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WO2018169971A1 - Bille de fracturation à région structurellement affaiblie - Google Patents

Bille de fracturation à région structurellement affaiblie Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2018169971A1
WO2018169971A1 PCT/US2018/022203 US2018022203W WO2018169971A1 WO 2018169971 A1 WO2018169971 A1 WO 2018169971A1 US 2018022203 W US2018022203 W US 2018022203W WO 2018169971 A1 WO2018169971 A1 WO 2018169971A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
frac
ball
structurally weakened
disposed
wall
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2018/022203
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Andrew KOCHANEK
Kurt Nelson
James Danyluk
Original Assignee
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company filed Critical Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company
Priority to US16/494,142 priority Critical patent/US20200370389A1/en
Priority to CA3055414A priority patent/CA3055414A1/fr
Publication of WO2018169971A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018169971A1/fr
Priority to NO20191215A priority patent/NO20191215A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
    • E21B2200/08—Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/25—Methods for stimulating production
    • E21B43/26—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures

Definitions

  • the wellbore 20 includes a fluid conduit (typically referred to as a "casing"; e.g., casing 22) disposed within a drilled bore extending below surface level 24.
  • the wellbore 20 is diagrammatically shown as having a substantially vertical oriented section 26, a substantially horizontal oriented section 28, and an arcuate section 30 connecting the vertical and horizontal sections 26, 28.
  • the casing 22 is described herein as including well casing segmentation devices 32, packers 34, and pipe sections 36.
  • the pipe sections 36 include a wall 38 surrounding a flow passage 40.
  • a well completion process that utilizes hydraulic fracturing involves creating fractures 44 (e.g., cavities) within the subterranean ground adjacent the casing 22 to facilitate extraction of hydrocarbon materials (or water) disposed within the subterranean ground.
  • the fracturing process is typically performed in segments (sometimes referred to as "stages" or “zones”); e.g., a first segment of the casing 22 may be created adjacent the portion of the wellbore 20 furthest from the wellhead 46 (e.g., using a well casing segmentation device 32), and the casing 22 in that segment "perforated” to create a fluid path between the casing flow passage 40 and the subterranean environment adjacent the segment.
  • a frac-ball 50 includes a body 52 having a shell configuration defined by one or more walls 54, with each wall 54 having an exterior surface 56 and an interior surface 58.
  • the interior surfaces 56 define an enclosed interior cavity 60.
  • the thickness of the wall 54 is defined as the shortest distance between an interior surface 58 and the exterior surface 56 (e.g., extending along a line extending radially outwardly from the center of a spherical shell passing through the interior and exterior surfaces 56, 58, or a line passing through the surfaces 56, 58 that is substantially normal to both surfaces, etc.).
  • a frac-ball 50 according to the present disclosure may be formed as a unitary body or may be formed as a plurality of independent pieces that are combined to produce the frac-ball 50.
  • the two body portions 62, 64 may include male and female features that mate with one another to facilitate the connection between the two body portions.
  • the first body portion 62 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 includes an inside flange 66 having screw threads disposed on an exterior surface of the inside flange 66
  • the second body portion 64 includes screw threads disposed on an interior surface.
  • a frac-ball 50 may include a plurality of pockets 70 with one or more having a geometric configuration that differs from the geometric configuration of another.
  • the frac-ball may include a plurality of different structurally weakened regions 68 disposed in coordination with one another; e.g., configured and combined such that failure of one precipitates failures of others, thereby leading to fracturing of the frac-ball into discrete pieces.
  • one or more pockets 70 may be disposed extending into the wall 54 from the exterior wall surface 56 of the frac-ball 50 (i.e., an "exterior wall pocket").
  • the frac-ball 50 may include one or more pockets 70 extending into the wall 54 from the interior surface 58 of the frac-ball interior cavity 60 and one or more pockets 70 disposed extending into the wall 54 from the exterior wall surface 56 of the frac-ball 50 (e.g., a combination of interior and exterior wall pockets).
  • an interior wall pocket 70 may be aligned with an exterior wall pocket 70.
  • the present disclosure is not limited to any particular configuration of wall pockets 70.
  • the second material plugs 78 are comprised of a material dissimilar to the frac-ball first material.
  • the second material erodes, corrodes, or dissolves at a second rate when subjected to well casing fluids, which second rate is faster than the first rate.
  • the second material erodes, corrodes, or dissolves. Once a sufficient amount of the second material has eroded, corroded, or dissolved, fluid flow may pass through the frac-ball via the wall apertures 68A, or the remaining pockets may be structurally inadequate and the wall may be breached and/or the frac-ball ruptured into discrete pieces.
  • fluid may flow through the frac-ball 50 (or through the well casing segmentation seat in the event of frac-ball rupture.
  • the second material may be disposed only within the frac-ball wall apertures 68A, or may be disposed in the apertures 68A as well as the interior cavity 60 of the frac-ball 50.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates another example of a structurally weakened region 68 that includes a dissimilar material.
  • the frac-ball 50 has walls 54 formed of a first material that erodes, corrodes, or dissolves at a first rate when subjected to well casing fluids, and includes a plurality of apertures 68B.
  • the frac-ball 50 does not have a shell configuration.
  • the frac-ball body 52 is a solid body comprised of the first material except for apertures 68B that extend entirely through the frac-ball body 52; e.g., apertures that extend between opposite exterior wall surfaces 56.
  • the apertures 68B are filled with a plug 78 comprised of a second material.
  • the second material is dissimilar to the frac-ball 50 first material.
  • the second material erodes, corrodes, or dissolves at a second rate when subjected to well casing fluids, which second rate is faster than the first rate.
  • the second material erodes, corrodes, or dissolves and the second material no longer prevents fluid flow through the frac-ball wall apertures 68B.
  • fluid may flow through the frac-ball 50.
  • FIG. 10 depicts apertures 68B that are orthogonally oriented and intersecting with one another. The present disclosure is not limited to particular aperture 68B configuration, including this example.
  • a frac-ball 50 may have walls 54 that include apertures 68C disposed within the walls 54 that extend between the exterior wall surface 56 and the interior wall surface 58, and plugs 82 disposed within the apertures 68C.
  • the plugs 82 have an asymmetric configuration that prevents them from passing radially inward. For example, FIG.
  • a frac-ball 50 may include a predetermined failure mechanism configured to cause the structurally weakened regions 68 to fail or be breached.
  • the predetermined failure mechanism may include an energetic material 80 (e.g., an explosive material) disposed within the interior cavity of the frac-ball 50 (e.g., see FIG. 6). The detonation of the energetic material 80 is sufficient to cause the structurally weakened regions 68 to fail or be breached. For example, the detonation of the energetic material 80 is adequate to rupture or fracture (e.g., mechanically fail) the structurally weakened regions 68.
  • an energetic material 80 e.g., an explosive material
  • the failed structurally weakened regions either precipitate failure of the remainder of the frac-ball into discrete pieces, or create one or more fluid passages through the otherwise intact frac-ball 50.
  • the detonation of the energetic material 80 creates an elevated pressure event (i.e., a substantial rise in the pressure within the interior cavity 60 of the frac-ball 50) of a magnitude that is adequate to fail/breach preferably all of the structurally weakened regions 68.
  • the elevated pressure event produces an amount of force that is beyond the material strength of the structurally weakened region and the amount of external fluid force acting on the structurally weakened region.
  • the interior cavity 60 of the frac-ball 50 may contain a liquid (or gel) considered to be substantially incompressible.
  • energy created by the energetic material 80 e.g., the elevated pressure event
  • the frac-ball body 52 e.g., via shock wave
  • FIG. 12 includes a fill port 99 that could be used to fill the frac-ball interior cavity 60 with such a liquid.
  • fluid core materials include water, mineral oil, ballistic gelatin, and silicon oil.
  • Fluid materials e.g., oils, ballistic gelatin, etc. that have no adverse effect on trigger mechanism electronics are particularly useful.
  • RDX cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine
  • DDNP diazodinitrophenol
  • the mechanism may be disposed within the frac-ball 50 in a form that can be initiated by a selectively operable trigger mechanism 84.
  • a trigger mechanism 84 may assume a variety of different forms, and the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of trigger mechanism 84.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may include electronic circuitry (digital or analog) capable of executing logical functions (referred to hereinafter generically as a "logic controller 86"; see FIG. 11).
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may include a logic controller 86 that includes electronic hardware components capable of executing logic functions.
  • a trigger mechanism 84 may include one or more processors capable of processing stored instructions (e.g., instructions stored in a memory device included directly with the processor, or one separate from, but in communication with, the processor).
  • a trigger mechanism 84 may also include one or more sensors 90 (e.g., temperature sensors, pressure sensors, magnetic, electromagnetic, conductivity, etc.), timing devices 92, receivers 94 (e.g., adapted to RF signals, ultrasonic signals, pressure pulse signals, etc.) and/or receiver-transmitters, an energy source 96 (e.g., a battery), one or more detonators 98, etc., including any combination thereof.
  • the aforesaid sensors 90, timing devices 92, receivers 94, energy source 96, detonators 98, etc. may be in communication with the logic controller 86 via electronic circuitry.
  • a first example of a type of trigger mechanism 84 is one that is temperature activated.
  • Some wells have well portions where the subterranean environment is at elevated temperature.
  • a fracturing fluid that is being pumped from the surface may be no warmer than a known temperature (e.g., 80° F) and during fracturing the aforesaid fluid will maintain a frac-ball 50 at a temperature that is cooler than the surrounding well
  • the fracking fluid acts as a coolant.
  • the warmer temperature reservoir fluids and gases will raise the temperature of the frac-ball 50 via thermal conduction and/or convection.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may be disabled below a predetermined temperature, and enabled at temperatures above the predetermined temperature.
  • a temperature sensor 90 portion of the trigger mechanism 84 provides a signal indicative of the temperature to a logic controller 86 portion of the trigger mechanism 84. Once a predetermined temperature (e.g., "a trigger temperature”) is sensed, the logic controller 86 executes logic that directly or indirectly initiates the energetic material.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may include a temperature activated bimetallic device (not shown).
  • a bimetallic device may include a first metallic alloy and a second metallic alloy.
  • the first metallic alloy has a first melting temperature and the second metallic alloy has a second melting temperature, which second melting temperature is higher than the first melting temperature.
  • the first metallic alloy and the second metallic alloy are exothermically reactive with one another, and are initially separated from one another.
  • the first metallic alloy is selected to have a melting temperature that coincides with the desired trigger temperature. When the first metallic alloy reaches the trigger temperature it melts, begins to flow, and contacts the second metallic alloy, thereby triggering an exothermic reaction between the two alloys.
  • the exothermic reaction between the alloys may be the mechanism that causes detonation of the energetic material 80.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 is one that is pressure activated.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may include a pressure sensor 90 that is in communication with a logic controller 86.
  • the pressure sensor 90 communicates to the logic controller 86 that a predetermined environmental pressure is present, the logic controller directly or indirectly initiates the energetic material 80.
  • the predetermined pressure could be the high pressure resultant from a fracturing operation or it could simply be the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the column of fluid in the well.
  • FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates a frac-ball 50 embodiment that includes a trigger mechanism 84 (having logic controller 86) and energetic material 80 disposed in the interior cavity 60 of the frac-ball 50.
  • a pair of pressure sensors 90 are shown mounted in the walls of the frac-ball body 52.
  • the pressure sensors 90 sense the pressure in the well casing fluid and communicate signals to the logic controller 86 portion of the trigger mechanism 84 indicative of the environmental pressure.
  • the logic controller 86 directly or indirectly initiate the energetic material 80.
  • the predetermined pressure could be the high pressure resultant from a fracturing operation or it could simply be the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the column of fluid in the well.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 is one that activates upon receipt or termination of a selectively emitted signal.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may include a signal receiver 94 (which may be in the form of a pressure sensor 90), in communication with a logic controller 86. Signals received by the receiver 94 (e.g., radio frequency energy type signal, acoustic energy type signals, pressure pulse type signals, etc.) are communicated to a logic controller 86. The logic controller 86 causes the selective detonation of the energetic material 80.
  • trigger mechanism 84 is one where the frac-ball 50 is physically processed prior to deployment.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 can be configured to activate upon the frac-ball 50 being spun at a predetermined rotational speed (e.g., "X" rotations per minute -"RPMs") to arm the device prior to deployment.
  • a predetermined rotational speed e.g., "X" rotations per minute -"RPMs
  • a trigger mechanism 84 may include one or more safety features.
  • the trigger mechanism 84 may be configured to include an activating sequence that includes an inhibit whereby prior to detonation of an energetic material, the trigger mechanism will query its surroundings to verify certain predetermined conditions. If the condition is satisfied, then the trigger mechanism 84 will initiate rupture or breach of the frac- ball 50.
  • a frac-ball includes a predetermined failure mechanism that includes an energetic material 80 (e.g., an explosive material) disposed within the interior cavity of the frac-ball 50 (e.g., see FIG. 5), and the frac-ball includes plugs 82 disposed within its walls 54
  • the detonation of the energetic material 80 creates an elevated pressure event of a magnitude that is adequate to dislodge the plugs 82.
  • Dislodging the plugs 82 from the frac-ball 50 body will create one or more fluid passages through the frac-ball 50, or cause the frac-ball wall to fail and fracture into discrete pieces.
  • Frac-balls 50 Prior art frac-balls of which we are aware do not include internal passages that permit well casing fluid to pass through the frac-ball. As a result, only the external surface area of the frac-ball is exposed to well casing fluid. Hence, any erosion, corrosion, or dissolution of these type frac-balls necessarily takes place at the external surface. Frac-balls 50 according to the present disclosure, on the other hand, allow well-casing fluids to enter the interior of the frac- ball 50 upon failure of the structurally weakened regions 68. As a result, all interior surfaces of the frac-ball 50 are exposed to well casing fluid (as well as the exterior surfaces) and are subject to erosion, corrosion, or dissolution.
  • frac-balls 50 Another significant aspect of the present disclosure frac-balls 50 is that they decrease the amount of time until fluid flow within the well casing can be resumed relative to certain solid frac-ball embodiments.
  • the present disclosure frac-balls 50 also provide a mechanism that gives increased certainty to the time at which fluid flow within the well casing can be resumed. This increased certainty increases the efficiency of fracing a well that has a plurality of zones.
  • the present disclosure represents improvements over prior art exploding solid frac-balls.
  • the structurally weakened regions 68 facilitate the present frac-ball 50 fracturing into smaller discrete pieces than would likely be possible otherwise, particularly if the frac-ball 50 has a hollow configuration.
  • the smaller discrete pieces by themselves are desirable because they decrease the possibility of a discrete piece creating a fluid flow impediment within the well casing.
  • frac-balls 50 can be tailored to have a predetermined mechanical strength when operating as a sealing plug disposed within the seat of a segmentation device, and at the same time be tailored to fail (e.g., via the structurally weakened regions 68) at a predetermined pressure.
  • the present disclosure provides a user with a device capable of satisfying the sealing requirements, as well as a device that can be altered to permit fluid flow in a controlled manner. Tailoring both the sealing strength and the failure mode can be achieved in a variety of different ways as indicated above; e.g., varying the number, geometry, and location of the structurally weakened regions 68, coupled with the varying the frac-ball wall thickness, etc.
  • a method of controlling fluid flow through a well casing segmentation device includes disposing an impermeable frac-ball in a seat of a well casing segmentation device to close a fluid passage of the well casing segmentation device, wherein the frac-ball includes at least one structurally weakened region, and causing an elevated pressure event adequate to cause the at least one structurally weakened region to fail, thereby opening the fluid passage of the well casing segmentation device.

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  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Check Valves (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une bille de fracturation destinée à être utilisée avec un dispositif de segmentation de tubage de puits et un procédé de commande de l'écoulement du fluide à travers un dispositif de segmentation de tubage de puits. La bille de fracturation comprend un corps ayant une configuration de coque délimitée par une ou plusieurs parois, chaque paroi ayant une surface extérieure et une surface intérieure. Les surfaces intérieures délimitent une cavité intérieure renfermée. Une ou plusieurs régions structurellement affaiblies sont disposées dans lesdites parois.
PCT/US2018/022203 2017-03-13 2018-03-13 Bille de fracturation à région structurellement affaiblie WO2018169971A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/494,142 US20200370389A1 (en) 2017-03-13 2018-03-13 Frac-ball with structurally weakened region
CA3055414A CA3055414A1 (fr) 2017-03-13 2018-03-13 Bille de fracturation a region structurellement affaiblie
NO20191215A NO20191215A1 (en) 2017-03-13 2019-10-11 Frac-ball with structurally weakened region

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201762470558P 2017-03-13 2017-03-13
US62/470,558 2017-03-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2018169971A1 true WO2018169971A1 (fr) 2018-09-20

Family

ID=63522502

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2018/022203 WO2018169971A1 (fr) 2017-03-13 2018-03-13 Bille de fracturation à région structurellement affaiblie

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20200370389A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA3055414A1 (fr)
NO (1) NO20191215A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2018169971A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11454091B2 (en) * 2019-04-19 2022-09-27 Gregoire Max Jacob Sensing and recording module within an untethered object acting as a pressure differential isolation of well fluid

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2015113614A (ja) * 2013-12-10 2015-06-22 京セラ株式会社 フラックボールおよびこれを備える掘進装置用筒状部材
US20160130906A1 (en) * 2014-11-07 2016-05-12 Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company Destructible frac-ball and device and method for use therewith

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2015113614A (ja) * 2013-12-10 2015-06-22 京セラ株式会社 フラックボールおよびこれを備える掘進装置用筒状部材
US20160130906A1 (en) * 2014-11-07 2016-05-12 Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company Destructible frac-ball and device and method for use therewith

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20200370389A1 (en) 2020-11-26
CA3055414A1 (fr) 2018-09-20
NO20191215A1 (en) 2019-10-11

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