Wellhead Pressure Detection for Hydraulic Fracturing Plug Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in identifying plug movement during hydraulic fracturing operations in wells due to similar pressure drops from fracture openings and plug movement, making it difficult to monitor subsurface conditions safely and accurately.
Innovation Solution
A plug movement detector is trained using pressure data and drilling data to predict plug movement and required drill bit torque, utilizing statistical classification methods like artificial neural networks, enabling real-time monitoring and adjustments in fracturing plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subsurface sensors are used to directly monitor plug movement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wellhead pressure sensors as an intermediary to indirectly monitor plug movement. Instead of placing sensors directly in the subsurface where the plug moves, the system measures pressure changes at the wellhead, which reflect plug movement effects. This intermediary approach avoids the complexity and safety risks of subsurface sensor deployment while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/subsurface sensor monitoring with a pressure-based measurement system at the wellhead. By substituting direct mechanical monitoring with pressure differential measurement, the system achieves plug movement detection without requiring complex subsurface sensor infrastructure, thereby reducing device complexity and improving safety.
2Ease of operation
If surface pressure information is used to monitor fracturing operations, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to similar pressure drops from fracture opening and plug movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure signal analysis into distinct patterns corresponding to different events. By analyzing the temporal and magnitude characteristics of pressure drops, the system can differentiate between pressure changes caused by fracture opening and those caused by plug movement. This segmentation of the monitoring signal allows for precise identification while maintaining simple surface-based measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors pressure changes and provides real-time information about plug movement status. By analyzing pressure differential patterns and providing feedback to operators, the system enables precise identification of plug movement events while maintaining the simplicity of surface pressure monitoring. The feedback loop allows for dynamic adjustment of fracturing operations based on actual subsurface conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations include a method for identifying movement of a plug in a borehole of a well. The method may include obtaining, via one or more pressure sensors, pressure data indicating pressures in the borehole during stages of hydraulic fracturing; obtaining well data indicating one or more well geometries and treatment data indicating one or more treatments for hydraulic fracturing; extracting, via a plug movement detector, pressure-related features from the drilling data, well-related features from the well data, and treatment-related features from the treatment data; and outputting, by the plug movement detector, an indication whether the plug moved in the borehole based on the pressure-related features, well-related features, and treatment-related features.