Wellbore Plug Isolation Failure Detection and Remediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug-and-perforation operations in the oil and gas industry face challenges with failed zonal isolation, leading to ineffective stimulation of horizontal wellbores due to communication between stages, necessitating costly and time-consuming re-intervention.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying failed zonal isolation by comparing instantaneous shut-in pressures and estimating the volume of communication between stages, followed by pumping remediation materials, such as palm tree dry leaf powder, downhole to seal the gaps and ensure effective isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If plug-and-perforation operations are used to stimulate horizontal wellbores in multiple stages, then the ability to stimulate extended wellbore lengths is improved, but the risk of failed zonal isolation between stages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple discrete stages with plugs separating them, allowing independent stimulation of each segment. This segmentation enables effective stimulation of extended horizontal wellbore lengths by treating each stage as an isolated unit, while the plugs provide the necessary zonal isolation between stages.
Solution Approach 2:
Plugs are set in advance before perforation and stimulation operations to establish zonal isolation. By placing the isolation mechanism (plug) before the stimulation process, the system ensures that subsequent perforation and fracturing operations in one stage will not communicate with adjacent stages, thereby preventing failed isolation.
2Reliability
If traditional re-intervention methods are used to address failed plug isolation, then zonal isolation can be restored, but time and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service remediation where remediation materials are pumped through the existing wellbore infrastructure without requiring additional intervention equipment. The carrying fluid delivers remediation materials to the failed plug location, and the materials automatically seal the isolation gap, eliminating the need for time-consuming re-intervention operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A carrying fluid acts as an intermediary to transport remediation materials to the failed plug location. The fluid delivers the remediation materials through the wellbore to the isolation gap, where the materials then seal the communication between stages, restoring zonal isolation without requiring mechanical intervention equipment.
3Reliability
If remediation materials are pumped downhole to seal isolation gaps, then zonal isolation is restored, but the complexity of the remediation process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The remediation process uses hydraulic principles to pump carrying fluid and suspended remediation materials downhole through the wellbore. This hydraulic transport method simplifies the remediation process by utilizing existing wellbore infrastructure and standard pumping equipment, rather than requiring complex mechanical intervention systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for detecting and remediating plug failure during plug-and-perforation operations can include forming perforations the casing of a wellbore at an first stage; recording instantaneous shut-in pressure (ISIP) of an injection test at the first stage (ISIPSTG(N)_INJ); recording ISIP of fracking operations at the first stage (ISIPSTG(N)_FRAC); setting a plug uphole of the perforations and downhole of planned perforations for a second stage; recording ISIP of an injection test at the second stage (ISIPSTG(N+1)_INJ); determining the plug has failed if ISIPSTG(N+1)_INJ≤ISIPSTG(N)_INJ and ISIPSTG(N+1)_INJ≤ISIPSTG(N)_FRAC); based on determining the plug has failed, calculating a volume of communication between the first stage and the second stage; pumping a fluid carrying powdered palm tree leaves downhole while measuring surface pressure until the surface pressure stops increasing; and forming perforations the casing of a wellbore at the second stage.