Well completion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10989032-B2
Application number	US-201715727030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2017
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A well completion method can comprise, in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore: abrasively perforating the zone with a tubing deployed perforating assembly, fracturing the perforated zone with flow from surface via a well annulus, and then plugging the fractured zone with a removable plug substance, the perforating assembly displacing in the wellbore while the fractured zone is being plugged. Another well completion method can comprise, in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore: perforating the zone using an abrasive perforator, then displacing the perforator in the wellbore away from the earth's surface, then fracturing the zone, and plugging the fractured zone with a flowable plug substance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A well completion method, comprising:
in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore:
a) perforating the zone using an abrasive perforator;
b) then displacing the perforator in the wellbore away from the earth's surface;
c) then fracturing the zone; and
d) plugging the fractured zone with a flowable plug substance, wherein the plug substance is flowed to the zone via at least one of the group consisting of the abrasive perforator and a tubing used to convey the abrasive perforator in the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressure is applied to the wellbore, thereby forcing the plug substance into the zone in step d.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing fluid to flow from the zone into the wellbore by performing at least one of the group consisting of removing the plug substance, dissolving the plug substance, breaking the plug substance, liquefying the plug substance, flowing an acid to contact the plug substance and dispersing the plug substance.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug substance comprises at least one of the group consisting of calcium carbonate, gel, sand and a combination of calcium carbonate and gel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug substance comprises at least one of the group consisting of poly-lactic acid, poly-glycolic acid and nylon fibers.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug substance prevents flow into one of the zones while another of the zones is being fractured.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive perforator is displaced while at least one of the following steps is performed:
flowing the plug substance into the well,
pressurizing the plug substance in the well,
flowing the plug substance into the zone in step d and
flowing an abrasive through a tubular string that conveys the abrasive perforator in the well.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a restriction is present in a casing at a location closer to the earth's surface than the zones, the restriction preventing conveyance of a packer or bridge plug to the zones.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the perforator is displaced in the wellbore toward the earth's surface to a next one of the zones in succession only after flow from the wellbore into a previously perforated zone is substantially prevented.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein, at a conclusion of step d, the perforator either displaces in the wellbore toward the earth's surface, or remains motionless.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the perforator remains farther from the earth's surface than perforations of the zone while the zone is fractured in step c, and while fluid communication from the wellbore to the zone is substantially prevented in step d.

12. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein, while step d commences, the perforator either displaces in the wellbore away from the earth's surface, or is motionless, and
wherein, at a conclusion of step d, the perforator displaces in the wellbore toward the earth's surface, or is motionless.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein step d comprises displacing the perforator in the wellbore while the fractured zone is being plugged.

Assignees

• Thru Tubing Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Ferguson Andrew M
• Loving Stanley W
• Schultz Roger L
• Britton Mark S
• Watson Brock W

Classifications

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B33/138

  Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation · CPC title

• E21B43/114 Primary

  Perforators using direct fluid action {on the wall to be perforated}, e.g. abrasive jets · CPC title

• E21B43/261 Primary

  Separate steps of (1) cementing, plugging or consolidating and (2) fracturing or attacking the formation · CPC title