Multi-zone cemented fracturing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9410399-B2
Application number	US-201313954522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A method of cementing a liner string into a wellbore includes deploying a liner string into a wellbore; pumping cement slurry into a workstring; and pumping a dart through the workstring, thereby driving the cement slurry into the liner string. The dart engages a first wiper plug and releases the first wiper plug from the workstring. The dart and engaged first wiper plug drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore. The dart and engaged first wiper plug land onto a first fracture valve. The dart releases a first seat into the first wiper plug. The dart engages a second wiper plug connected to the first fracture valve and releases the second wiper plug from the first fracture valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of cementing a liner string into a wellbore, comprising:
deploying a liner string into the wellbore to a portion of the wellbore traversing a productive formation using a workstring, the liner string comprising a first fracture valve and the workstring comprising a first wiper plug;
pumping cement slurry into the workstring; and
pumping a dart through the workstring, thereby driving the cement slurry into the liner string, wherein:
the dart engages the first wiper plug and releases the first wiper plug from the workstring,
the dart and engaged first wiper plug drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore,
the dart and engaged first wiper plug land onto the first fracture valve,
the dart releases a first seat into the first wiper plug, and
the dart engages a second wiper plug connected to the first fracture valve and releases the second wiper plug from the first fracture valve.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the liner string further comprises a second fracture valve;
the dart and engaged second wiper plug further drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore,
the dart and engaged second wiper plug land onto the second fracture valve,
the dart releases a second seat into the second wiper plug, and
the dart engages a third wiper plug of the second fracture valve and releases the third wiper plug from the second fracture valve.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
after curing of the cement slurry, deploying first and second balls through the liner string to the first and second seats,
wherein the first and second balls land onto the respective first and second seats and open the respective first and second fracture valves.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the first and second balls are deployed to the first and second seats by pumping fracturing fluid, and
pumping of the fracturing fluid is continued, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid through the respective open fracture valves and the cured cement and into the productive formation by creating respective first and second fractures.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
the second ball is pumped ahead of the first ball, and
the first ball has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second ball,
the second ball travels through the first seat to arrive at the second seat, and
the second fracture is created before the first ball lands onto the first seat.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after curing of the cement slurry, deploying a ball through the liner string to the first seat,
wherein ball lands onto the first seat and opens the first fracture valve.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the ball is deployed to the first seat by pumping fracturing fluid, and
pumping of the fracturing fluid is continued, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid through the open first fracture valve and the cured cement and into the productive formation by creating respective a fracture.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the liner string further comprises a liner hanger, a packer, and a toe sleeve, and
the method further comprises:
setting the liner hanger before the cement slurry is pumped; and
setting the packer after the cement slurry is pumped; and

the toe sleeve opens in response to pumping of the ball.

9. A method of fracturing a productive formation, comprising:
deploying a liner string into a wellbore to a portion of the wellbore traversing the productive formation using a workstring, the liner string comprising a first cluster valve and the workstring comprising a first wiper plug;
pumping cement slurry into the workstring;
pumping a dart through the workstring, thereby driving the cement slurry into the liner string, wherein:
the dart engages the first wiper plug and releases the first wiper plug from the workstring,
the dart and engaged first wiper plug drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore,
the dart and engaged first wiper plug land onto the first cluster valve,
the first wiper plug releases the dart, and
the dart engages a second wiper plug connected to the first cluster valve and releases the second wiper plug from the first cluster valve; and

deploying a ball through the liner string to the first cluster valve, wherein:
the ball lands onto the first wiper plug and opens the cluster valve, and
the first wiper plug releases the ball.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the ball is deployed to the first cluster valve by pumping fracturing fluid, and
pumping of the fracturing fluid is continued, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid through the open cluster valve and the cured cement and into the productive formation by creating a fracture.

11. A method of cementing a liner string in a wellbore, comprising:
deploying a liner string into the wellbore, the liner string comprising a first valve;
pumping a cement slurry into the liner string;
pumping a dart and a first wiper plug through the liner string, thereby driving the cement slurry through the liner string;
releasing a first seat from the dart;
landing the dart in a second wiper plug; and
releasing the second wiper plug from the first valve.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
landing the dart and the second wiper plug onto a second valve;
releasing a second seat from the dart;
landing the dart in a third wiper plug; and
releasing the third wiper plug from the second valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
deploying first and second balls through the liner string to the first and second seats;
exerting pressure on the first and second balls to open the first and second valves; and
pumping fracturing fluid through the open first and second valves to create first and second fractures.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
deploying the second ball before the first ball, wherein the first ball has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second ball;
pumping the second ball past the first seat to arrive at the second seat; and
creating the second fracture before the first ball lands onto the first seat.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
deploying a ball through a liner string to the first seat; and
landing the ball onto the first seat to open the first fracture.

16. A method of fracturing a productive formation, comprising:
deploying a liner string into the wellbore, the liner string comprising a first valve;
pumping a cement slurry into the liner string;
pumping a dart and a first wiper plug through the liner string, thereby driving the cement slurry through the liner string;
releasing the dart from a first wiper plug;
landing the dart in a second wiper plug;
releasing the second wiper plug from the first valve;
deploying a ball through the liner string to the first valve;
landing the ball onto the first wiper plug to open the first valve; and
releasing the ball from the first wiper plug.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
deploying the ball to the first cluster valve by pumping fracturing fluid; and
pumping fracture fluid through the open cluster valve to create a fracture.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
landing the ball onto the second wiper plug to open the second fracture valve; and
releasing the ball from the second wiper plug.

19.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Andersen Clayton R

Classifications

• E21B23/08

  Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B34/142 Primary

  unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons · CPC title

• E21B33/16

  using plugs for isolating cement charge; Plugs therefor {(stage cementing E21B33/146; spacer compositions C09K8/424)} · CPC title