Wellbore plug isolation system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10612340-B2
Application number	US-201815891781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2018
Priority date	Aug 13, 2014
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The WST is positioned along with the RSM at a desired wellbore location. After the WST sets and seals the RSM, a conforming seating surface (CSS) is formed in the RSM. The CSS is shaped to engage/receive RPE deployed into the wellbore casing. The engaged/seated RPE isolates heel ward and toe ward fluid communication of the RSM to create a fracture zone. The RPE's are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure. A large ID RSM diminishes flow constriction during oil production.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wellbore plug isolation apparatus comprising:
a swaging member having first and second ends;
a restriction sleeve having an expandable body, the body in unexpanded condition configured to fit within a wellbore casing, a first end of the body configured to be hooped outward to an expanded condition, and swaged directly against an inner surface of the wellbore casing by the first end of the swaging member; and
a restriction plug configured to seat directly against the second end of the swaging member,
wherein the expandable body of the restriction sleeve has a sleeve thickness,
wherein the sleeve thickness tapers in a wedge at the first end of the restriction sleeve, and contacts the first end of the swaging member, and
wherein a second end of the restriction sleeve, opposite to the first end, has plural fingers.

2. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve thickness tapers in another wedge to the second end of the body.

3. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising at least one gripper on an outer surface of the restriction sleeve, the gripper configured to grip an inner surface of the wellbore casing.

4. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the restriction sleeve in expanded condition to a well casing inner diameter is in a range from 0.5 to 0.99.

5. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the restriction sleeve in expanded condition to a well casing inner diameter is 0.85.

6. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plural fingers of the second end of the restriction sleeve are configured to mechanically couple with another restriction sleeve.

7. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the restriction sleeve is configured to be hooped outward with a wellbore setting tool to swage the restriction sleeve to the inner surface of the wellbore casing.

8. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one gripper on an outer surface of the restriction sleeve, the gripper configured to grip an inner surface of the wellbore casing.

9. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of grippers on an outer surface of the restriction sleeve, the plurality of grippers configured to grip an inner surface of the wellbore casing.

10. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the restriction sleeve in expanded condition to a well casing inner diameter is in a range from 0.5 to 0.99.

11. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the restriction sleeve in expanded condition to a well casing inner diameter is 0.85.

12. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plural fingers of the second end of the restriction sleeve are configured to mechanically couple with another restriction sleeve.

13. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the restriction sleeve is configured to be hooped outward with a wellbore setting tool to swage the restriction sleeve to the inner surface of the wellbore casing.

14. A wellbore plug isolation apparatus comprising:
a first swaging member having first and second ends;
a second swaging member having first and second end; and
a restriction sleeve having a body, the body in an unexpanded condition configured to fit within a wellbore casing, the expandable body of the restriction sleeve having first and second terminal edges, opposite to each other, the expandable body having a sleeve thickness, the sleeve thickness tapering in a wedge to the first terminal edge of the body, the first and second terminals edges of the body configured to be hooped outward with a wellbore setting tool to an expanded condition, and swaged directly against an inner surface of the wellbore casing by corresponding first ends of the first and second swaging members,
wherein the wedge at the first terminal edge is in contact with the first end of the first swaging member.

15. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising at least one gripper on an outer surface of the restriction sleeve, the gripper configured to grip an inner surface of the wellbore casing.

16. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the restriction sleeve in expanded condition to a well casing inner diameter is in a range from 0.5 to 0.99.

17. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the restriction sleeve comprises a gripping device configured to mechanically couple with the first end of the second swaging member.

18. A wellbore plug isolation apparatus comprising:
a swaging member having first and second ends; and
a restriction sleeve having a body, the body in an unexpanded condition configured to fit within a wellbore casing, the expandable body of the restriction sleeve having first and second terminal edges, opposite to each other, the expandable body having a sleeve thickness, the sleeve thickness tapering in a wedge to the first terminal edge of the body, the body comprises at least one gripper located on an outer surface of the body, the gripper configured to grip an inner surface of the wellbore casing, the first terminal edge of the body configured to be hooped outward with a wellbore setting tool to an expanded condition, and swaged directly against an inner surface of the wellbore casing by the first end of the swaging member,
wherein the wedge at the first terminal edge is in contact with the first end of the swaging member, and
wherein the second terminal edge of the restriction sleeve has plural fingers.

19. The wellbore plug isolation apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the restriction sleeve in expanded condition to a well casing inner diameter is in a range from 0.5 to 0.99.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Snider Philip Martin
• George Kevin R
• Hardesty John T
• Wroblicky Michael D
• Clark Nathan G
• Rollins James A
• Wesson David S

Classifications

• E21B33/124 Primary

  Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space · CPC title

• E21B33/128

  with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/103

  of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like · CPC title

• E21B43/14 Primary

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B23/01

  for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) · CPC title