Wellbore plug isolation system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9835006-B2
Application number	US-201514714924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	Aug 13, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

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 milling method, said method operating in conjunction with a wellbore milling system, said system comprising a plurality of restriction sleeve members (RSMs):
wherein
said plurality of restriction sleeve members are configured to fit within a wellbore casing;
said plurality of restriction sleeve members are configured to be positioned at a desired wellbore location by a wellbore setting tool (WST);
said plurality of restriction sleeve members are configured with protruding fingers on either end; and
said plurality of restriction sleeve members are pushed to interlock to each other such that said plurality of restriction sleeve members are milled out in a single milling operation prior to production;
wherein said method comprises the steps of:
(1) installing said wellbore casing;
(2) deploying said wellbore setting tool along with said at least one restriction sleeve member and a perforating gun string assembly (GSA) to a desired wellbore location in said wellbore casing;
(3) setting said at least one restriction sleeve member at said desired wellbore location with said wellbore setting tool and forming a seal;
(4) perforating the hydrocarbon formation with said perforating gun string assembly;
(5) removing said wellbore setting tool and perforating gun string assembly from said wellbore casing;
(6) deploying said restriction plug element into said wellbore casing to seat in said restriction sleeve member and creating a hydraulic fracturing stage;
(7) fracturing said stage with fracturing fluids;
(8) checking if all hydraulic fracturing stages in said wellbore casing have been completed, if not so, proceeding to said deploying said wellbore setting tool step;
(9) removing all restriction plug elements;
(10) with a milling tool, interlocking said fingers of each of said plurality of restriction sleeve members to an adjacent restriction sleeve member starting from the heel end to toe end;
(11) milling said plurality of restriction sleeve members in a single step;
(12) enabling fluid flow in production direction; and
(13) commencing oil and gas production from said hydraulic fracturing stages.

2. The wellbore milling method of claim 1 wherein said wellbore setting tool grips said plurality of restriction sleeve members to the inside of said casing with gripping elements selected from a group consisting of: elastomers, carbide buttons, and wicker forms.

3. The wellbore milling method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of restriction sleeve members are degradable.

4. The wellbore milling method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of restriction sleeve members material is selected from a group consisting of: aluminum, iron, steel, titanium, tungsten, copper, bronze, brass, plastic, composite, natural fiber, and carbide.

5. The wellbore milling method of claim 1 wherein
said wellbore casing comprises an inner casing surface (ICS) associated with an inner casing diameter (ICD);
said plurality of restriction sleeve members comprises an inner sleeve surface (ISS) associated with an inner sleeve diameter (ISD); and
ratio of said inner sleeve diameter to said inner casing diameter ranges from 0.5 to 0.99.

6. The wellbore milling method of claim 1 wherein said desired wellbore location is configured such that unevenly spaced hydraulic fracturing stages are created.

7. The wellbore milling method of claim 1 wherein said wellbore setting tool sets each of said plurality of restriction sleeve members at plurality of points of said inside surface of said casing.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• George Kevin R
• Hardesty John T

Classifications

• 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

• E21B43/103

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

• E21B33/128

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

• E21B33/124 Primary

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

• E21B43/14 Primary

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title