Patent Application
20060022073
The present invention relates generally to fluid jetting tools and, more particularly, to a flow conditioning system and method.
Various procedures have been developed and utilized to increase the flow of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formations penetrated by wellbores. For example, a commonly used production stimulation technique involves creating and extending fractures in the subterranean formation to provide flow channels therein through which hydrocarbons flow from the formation to the wellbore. The fractures are created by introducing a fracturing fluid into the formation at a flow rate which exerts a sufficient pressure on the formation to create and extend fractures therein. Solid fracture proppant materials, such as sand, are commonly suspended in the fracturing fluid so that upon introducing the fracturing fluid into the formation and creating and extending fractures therein, the proppant material is carried into the fractures and deposited therein, whereby the fractures are prevented from closing due to subterranean forces when the introduction of the fracturing fluid has ceased.
In such formation fracturing procedures, hydraulic fracturing tools use high-pressure fluid directed through relatively small diameter nozzles to obtain the desired result. This high pressure fluid, when turning the corner, may create a large coriolis spin or turbulence before entering the jet nozzle.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a flow conditioning system for fluid jetting tools includes a housing having a plurality of jet nozzle openings and a fluid straightener disposed within the housing. The fluid straightener is defined by one or more vanes, and the vanes form a plurality of flow channels within the housing. In one embodiment, each flow channel is associated with at least one jet nozzle opening.
Some embodiments of the invention provide numerous technical advantages. Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of these advantages. For example, according to certain embodiments, a fluid straightener reduces the coriolis effect found near the entry of the jet nozzle openings in hydraulic fracturing operations, which reduces the wear inside the jet nozzle openings. Reducing the coriolis effect may also increase the efficiency of the jetting action because there is more fluid energy available for the jetting action. In one embodiment, the flow straightener includes a configuration that may prevent or substantially reduce a channel blockage from preventing or substantially reducing flow through the jet nozzles. Many configurations are available for the fluid straightener.
Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
Housing 102 is any suitably shaped housing having any suitable length and formed from any suitable material. In one embodiment, housing 102 is a cylindrically shaped housing having a diameter suitable for attaching to portions of tubing at both of its ends so that a suitable fluid may flow therethrough. Any suitable number of jet nozzle openings 104 may be utilized and they may be located in any suitable location and arranged in any suitable arrangement in housing 102. For example, jet nozzle openings 104 may be in-line or offset from one another. Each jet nozzle opening 104 may have any suitable configuration and may be oriented within the wall of housing 102 in any suitable orientation. In a particular embodiment, jet nozzle openings 104 are formed directly in the wall of housing 102 and are no more than approximately one-half inch in throat diameter. However, jet nozzle openings 104 may be formed in any suitable manner, such as from jet nozzles screwed into the wall of housing 102.
During fracturing operations, a fracturing fluid or other suitable fluid flows through a bore 105 of housing 102 and is directed out jet nozzle openings 104 in order to create fractures within a formation adjacent to the wellbore (not illustrated). The fluid may flow at high-velocity and/or high-pressure. Fluid straightener 200 may be utilized within housing 102 to limit, reduce, or otherwise control the flow of the fluid through bore 105 of housing 102.
Fluid straightener 200, which is described in greater detail below in conjunction with
Although fluid straightener 200 may be disposed within bore 105 of jetting tool 100 in any suitable manner, in the illustrated embodiment, an upper portion 206 of vanes 202 engage respective grooves 108 formed in an inside wall 110 of housing 102. Grooves 108 may prevent rotation of fluid straightener 200 within bore 105 and may facilitate the correct positioning of fluid straightener 200 therein. Other suitable coupling methods may also be utilized to secure fluid straightener 200 within bore 105, such as a press fit. As illustrated in
Referring to
Also illustrated in
Referring back to
Referring now to
A fracturing (frac) fluid or other suitable fluid is then circulated down through wellbore 300, as indicated by arrow 303, and through bore 105 and is separated into separate flow paths corresponding to the separate flow channels 106. The frac fluid then flows through jet nozzle openings 104 under high velocity and/or high pressure to subsequently fracture a formation 302 adjacent wellbore 300. Because flow channels 106, in the illustrated embodiment, function to reduce turbulence within bore 105, the coriolis effect at the entry of jet nozzle openings 104 is reduced, thereby extending the life of jet nozzle openings 104 and maintaining the efficiency of the hydraulic fracturing operation.
Although some embodiments of the present invention are described in detail, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. The present invention intends to encompass such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the appended claims.
