Method and Apparatus for Wellbore Fluid Treatment

An apparatus for fluid treatment in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a tubing string including:
• (i) a wall defining an inner bore extending along a longitudinal axis,
• (ii) at least one first port in the wall;
• and
• (iii) at least one second port in the wall, the at least one second port spaced axially downhole from the at least one first port;
• b) a first valve mounted in the inner bore and translatable along the axis in a downhole direction from a first position in which fluid communication between the inner bore and the wellbore through the at least one first port is blocked, toward a second position in which the at least one first port is open to provide fluid communication between the inner bore and the wellbore through the at least one first port, the first valve having a first conduit extending along the axis for permitting passage of fluid through the first valve, the first conduit defined at least in part by a minimum first radial extent measured transversely from the axis to a radially innermost surface of the first valve when the first valve is in the first position;
• and
• c) a second valve mounted in the inner bore downhole of the first valve and translatable along the axis in the downhole direction from a third position in which fluid communication between the inner bore and the wellbore through the at least one second port is blocked, toward a fourth position in which the at least one second port is open to provide fluid communication between the inner bore and the wellbore through the at least one second port, the second valve having a second conduit extending along the axis for permitting passage of fluid through the second valve, the second conduit defined at least in part by a minimum second radial extent measured transversely from the axis to a radially innermost surface of the second valve when the second valve is in the third position,
• wherein the second radial extent is generally equal to the first radial extent.

An apparatus for fluid treatment in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a tubing string including:
• (i) a wall defining an inner bore extending along a longitudinal axis, and (ii) a plurality of axially spaced apart ports in the wall;
• and
• b) a plurality of axially spaced apart valves mounted in the inner bore, each valve independently translatable along the axis in a downhole direction, each valve translatable from a closed position in which fluid communication through at least one of the plurality of ports is blocked, toward an open position in which the at least one of the plurality of ports is open to provide fluid communication between the inner bore and the wellbore through the at least one of the plurality of ports, each valve having a conduit for permitting passage of fluid through the valve, the conduit extending along a centerline generally parallel with the axis, and the conduit having a minimum radial extent measured from the centerline to a radially innermost surface of the valve when the valve is in the closed position, wherein the minimum radial extent of each valve is generally equal.

An apparatus for fluid treatment of a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a tubing string having:
• (i) a wall defining an inner bore extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubing string, and (ii) a plurality of spaced apart ports in the wall;
• and
• b) a plurality of axially spaced apart valves configured to permit fluid to flow therethrough, the plurality of axially spaced apart valves mounted along the tubing string, each valve actuable by a common plug movable through the tubing string, each valve actuable by the plug to move the valve from a first position in which the valve is configured to cover one or more of the plurality of ports to a second position in which the valve is configured to open one or more of the plurality of ports to permit fluid communication between the inner bore and the wellbore, and each valve having a minimum inner diameter with respect to an innermost surface of the valve when the valve is in the first position, wherein the minimum inner diameter of each valve is generally equal, and wherein each valve is configured to permit passage of the plug therethrough when in the second position.