System and Method for Managed Pressure Wellbore Strengthening
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsMojtaba Karimi, Don Hannegan, Mojtaba P. Shahri, Ovunc Mutlu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for wellbore strengthening are disclosed. An effective way to strengthen a wellbore and prevent future fractures during drilling operations is to induce fractures having a desired fracture width profile and fracture length. Surface back pressure can be used to accurately induce such fractures. The induced fractures which are then sealed can increase fracture gradient of the wellbore thus mitigating future fractures.
Claims43
A method for strengthening a wellbore, the method comprising:
- applying surface back pressure to at least one region of the wellbore to induce at least one fracture in the at least one region.
A method for strengthening a wellbore comprising:
- providing a drilling tool having a pressure regulator, and a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the pressure regulator, the programmable logic controller also coupled to a geomechanical engine;
- determining, using the programmable logic controller and the geomechanical engine, an amount of pressure required to induce a fracture having a specific length and a specific width profile;
- instructing the pressure regulator to adjust its setting to achieve the amount of pressure required;
- and
- applying, using the pressure regulator, the amount of pressure to the wellbore to induce the fracture.
An system for strengthening a wellbore, comprising:
- a pressure regulator;
- and
- a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the pressure regulator;
- wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to determine an amount of pressure required to induce a fracture having a specific geometry in the wellbore and to instruct the pressure regulator to adjust its setting to achieve the amount of pressure;
- and wherein the pressure regulator is configured to apply the amount of pressure to the wellbore.
A method for strengthening a wellbore comprising:
- providing a drilling tool having a pressure regulator, and a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the pressure regulator, the programmable logic controller also coupled to a geomechanical engine;
- determining, using the programmable logic controller and the geomechanical engine, an amount of pressure required to initiate a fracture and an amount of pressure required to propagate the initiated fracture to a specific geometry;
- instructing the pressure regulator to adjust its setting to achieve the amount of pressure required to initiate the fracture;
- and
- applying to the wellbore, using the pressure regulator, the amount of pressure required to initiate the fracture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.