Wellbore Closure Pressure Determination via Real-Time Fracturing Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining design parameters for fracturing operations in oilfield wellbores are often inaccurate and require time-consuming minifrac tests, which consume valuable well system time and resources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that continuously determines closure pressure and average fracture permeability by flowing a fracturing fluid into the wellbore, sensing fluid pressure and flow rate, and using data visualization to adjust fracturing design parameters in real-time, eliminating the need for separate testing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If minifrac tests are performed to determine design parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the design parameter determination process with the main fracturing operation by injecting diverters during fracturing and using pressure/flow rate data from the same operation to calculate parameters like closure pressure and fracture conductivity. This merges what were previously separate operations (minifrac testing and main fracturing) into a single integrated process, eliminating the need for separate pre-fracturing tests while maintaining parameter accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously collects pressure and flow rate data throughout the fracturing operation and continuously calculates design parameters in real-time. This continuous measurement and calculation approach replaces discrete pre-fracturing tests, allowing parameter determination to occur throughout the entire useful action of the fracturing process rather than requiring separate testing operations.
2Productivity
If design parameters are estimated based on data from similar formations, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring actual pressure and flow rate data during the fracturing operation and using this real-time data to calculate and update design parameters. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust to actual formation conditions rather than relying solely on estimates from similar formations, improving parameter accuracy while maintaining operational efficiency through real-time adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines its own design parameters by using data generated during its own operation. The fracturing operation itself produces the pressure and flow rate data needed to calculate closure pressure, fracture conductivity, and other parameters. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate testing operations while providing formation-specific parameter accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stages are fractured with different design parameters, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic determination of design parameters by continuously calculating closure pressure, fracture conductivity, and other parameters during each fracturing stage based on real-time pressure and flow rate data. This dynamic approach allows each stage to be adapted to its specific formation conditions without requiring complex pre-planning, as parameters are determined in real-time during the operation itself, simplifying the management of multi-stage variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to determine closure pressure in a wellbore that can include, flowing a fracturing fluid into the wellbore during a fracturing operation of at least one stage and forming a fracture, sensing fluid pressure and a flow rate of the fracturing fluid during the fracturing operation and communicating the sensed data to a controller, plotting data points of the sensed data to a visualization device which is configured to visually present the data points to an operator as a plot, fitting a curve to the data points which represent statistically-relevant minimum pressure data at various flow rates, determining an intercept of the first curve with a zero flow rate axis of the plot, determining the closure pressure based on a pressure value of the intercept, and determining an average fracture permeability based on the closure pressure.