One trip multi-interval plugging, perforating and fracking method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506333-B2
Application number	US-201314139941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2013
Priority date	Dec 24, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A one trip system for perforating and fracking multiple intervals uses a releasable barrier. The barrier can be an inflatable. A pressure booster system is associated with the BHA so that the existing hydrostatic pressure is boosted when the gun or portions thereof are fired. After firing in one interval, the BHA is raised and the barrier is redeployed and the pattern repeats. Instruments allow sensing the conditions in the interval for optimal placement of the gun therein and for monitoring flow, pressure and formation conditions during the fracturing. Circulation between gun firings cleans up the hole. If run in on wireline a water saving tool can be associated with the BHA to rapidly position it where desired. A multitude of perforation charges mounted in the BHA can be selectively fired by selected corresponding detonator based on a predetermined sequence or surface telemetry command.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for completing multiple intervals in a single trip to a subterranean location with a bottom hole assembly comprising an explosive perforating gun and a releasable plug comprising:
isolating, with said plug, a portion of a borehole extending to the subterranean location which is located on the opposite side of said plug from said perforating gun;
pressurizing well fluid above hydrostatic pressure into said gun before firing first explosives at a first location in said gun;
firing said first explosives in said gun at a first interval, thereby creating first fluid passages in the space previously occupied by said first explosives in said gun and perforating first perforations at said first location;
producing a pressure pulse through said first fluid passages and said first perforations with a pressure boost device located adjacent to said explosive perforating gun;
fracturing with said well fluid through said first fluid passages and said first perforations;
releasing, relocating and then resetting said plug after said fracturing to isolate said first interval, now located on the opposite side of said plug from said perforating gun;
repeating said pressurizing, said firing, said producing a pressure pulse, and said fracturing after said resetting for at least a second interval, at a second location on said gun and with second explosives to form second fluid passages.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
removing said gun and said plug after said perforating and fracturing all said intervals;
producing at least one said interval without milling in the borehole.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
initiating said fracturing at the same time as said perforating.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
firing different locations on said gun at different intervals.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
pumping to boost hydrostatic pressure to said gun when said gun is fired.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
delivering said gun and plug with wireline, wired tubing, one-trip wired drill pipe casing or wired pipe or coiled tubing.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a peripheral seal for said bottom hole assembly;
driving said assembly to the subterranean location with a predetermined fluid volume.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said plug is an inflatable.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing at least one sensor to measure at least one borehole condition;
transmitting said measured condition to a surface location;
locating said gun in a given said interval based on said measured conditions.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising
providing multiple sensors for additionally measuring conditions during said fracturing for optimizing said fracturing.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
measuring at least one of pressure, flow rate and temperature during said fracturing.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
locating said gun based on said measured condition for re-fracturing in locations spaced from previously fractured intervals.

13. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a multitude of charges and corresponding detonators selectively activated from the surface or by following a triggered pre-programmed operational sequence.

14. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
selectively detonating a charge or group of charges in an operational sequence at each fracking station isolated by a retractable pressure sealing packer for the combined perforation and fracking operation in sequence, simultaneously or overlapping in time soon after a perforation is developed.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
deploying an upper sealing retractable packer on top of the BHA;
perforating and fracking in any sequence along the well or in different fracking events or BHA trips downhole during the production life cycle of a fracked well or during a secondary well or reservoir re-fracking stimulation.

16. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a pressure booster that operates under telemetry control comprising wireline, pressure pulse or dropped or pumped down balls triggering a prescribed or pre-programmed operational sequence.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
selecting the well zones to be isolated perforated and backed before the initial fracking of the well;
after fracking, determining well zones production potential by either cased well or open hole formation evaluation log analysis.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
assisting and jointly interpreting said selecting with seismic data obtained either in the surface or borehole.

19. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
identifying and prioritizing initially fracked zones with post-fracking production levels found lacking for the purpose of re-fracking or infill-fracking intervals between previously fracked well fracking locations.

20. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
selecting and prioritizing of well zones for re-fracking based on either cased hole production logging tool or cased hole formation evaluation to determine the zones initially fracked which are producing below target values and that have re-stimulation potential; and re-fracking said zones producing below target values and having re-stimulation potential to obtain a production increase.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Castillo Homero C
• Fanini Otto N

Classifications

• E21B43/261

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

• E21B43/26 Primary

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B43/119

  Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction · CPC title