluid. This bypass sub with its adjustable orifice provides a controlled flow path that reduces fluid velocity and prevents proppant from washing or screen outing the packer, while still allowing fracturing fluid to reach the treatment zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the flow parameters by using a velocity bypass sub with adjustable orifice size to control fluid velocity. By adjusting the orifice diameter, the system optimizes fluid flow rate and velocity to prevent proppant accumulation while maintaining effective fracturing treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If work string manipulation is used to set and unset packers in very long lateral bores, then packer operation can be controlled, but frictional drag becomes difficult or impossible to overcome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacker setting and unsettingVSAvoidfrictional drag on work string

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical work string manipulation system with a fluid pressure actuation system. A pressure actuator driven by high-pressure fluid through the velocity bypass sub sets and unsets the packer elements, eliminating the need for mechanical work string manipulation and overcoming the frictional drag problem in long lateral bores

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If proppant-laden fracturing fluids are pumped at high pressure, then effective well stimulation is achieved, but proppant causes wash and screen out in conventional packers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracturing fluid deliveryVSAvoidpacker performance with proppant

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the fluid flow path into two distinct channels: a main high-pressure path for delivering proppant-laden fracturing fluid to the treatment zone, and a velocity bypass path with controlled orifice for reducing fluid velocity to prevent proppant wash and screen out. This segmentation allows both high productivity and reliable packer operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The velocity bypass sub acts as an intermediary flow control device that receives high-pressure proppant-laden fluid and redistributes it through a controlled orifice to reduce velocity. This mediator component protects the packer from direct exposure to high-velocity proppant while maintaining effective fracturing treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution enhances the reliability of straddle packers by preventing proppant 'wash' and 'screen out', allowing for successful operation in long lateral bores and enabling efficient well stimulation and remediation treatments by maintaining pressure isolation and facilitating rapid tool retrieval.

Implementation Method 1

a proppant filtration plug body that occludes a central passage of the straddle packer down hole of radial fluid paths through a frac sub of the straddle packer and uphole of fluid ports of a compression cylinder of the straddle packer, the proppant filtration plug body excluding solid components of high-pressure fluid pumped into the central passage while permitting fluid components of the high-pressure fluid to flow therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

fluid pressure packer set

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11719068B2Straddle packer with fluid pressure packer set and velocity bypass for propant-laden fracturing fluids

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 EXACTA FRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A straddle packer for proppant-laden fracturing fluids has a slotted frac sub with a proppant filtration plug body that excludes proppant in the fracturing fluid from a central passage of the straddle packer downhole from the slotted frac hub. Pressure equalization sleeve filters exclude an entry of debris in a well bore through pressure equalization ports of the straddle packer.