U.S. patent application number 13/011658 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-26 for combined fracturing outlet and production port for a tubular string.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated. Invention is credited to Tianping Huang, Richard Y. Xu.
Application Number | 20120186803 13/011658 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46516360 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120186803 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xu; Richard Y. ; et
al. |
July 26, 2012 |
Combined Fracturing Outlet and Production Port for a Tubular
String
Abstract
One or more openings in a zone have an adjacent screen assembly
that is axially movable to a position away from the port when
pressure in the tubing exceeds the annulus pressure by a
predetermined value. Upon the differential being reduced below a
predetermined value or when annulus pressure exceeds the tubing
pressure, the screen moves over the port to block at least some of
the solids in the formation or the well fluids from entering the
tubing string. The screen movement can be aided by a bias force and
the movement can be locked in to prevent the screen that has moved
to a position over the port from moving back away from the
port.
Inventors: |
Xu; Richard Y.; (Tomball,
TX) ; Huang; Tianping; (Spring, TX) |
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
46516360 |
Appl. No.: |
13/011658 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/26 20130101;
E21B 43/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/205 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/00 20060101
E21B043/00 |
Claims
1. A completion apparatus for subterranean use, comprising: a
housing having an internal passage and at least one wall flow port
from said passage that is automatically reconfigured as to flow
restriction therethrough.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said port has an unrestricted
configuration and a screened configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said reconfiguration is
responsive to pressure differential between said internal passage
and subterranean pressure around said housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a movably mounted
screen assembly in said passage.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: a pressure port extending
through said wall of said housing and leading to a variable sealed
volume between said wall and said movably mounted screen
assembly.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: screen assembly comprises a
first and second opposed annular surfaces, said second annular
surface defines at least a part of said variable volume.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said first annular surface on
said screen assembly moves said screen assembly, in response to
pressure in said passage, to reduce the volume of said variable
volume.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said screen assembly is
biased toward a position where said port is in said screened
configuration.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said biasing comprises at
least one of a coiled spring, Belleville washer or a compartment
holding a compressible fluid.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said screen assembly
comprises a sleeve assembly in said passage having an outer
surface; said variable volume and said biasing disposed in said
housing between said sleeve and said wall.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said sleeve comprises a
plurality of wall openings covered by at least one annularly shaped
screen.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said at least one screen
selectively aligns with at least one circumferential row of wall
flow ports.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said sleeve assembly moves
only in a direction toward putting said port in a screened
configuration.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said sleeve assembly moves
in opposed directions.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said sleeve is restrained
with a breakable member.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: said sleeve puts said port
in said screened configuration in response to at least one pressure
application and removal cycle in said passage.
17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said port further comprises
a telescoping passage.
18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said bias and pressure in
said variable volume against said second annular surface push said
screen assembly toward a position where said port is in said
screened configuration.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein: passage pressure acting on
said first annular surface opposes the force of said bias and
variable volume pressure on said second annular surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said at least one flow port
comprises multiple flow ports in an isolated subterranean zone.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is fracturing systems that allow
subsequent production through the fracture openings and more
particularly an automatic way to control solids from entering
during the transition time between fracturing and production.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A variety of systems that allow fracturing ports to be
opened to fracture a zone have been developed. Some of these
systems also use telescoping members that extend out of the sting
and across an annular gap to contact the borehole wall. In some
designs the impact with the borehole wall from an extension of
these telescoping passages is intended to start the fracture
process which is then continued with the delivery of fluid through
the ports at high velocities that result from high applied
pressures. The fluid usually contains high concentration of
proppants.
[0003] The openings for fracturing are preferably not obstructed
with screens for handling subsequent production. As a result the
designs have provided one set of ports for fracturing and another
for subsequent production where a sliding sleeve or some other
valve operator is used to shift between the wide open tubular ports
and the production ports that have screens. However, in this
arrangement there is a transition time to shift a variety of
sliding sleeves from fracturing mode to production mode. In that
transition time the tubing pressure can drop below the formation
pressure and some solids or proppant migration can take place into
the tubular string and create operational difficulties with the
uphole equipment. Putting screens in the fracturing outlets
provides protection against solids or proppant return flow after
fracturing operation is completed. Some examples of related
previous designs are U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,401,648; 7,591,312; U.S.
Publication 2010/0263871and 2010/0282469.
[0004] What is needed is a system that allows a given port to be
wide open for fracturing and then have a screen material move into
place over the port when the fracturing is done. In a preferred
embodiment the movement of the screen would be automatic and it
could further be triggered by pressure reduction in the tubing
string. Optionally the movement of the screen can be tied to a
differential pressure between the tubing and the surrounding
annulus that moves the screen. The screen can be biased to assist
in the movement and the movement can be locked against a return to
the former screen position. These and other advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the
art from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment
and the associated drawings while recognizing that the full scope
of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One or more openings in a zone have an adjacent screen
assembly that is axially movable to a position away from the port
when pressure in the tubing exceeds the annulus pressure by a
predetermined value. Upon the differential being reduced below a
predetermined value or when annulus pressure exceeds the tubing
pressure, the screen moves over the port to block at least some of
the solids in the formation or/and proppants in fracture from
entering the tubing string. The screen movement can be aided by a
bias force and the movement can be locked in to prevent the screen
that has moved to a position over the port from moving back away
from the port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a section view showing the screen out of the way
of the port during fracturing; and
[0007] FIG. 2 is the view of FIG. 1 with the tubing pressure
reduced to the point that formation pressure and an optional bias
force push the screen assembly into alignment with the fracturing
port that can now be used for production.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a tubular string 10 that
extends through a zone that is defined at opposed ends such as by
packers 12 and 14 that are schematically illustrated. Although a
single port 16 is illustrated in the zone 18, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that multiple ports 16 and their associated
equipment described below can be used. The string 10 can extend
beyond zone 18 on either or both ends but such extension or
extensions are omitted for greater clarity in the FIG. The port 16
can optionally have a telescoping assembly 20 that extends the
outlet 22 to the borehole wall where the impact initially can cause
formation fractures on extension. Pumped fluid from the surface
through passage 24 as represented by arrow 26 also pushes on piston
area 30 as indicated by arrows 28. The piston area 30 is preferably
is just below a series of rows of ports 34. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that different styles of screens can be used
such a wire wrap or Dutch Twill or simply a porous cylindrically
shaped block near the piston area 30 and inside the passage 24 or
an annularly shaped screen member over the ports 34 in the sleeve
32.
[0009] Sleeve 32 has an external ring 36 with an o-ring 38 against
the inner wall 40 of the tubular 10. The tubular 10 has an inner
ring 42 with an o-ring 44 against an outer wall 46 of the sleeve
32. As a result, there is an annular variable volume 48 with access
to the formation through passage 50. Arrow 52 represents formation
or surrounding annulus pressure acting in volume 48.
[0010] Biasing sleeve 52 has a biasing member such as a spring 54
supported off an internal shoulder 56 from the inside wall 40 of
the tubular 10. Other biasing techniques can be used such as a
stack of Belleville washers or a pressurized chamber of
compressible fluid. Although sleeves 32 and 52 are shown as
separate sleeves they can be one integrated sleeve as to one or a
row of ports 16 or to axially spaced circumferential rows of ports
16.
[0011] The telescoping members 20 can be initially extended by
fluid velocity through ports 22 or by rupture discs (not shown)
that can break under pressure after the telescoping assemblies 20
fully extend and pressure continues to be built up.
[0012] Depending on the strength of the spring 54 and the pressures
represented by arrows 26 and 52 the sleeves 32 and 52 will be in
the FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 positions. In FIG. 2 arrow 58 represents
inflow of production and fluid in the wellbore through the port 16
and the screen 33 that has automatically shifted into alignment
with port 16 due to the bias of spring 54 and pressure in volume 48
from ports 50 represented by arrow 60 exceed the pressure in
passage in passage 24 and the opposing force it puts on piston area
30. In FIG. 2 the piston area 62 pushing the screen 33 to the port
16 using the pressure indicated by arrow 60 and the added force
from spring 54 overcomes the opposing force in passage 24 acting on
the area of opposing surface 30, which is preferably the same
piston area as 62. If the sleeves 32 and 52 are unrestrained during
run in, the FIG. 2 position happens when pressure in the passage 24
is equal to or less than the annulus pressure outside the housing
10. As the tubing pressure rises relative to the annular pressure
to overcome the force of the spring 54, such as at the start of
fracturing, the sleeves 32 and 52 move the screen 33 away from port
16. If fracturing pressure is lost the screen 33 can move back to
the port 16. Such opposed direction movement can be repeated unless
otherwise restrained.
[0013] Spring 54 can be nested and or stacked coil springs as an
option. As another option the spring 54 can be eliminated so that
movement to the FIG. 2 position is just a function of pressure
differential between the tubing pressure in passage 24 and the
surrounding formation and well pressure in the zone 18.
Alternatively, the FIG. 1 position can be held by a breakable
member, not shown that is broken when the differential between
formation and tubing pressure exceeds a predetermined value. As
another option the sleeve 32 or 52 can have a one way ratchet (not
shown) so that it will stay in the FIG. 2 position once reaching it
or alternatively it will only move in the direction toward the port
16 and not in the reverse direction.
[0014] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the movement
of the screen into position by a port that had been used earlier to
fracture lends many advantages. For one, the same port can be used
at different times and in different conditions for fracturing and
then production. Another advantage is that the system is pressure
sensitive to reconfigure the fracturing ports to filtration mode on
a loss or reduction of tubing pressure to a predetermined
amount.
[0015] As another alternative to avoid an automatic conversion from
fully open ports as in FIG. 1 to fully screened ports as in FIG. 2
when any pressure change happens, a j-slot (not shown) between the
sleeves 32, 52 and the inner wall 40 of the tubular 10 can be
provided. If that is done any momentary pressure loss during
fracturing will not necessarily move the screen 33 into alignment
with the port 16. Instead, there will need to be a defined number
of pressure applications and removals using the j-slot before
sufficient movement of the screen 33 occurs to place it in
alignment with the port 16. Even with the j-slot the final movement
of the screen 33 into alignment with the port 16 can still be a one
way movement by engaging a ratchet (not shown) at the end of such
movement that puts the screen 33 in alignment with the port 16.
[0016] As another configuration if the fracturing pressure is lost
momentarily resulting in shifting of the screen 33 into alignment
with the port 16, the pressure in the tubing passage 24 can simply
be raised to reverse such movement if the fracturing process has
still not been completed.
[0017] The above description is illustrative of the preferred
embodiment and many modifications may be made by those skilled in
the art without departing from the invention whose scope is to be
determined from the literal and equivalent scope of the claims
below:
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