In a variety of subterranean environments, such as wellbore environments, downhole completions are used to facilitate the production of desired fluids. For example, completions often are utilized in the production of fluids, such as petroleum, water and gas. The completion is located in a wellbore, and the fluids are pumped or otherwise produced to a desired location.
Well treatments sometimes are used before, during or after the production of fluids to affect well characteristics. For example, a well treatments may comprise well stimulation in which fluids are pumped downhole to stimulate subsurface formations. Due to the corrosive and/or erosive characteristics of some of these stimulation fluids, the well completion can be damaged if not removed prior to treatment.
In general, the present invention provides a system and methodology to facilitate subsurface formation treatment. The approach utilizes a diverter and a bypass to direct treatment fluids around the completion components as the treatment fluids are flowed to the desired formation region. Thus, completion equipment may remain in the wellbore during stimulation or other treatment of subsurface formations without incurring damage from the treatment fluids.
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 a system and method for utilization and treatment of wells. The system and method render compatible a variety of downhole completions and well treatment systems. However, the devices and methods of the present invention are not limited to use in the specific applications that are described herein.
Referring generally to
System 20 comprises a completion 30 deployed at a desired location in wellbore 24 by a deployment system 32. Deployment system 32 may comprise a tubing 34, such as production tubing or coil tubing. Tubing 34 defines an internal flow path 36 along which fluids can be directed toward or away from completion 30.
Although completion 30 may have a variety of configurations, one example is an electric submersible pumping system 38 used to produce fluids from formation 22 through tubing 34 to a desired collection point. Electric submersible pumping system 38 may be constructed with a variety of components and component arrangements depending on the specific application. By way of example, however, the electric submersible pumping system may comprise a pump 40, a pump intake 42, an electric motor 44 and a motor protector 46. Motor 44 powers pump 40 which draws fluid from wellbore 24 through pump intake 42. As the fluid is pumped, additional fluid from formation 22 flows into wellbore 24 through perforations 28. Electrical power may be supplied to motor 44 by an appropriate power cable 47.
System 20 also comprises a well treatment system 48. Treatment system 48 utilizes a diverter valve 50 and a bypass 52 for directing fluid to a specific region of the wellbore. For example, bypass 52 may be used to route treatment fluids past completion 30. Bypass 52 defines a flow path 54 that may be disposed within a conduit 56. Conduit 56 may be in the form of a shroud or a tube, such as that illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Diverter valve 50 may comprise a variety of valve types depending on the specific application and design parameters. For example, diverter valve 50 may comprise a ball valve or a flapper valve. Diverter valve 50 is adjustable between at least two positions that alternately enable the downflow of well treatment fluids through tubing 34 and bypass 52, as illustrated in
In
In
Actuation of diverter valve 50 may be accomplished in a variety of ways depending on the design and application of the valve. For example, diverter valve 50 may be a simple flapper valve having a flapper that is moved between the first and second positions 60, 62 by fluid flow. In other words, the downward flow of well treatment fluid in tubing 34 can be used to move diverter valve 50 to the first position 60 in which flow to completion 30 through tubing 34 is blocked (see
An alternate embodiment of system 20 is illustrated in
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.