Patent Application
20060278394
In preparing wells for production of formation bearing fluids, a well often is subjected to perforating and fracturing processes. Conventionally, perforating has been accomplished with a stand-alone wireline crew utilizing a dedicated wireline unit, a pickup and personnel specifically trained to operate the wireline unit and conduct the perforation procedures. A separate stand-alone fracturing crew has been used to carry out the pumping or fracturing portion of the overall process. The fracturing crew similarly utilizes a crane and its own dedicated vehicles, equipment and personnel trained to carry out the fracturing procedures.
The use of separate crews, separate vehicles and separate equipment for processes that are often conducted simultaneously can lead to inefficiencies. For example, the procedural separation of perforating and fracturing can require extra vehicles and extra personnel. This, in turn, creates increased costs, increased time requirements, and increased logistical difficulty, particularly when alternating perforating and fracturing procedures are conducted in a given well. Additionally, the relatively large number of vehicles and personnel requires a relatively large location footprint at a given well site.
In general, the present invention provides a system and method for creating greater efficiency during perforating and fracturing procedures in a well. The system and method utilize a vehicle having a crane for lowering and raising fracturing and perforating equipment in a wellbore. Additionally, a wireline winch is mounted directly to the crane to facilitate the run in of conductive wireline for perforating procedures. This combination greatly facilitates sequential perforating and fracturing procedures.
Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.
The present invention generally relates to well preparation procedures. In preparing or constructing certain wells, perforation and fracturing procedures often are used to facilitate the production of desired fluids, e.g. oil, from the subterranean formation. The present invention generally combines aspects of the perforation and fracturing techniques to increase the efficiency with which these procedures are carried out at a given well site.
Efficiency is enhanced, at least in part, by combining a wireline winch system with a crane used in fracturing. In at least some embodiments, the wireline winch control/acquisition systems also can be combined with the fracturing control and monitoring systems. This combination eliminates the previous need for separate wireline vehicles and also reduces the number of personnel required by integrating perforating skills and personnel with the fracturing crew. In some applications, this enables the reduction of personnel by at least two individuals.
Referring generally to
For example, a combined perforating and fracturing unit 32 is utilized to deploy and remove perforating and fracturing equipment 34 to and from wellbore 24. In this embodiment, combined unit 32 comprises a crane 36 and a wireline winch 38 mounted directly to crane 36. Combined unit 32 also may comprise a vehicle, such as a crane truck 40, for transporting the combined crane and wireline winch. In this embodiment, crane truck 40 is a road legal vehicle that enables the transport of crane 36 and wireline winch 38 from one well site to another.
In the example illustrated, equipment 34 comprises fracturing equipment 42 and perforating equipment 44, such as a perforating gun 46. Crane 36 is used to move equipment 34 to desired locations within wellbore 24 via, for example, a cable 48. Wireline winch 38 is used to supply a conductive wireline 50 into wellbore 24 to enable the passage of signals to perforating gun 46 for initiation of perforation at desired locations within the wellbore. The conductive wireline also can be used for other purposes, such as providing a path for signal flow during data acquisition. Accordingly, a single vehicle can be utilized for both perforating and fracturing support in a combined process as opposed to using separate vehicles, separate crews and distinct procedures.
According to other aspects of the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated, a communication line 60 extends between crane truck 40 and vehicle 58. The communication line 60 may comprise a cable or other hardwired communication line directly coupling control system 52 with wireline winch, crane 36 and equipment 34. However, communication line 60 may utilize other types of communication, including wireless communication. Alternately, signals may be sent between control system 52 and crane truck 40 over additional communication lines or networks. In this latter embodiment, control system 52 could be utilized to control/monitor the fracturing and perforating processes from a location separated from well site 20.
Referring generally to
In this embodiment, crane 36 comprises a rotatable base 66 which is rotatable by, for example, hydraulic input as with conventional crane units. A platform 68 and a crane torrent 70 are mounted above base 66. As illustrated, wireline winch 38 is affixed to torrent 70 and is rotatable with torrent 70, platform 68 and base 66 about axis 64. Crane 36 further comprises a boom 72 pivotably mounted to torrent 70 by a pivot junction 74. An actuator 76, such as a hydraulic cylinder, is used to pivot boom 72. Additionally, crane 36 comprises a reel 78 about which cable 48 is wound. Reel 78 is mounted on an arm 80 that extends from torrent 70, and the reel is rotated by a powered device 82. One example of a suitable device 82 is a hydraulic motor supplied with hydraulic fluid through flow lines 84. The hydraulic motor 82 can be powered to spool up cable 48 or to release additional cable 48 as desired for appropriate movement of equipment 34 within wellbore 24.
Wireline winch 38 comprises a framework 86 that is mounted to crane 36. For example, framework 86 can be affixed via attachment 62 to crane torrent 70 such that framework 86 extends from axis 64 in generally the same direction as arm 80. Wireline winch 38 further comprises a wireline reel 88 rotatably mounted on framework 86. Wireline reel 88 is driven by a powered device 90, such as an electric motor or a hydraulic motor. Accordingly, conductive wireline 50 can be spooled up or released by controlling the rotation of wireline reel 88 via powered device 90. Wireline winch 38 further comprises a guide boom 92 pivotably mounted to framework 86 via a mounting portion 94. The guide boom 92 can be pivoted by an actuator 96, such as a hydraulic cylinder. Hydraulic fluid may be supplied to hydraulic cylinder 96 and device 90, for example, via hydraulic lines 98. Additionally, a wireline guide 100 is disposed on boom 92 to guide conductive wireline 50 as wireline reel 88 is rotated during perforation/acquisition procedures.
In an embodiment that utilizes hydraulically activated components, such asrhydraulic actuators 76 and 96, hydraulically driven reels 78 and 88, and a hydraulically rotated crane, pressurized hydraulic fluid may be supplied via a hydraulic control system 102, such as those commonly used in a variety of equipment applications. The hydraulic control system 102 may have separate sections 104 dedicated to controlling different applications, e.g. wireline winch components or crane components. Additionally, the hydraulic control system 102 may be controlled remotely via overall control system 52.
An embodiment of crane truck 40 is illustrated in
A cab 112 is mounted on chassis 106, and combined unit 32 is mounted to chassis 106 rearwardly of cab 112. Combined unit 32 may be mounted to chassis 106 via a platform 114 that is supported by chassis 106. In this embodiment, combined unit 32 is mounted toward the rear of platform 114 to create a load region 116 between cab 112 and combined unit 32 for carrying materials, equipment or other items related to the perforation and/or fracturing procedures.
In the embodiment of
Upon completion of the perforating and fracturing procedures at well site 20, crane truck 40 can be reconfigured to a transport state, as illustrated in
Another unique aspect of combined unit 32 is that the perforation and fracturing procedures can be controlled with the single control system 52, as further illustrated in
As illustrated, control system 52 may be a computer based control system having a processor or processors 124 for managing the input and output of data. Additionally, control system 52 may comprise a display 126 for displaying to an operator a variety of information related to operation of the crane, wireline winch and the acquisition of well related data.
By way of example, system 52 may be coupled to a variety of components, such as components 128 and 130 for monitoring operational aspects of the crane 36 and/or the wireline winch 38. In this example, component 128 is a camera, such as a digital video camera, that is mounted on or in proximity to the crane 36 and/or wireline winch 38. Video camera 128 enables, for example, an operator to monitor the spooling of cable 48 or wireline 50 during perforation and fracturing procedures. Component 130 can comprise another video camera or another type of sensor or other component that enables an operator to monitor operational aspects of crane 36 and/or wireline winch 38.
Control system 52 also may be used to directly control the operation of crane 36 and wireline winch 38. For example, control system 52 may be coupled to hydraulic control system 102 and to each of the control components 104 that govern the hydraulic inputs to wireline winch 38 and to crane 36. This enables a remote operator within vehicle 58 to control operation of combined unit 32 by, for example, raising and lowering boom 72 and guide boom 92, controlling the speed and direction of reel 78 and reel 88, and controlling the rotation of crane 36 and wireline winch 38 about axis 64.
Additionally, control system 52 may be coupled to equipment 34 via conductive wireline 50. This enables an operator to output command signals, for example, to perforating gun 46 to initiate perforation. It also enables the operator to monitor various well related parameters, provided equipment 34 includes appropriate sensors or other instruments able to output data to control system 52 via wireline 50. Accordingly, an operator potentially has great ability to monitor and control many aspects of both the perforation procedures and fracturing procedures from a single, remote location. Furthermore, the mobile vehicle 58 enables movement of the control system from one well site to another.
In many applications, such as staged fracturing projects, combined unit 32 enhances the efficiency with which the perforation procedures and fracturing procedures can be carried out in multiple formation zones, e.g. formation zones 134, 136 and 138, as illustrated in
One example of the operation of combined crane 36 and wireline winch 38 can be described with reference to
When the initial fracturing procedure is completed, the equipment is lifted to the the next wellbore/formation zone, e.g. zone 136, and wireline 50 is reeled in to remove slack, as illustrated by block 148. The perforation procedure is then conducted in this zone, as illustrated by block 150. Following perforation, the fracturing procedures can be conducted in this formation region, as illustrated by block 152. This process can be repeated for additional zones until all of the desired wellbore zones are perforated and fractured. After the final fracture procedure, the equipment is lifted from wellbore 24, as illustrated by block 154. Crane 36 and wireline winch 38 can then be placed into a configuration for transport, and crane truck 40 can be used to move the equipment to the next well site.
It should be noted that crane truck 40 and control system vehicle 58 may be constructed in a variety of configurations. Additionally, the equipment used for the perforation and fracturing procedures can vary according to specific project objectives, equipment available, environment and other factors. Also, the size and configuration of the crane and the wireline winch can vary based on the specific types of projects for which the combined unit is utilized.
Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.
