System and Method for Re-fracturing Multizone Horizontal Wellbores

A system for re-fracturing a plurality of locations within a multizone horizontal wellbore, the system comprising:

• a first tubing string positioned within a multizone horizontal wellbore, the first tubing string extending from a surface location to a first location in the multizone horizontal wellbore, the first location being a lowermost previously fractured location along the multizone horizontal wellbore;
• a packing element connected proximate to an end of the first tubing string, the packing element adapted to repeatedly seal an annulus between the first tubing string and a casing of the multizone horizontal wellbore, the end of the first tubing string being adapted to permit the hydraulic re-fracturing of selected locations within the multizone horizontal wellbore;
• and
• a plurality of diverting material, each of the plurality of diverting material positioned proximate to a previously fractured location to selectively hydraulically isolate the previously fractured location.

A method for selectively re-fracturing one or more previously fractured locations within a horizontal wellbore, the method comprising:

• positioning a packing element uphole of a first previously fractured location, the packing element being connecting to a tubing string;
• actuating the packing element to seal an annulus between the tubing string and a casing uphole of the first previously fractured location;
• pumping fluid down the tubing string to re-fracture the first previously fractured location;
• providing a first diverting material proximate the re-fractured first previously fractured location;
• unsetting the packing element;
• positioning the packing element uphole of a second previously fractured location;
• actuating the packing element to seal the annulus between the tubing string and the casing uphole of the second previously fractured location;
• pumping fluid down the tubing string to re-fracture the second previously fractured location;
• and
• providing a second diverting material proximate the re-fractured second previously fractured location.