Patent Application
20250020049
This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in examples described below, more particularly provides well completion systems and methods.
Well completions typically provide for production of fluids from a well after it has been drilled. Frequently, it can be advantageous to stimulate a formation zone prior to production operations. Examples of stimulation operations include hydraulic fracturing, acidizing and other operations designed to enhance production or injection.
It will, therefore, be readily appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the art of completing wells. The present disclosure provides such improvements, which may be used in a variety of different well configurations and operations.
Representatively illustrated in
In the
As depicted in
In this example, the bottom hole assembly 12 provides for perforating and stimulating multiple zones of one or more subterranean formations in a single trip of the bottom hole assembly 12 into the wellbore 16. The tubular string 14 used to deploy and position the bottom hole assembly 12 in the wellbore may comprise jointed or continuous tubing or pipe.
The
As depicted in
The abrasive jets 34 cut through the casing 18 and cement 20, and into the zone 28, thereby forming the perforations 26. Fluid communication is now permitted between the wellbore 16 and the zone 28 via the perforations 26.
Referring additionally now to
The stimulation fluid 36 may comprise any fluid or combination of fluids used to enhance flow through the zone 28, such as, fracturing fluid with or without proppant, acid, conformance treatment, permeability modifier, etc. The purpose of the stimulation operation may be to enhance production of fluids from, or injection of fluids into, the zone 28.
The stimulation fluid 36 may be pumped only after pumping of the abrasive slurry 30 ceases, or in some examples there could be some overlap in the pumping of the stimulation fluid and the abrasive slurry. In some examples, the stimulation fluid 36 may be pumped through the internal flow passage 40 of the tubular string 14 (and out of the nozzles 32 of the abrasive perforator 22) instead of, or in addition to, pumping the stimulation fluid through the annulus 38.
The stimulation fluid 36 flows into the zone 28 via the perforations 26. In some examples, the zone 28 may fracture as a result of pumping the stimulation fluid 36 into the zone.
Referring additionally now to
Plugs 42 can now be discharged from the plug dispenser tool 24 into the annulus 38. In this example, the plugs 42 are discharged from a plug discharge port 44 in a side of the plug dispenser tool 24. The plugs 42 engage the perforations 26 to thereby prevent fluid flow from the wellbore 16 to the zone 28 via the perforations.
The plugs 42 may be any suitable plugging devices configured to engage and block flow outward through the perforations 26. The plugs 42 are depicted in
As depicted in
Referring additionally now to
The bottom hole assembly 12 has been displaced uphole to a position in which it is desired to form additional perforations 48 into another zone 50. An abrasive slurry 30 is pumped from the surface through the internal flow passage 40, and exits as jets 34 from the nozzles 32 of the abrasive perforator 22.
The jets 34 cut the perforations 48 through the casing 18 and cement 20, and into the zone 50. Fluid communication is now permitted between the wellbore 16 and the zone 50 via the perforations 48.
Note that the steps described above for forming the perforations 48 into the zone 50 are the same as, or substantially similar to, the steps for forming the perforations 26 into the zone 28. In a similar manner, the zone 50 may be stimulated, possibly fractured, and then the perforations 48 plugged, as described above for the zone 28.
Thus, it will be appreciated that any number of zones can be perforated and stimulated using the bottom hole assembly 12 in a single trip into the wellbore 16. Each of the zones can be plugged (using the plugs 42 to block the perforations) after the zone is stimulated, in order to isolate the zone from stimulation treatments of other zones, except that the last perforated zone would not need to be plugged.
In some examples, multiple sets of perforations 26, 48 may be formed using the abrasive perforator 22. After stimulation via the multiple sets of perforations 26, 48, all or less than all of the sets of perforations may be plugged. Thus, it is not necessary for all of the open perforations 26, 48 to be plugged after stimulation.
Referring additionally now to
In the
The bottom hole assembly 12 is depicted in
The wash tool 52 can be used to clean an interior surface of the casing 18 during or after deployment of the bottom hole assembly 12. The vibratory tool 54 produces vibrations in response to the flow of the fluid 64 through the vibratory tool. The vibrations can reduce friction between the tubular string 14 and the interior surface of the casing 18, for example, to assist in deploying the bottom hole assembly 12 into an extended length lateral wellbore.
The plug seat assembly 60 includes a plug seat 56. A plug can be deployed from the surface into the flow passage 40, and eventually the plug will engage the plug seat 56 to block flow through the flow passage. Blocking flow through the plug seat 56 enables increased pressure to be built up in the flow passage 40 uphole of the plug seat, for example, to obtain increased flow through the nozzles 32 when perforations 26, 48 are formed using the abrasive perforator 22.
The back pressure valve 58 is included in the bottom hole assembly 12 to prevent inadvertent fluid flow uphole through the tubular string 14. The back pressure valve 58 functions as a check valve that permits fluid flow in a downhole direction (as depicted in
In an example of a method utilizing the
The fluid 64 can be circulated through the flow passage 40 as the tubular string 14 is deployed into the wellbore 16. The fluid 64 can exit the wash tool 52 at a distal end of the bottom hole assembly 12, thereby cleaning the interior surface of the casing 18. The flow of the fluid 64 through the vibratory tool 54 produces vibrations in the tubular string 14.
The bottom hole assembly 12 is displaced to a position at which it is desired to form the perforations 26, that is, the nozzles 32 of the abrasive perforator 22 are positioned opposite the location along the wellbore 16 where it is desired to form the perforations 26. A plug (not shown) is deployed into the flow passage 40. The plug eventually engages the plug seat 56, thereby blocking flow to the flow passage 40 downhole of the plug seat.
The abrasive slurry 30 is pumped through the flow passage 40 to the abrasive perforator 22. The abrasive slurry 30 exits the nozzles 32 as jets 34, which cut through the casing 18 and cement 20, and into the zone 28, to thereby form the perforations 26.
The stimulation fluid 36 is pumped through the annulus 38 and/or the flow passage 40 to the perforations 26. The stimulation fluid 36 flows through the perforations 26 and into the zone 28, thereby stimulating the zone.
The bottom hole assembly 12 is displaced uphole to a position in which the abrasive perforator 22 is no longer opposite the perforations 26, and the wellbore 16 at the perforations is not obstructed. This displacement of the bottom hole assembly 12 may occur while the stimulation fluid 36 is being pumped.
After the stimulation operation, one or more plugs 42 are deployed into the flow passage 40. Flow of a fluid 46 through the flow passage 40 carries each of the plugs 42 to the plug dispenser tool 24. The fluid 46 may be the same as the stimulation fluid 36, or it may be a different fluid.
As described more fully below, the plug 42 engages a seat in the plug dispenser tool 24, thereby enabling a pressure differential to be created across the plug and a piston of the plug dispenser tool. When a sufficient pressure differential is achieved, the plug 42 is discharged from the plug discharge port 44.
The same number of plugs 42 may be discharged from the plug dispenser tool 24 as the number of perforations 26. In some examples, however, the number of plugs 42 discharged may be greater or fewer than the number of perforations 26.
After a plug 42 has been discharged from the plug dispenser tool 24, the flow of the fluid 46 carries the plug to an unblocked one of the perforations 26. The plug 42 engages the perforation 26 to thereby block flow from the wellbore 16 to the zone 28 via the perforation.
When all of the perforations 26 have been plugged with the plugs 42, the bottom hole assembly 12 is displaced to another position at which it is desired to form the perforations 48 into the zone 50. In some examples, this displacement of the bottom hole assembly 12 may be performed while the plugs 42 are still being discharged from the plug dispenser tool 24 to plug the perforations 26.
The abrasive slurry 30 is again pumped through the flow passage 40 to the abrasive perforator 22 to form the perforations 48, as described above for forming the perforations 26. The additional steps of stimulating the zone 50, displacing the bottom hole assembly 12, and plugging the perforations 48 are performed for the zone 50 as described above for the zone 28. Any number of zones can be perforated and stimulated by repeating the above sequence of steps for each zone, except that it typically would not be necessary for the last zone to be plugged.
Referring additionally now to
The flow passage 40 extends longitudinally through the upper connector 62 and the housing 68. If a fluid in the flow passage 40 begins to flow uphole (upward as viewed in
Referring additionally now to
As depicted in
When the plug 42 is engaged with the seat 70 and a sufficient pressure differential is created across the plug 42 and the piston 72, the plug and piston will be displaced downhole (downward as viewed in
The upper end of the piston 72 initially blocks the plug discharge port 44, which is formed through a side wall of a generally tubular outer housing 90. However, when the plug 42 and the piston 72 are displaced downward by the pressure differential, eventually the plug discharge port 44 will be unblocked, and the plug 42 can be discharged outward through the plug discharge port.
After the plug 42 is discharged, the pressure differential will no longer exist across the piston 72. The biasing device 74 will, therefore, displace the piston 72 back to the initial position depicted in
Referring additionally now to
Any number of nozzles 32 may be included in the abrasive perforator 22. When it is desired to form perforations 26, 48, the abrasive slurry 30 is pumped to the abrasive perforator 22, and the abrasive slurry forms the jets 34 as it exits the nozzles 32.
Referring additionally now to
When it is desired to use the abrasive perforator 22 to form perforations, a suitably dimensioned plug 80 can be deployed into the flow passage 40. The plug 80 will eventually engage and block flow through the plug seat 56 to prevent flow through the flow passage 40 downhole of the plug seat. The plug 80 is preferably dimensioned so that it will pass through the seat 70 in the plug dispenser tool 24.
Referring additionally now to
In the
Due to the construction of the fluidic insert 82, a restriction to flow through the fluidic insert fluctuates. As a result, a momentum of the fluid flow through the flow passage 40 also fluctuates, and vibrations are produced in the tubular string 14.
Referring additionally now to
A fluid 64 circulated through the flow passage 40 to the wash tool 52 will exit the nozzles 88 at an increased velocity. The increased velocity enhances a cleaning effectiveness of the fluid flow.
It may now be fully appreciated that the above disclosure provides significant advancements to the art of completing wells. In examples described above, multiple formation zones 28, 50 can be perforated, stimulated and plugged in a single trip of the bottom hole assembly 12 into the wellbore 16.
The above disclosure provides to the art a bottom hole assembly 12 for use in a subterranean well. In one example, the bottom hole assembly 12 can comprise an abrasive perforator 22 with at least one nozzle 32 configured to direct an abrasive jet 34 outward from the abrasive perforator 22, and a plug dispenser tool 24 configured to discharge at least one first plug 42 via a plug discharge port 44 into an annulus 38 surrounding the plug dispenser tool 24.
The plug dispenser tool 24 may be further configured to discharge the first plug 42 in response to a predetermined pressure differential applied across the first plug 42.
The abrasive perforator 22 may be connected in the bottom hole assembly 12 between the plug dispenser tool 24 and a plug seat 56. The plug seat 56 may be configured to selectively prevent flow through a central flow passage 40 extending through the bottom hole assembly 12 when a second plug 80 is engaged with the plug seat 56.
The plug seat 56 may be connected in the bottom hole assembly 12 between the abrasive perforator 22 and a vibratory tool 54. The vibratory tool 54 may be configured to produce vibrations in response to fluid flow through the flow passage 40.
The plug dispenser tool 24 may include an outer housing 90 having the plug discharge port 44 that provides fluid communication between an exterior of the outer housing 90 and a flow passage 40 extending longitudinally through the plug dispenser tool 24, a piston 72 slidably disposed in the outer housing 90 between a closed position in which the piston 72 blocks fluid flow through the plug discharge port 44, and an open position in which fluid flow through the plug discharge port 44 is permitted, and a biasing device 74 that biases the piston 72 toward the closed position.
The above disclosure also provides to the art a method of completing a well. In one example, the method can include the steps of: deploying a bottom hole assembly 12 into a wellbore 16; perforating at least one first zone 28 with an abrasive perforator 22 of the bottom hole assembly 12; and then discharging at least one first plug 42 from a plug discharge port 44 of a plug dispenser tool 24 of the bottom hole assembly 12. The discharging step includes the at least one first plug 42 displacing from an internal flow passage 40 of the bottom hole assembly 12 to an annulus 38 formed between the bottom hole assembly 12 and the wellbore 16.
The discharging step may further include engaging the first plug 42 with a seat 70 of the plug discharge tool 24, thereby enabling a pressure differential to be created across a piston 72 and the first plug 42.
The piston 72 may block flow through the plug discharge port 44, and then the piston 72 may displace to a position in which the piston 72 does not block flow through the plug discharge port 44, in response to the pressure differential being created across the piston 72.
The method may include perforating at least one second zone 50 with the abrasive perforator 22. The step of perforating the at least one first zone 28, the discharging step and the step of perforating the at least one second zone 50 may be performed in a single trip of the bottom hole assembly 12 into the wellbore 16.
The method may include, after the step of perforating the at least one second zone 50, then discharging at least one second plug 42 from the plug discharge port 44 of the plug dispenser tool 24.
The method may include stimulating the at least one first zone 28 after the perforating step and prior to the discharging step.
The stimulating step may include pumping stimulation fluid 36 through the annulus 38 to perforations 26 extending into the at least one first zone 28. The stimulating step may include pumping stimulation fluid 36 through the internal flow passage 40 to perforations 26 extending into the at least one first zone 28.
Another method of completing a well can include the steps of: deploying a bottom hole assembly 12 into a wellbore 16; forming first perforations 26 in a first zone 28 with an abrasive perforator 22 of the bottom hole assembly 12; then displacing the bottom hole assembly 12 to a first position in which the bottom hole assembly 12 is not adjacent the first perforations 26; and then discharging at least one first plug 42 from a plug discharge port 44 of a plug dispenser tool 24 of the bottom hole assembly 12.
The method may include stimulating the first zone 28 after the forming step and prior to the displacing step.
The method may include blocking flow through the first perforations 26 with the at least one first plug 42; then displacing the bottom hole assembly 12 to a second position; and then forming second perforations 48 at the second position in a second zone 50 with the abrasive perforator 22.
The discharging step may include the at least one first plug 42 displacing from an internal flow passage 40 of the bottom hole assembly 12 to an annulus 38 formed between the bottom hole assembly 12 and the wellbore 16. The discharging step may further include engaging the first plug 42 with a seat 70 of the plug discharge tool 24, thereby enabling a pressure differential to be created across a piston 72 and the first plug 42.
The piston 72 may initially block flow through the plug discharge port 44, and then displace to a position in which the piston 72 does not block flow through the plug discharge port 44, in response to the pressure differential being created across the piston 72.
The method may include perforating a second zone 50 with the abrasive perforator 22. The step of forming the first perforations 26, the discharging step and the step of perforating the second zone 50 may be performed in a single trip of the bottom hole assembly 12 into the wellbore 16. The method may include, after the step of perforating the second zone 50, then discharging at least one second plug 42 from the plug discharge port 44 of the plug dispenser tool 24.
Although various examples have been described above, with each example having certain features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for a particular feature of one example to be used exclusively with that example. Instead, any of the features described above and/or depicted in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples, in addition to or in substitution for any of the other features of those examples. One example's features are not mutually exclusive to another example's features. Instead, the scope of this disclosure encompasses any combination of any of the features.
Although each example described above includes a certain combination of features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for all features of an example to be used. Instead, any of the features described above can be used, without any other particular feature or features also being used.
It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the disclosure, which is not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.
In the above description of the representative examples, directional terms (such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” etc.) are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular directions described herein.
The terms “including,” “includes,” “comprising,” “comprises,” and similar terms are used in a non-limiting sense in this specification. For example, if a system, method, apparatus, device, etc., is described as “including” a certain feature or element, the system, method, apparatus, device, etc., can include that feature or element, and can also include other features or elements. Similarly, the term “comprises” is considered to mean “comprises, but is not limited to.”
Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the disclosure, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to the specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of this disclosure. For example, structures disclosed as being separately formed can, in other examples, be integrally formed and vice versa. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.
