Apparatus and methods for stimulating a subterranean well

A method of injecting a fluid into successive desired locations in a formation surrounding a subterranean wellbore while preventing the injection of the fluid into other locations in the formation exposed to the wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

• contacting the formation exposed to the wellbore with a flowable material, the material being capable of flowing within the wellbore and substantially incapable of flowing into the formation;
• providing a tubular member;
• disposing an end of the tubular member in the flowable material;
• forming a first flow passage from the tubular member through the flowable material to a first one of the desired locations in the formation;
• and
• flowing the fluid through the tubular member and the first flow passage to the first one of the desired locations.

A method of stimulating a formation intersecting a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a work string having an end;
• disposing the work string within the subterranean well;
• providing a viscous fluid;
• disposing the viscous fluid in the subterranean well about the work string end, the viscous fluid contacting the formation;
• providing a tubing string having an end and a cutting head attached to the tubing string end;
• disposing the tubing string within the work string;
• positioning the tubing string end relative to the work string end, such that the cutting head extends axially outward from the work string end;
• forming an opening from the cutting head to the formation through the viscous fluid;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluid through the opening to the formation.

A method of stimulating a formation intersecting a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a work string having an end and a cutting head attached to the end;
• disposing the work string within the subterranean well;
• providing a viscous fluid;
• disposing the viscous fluid in the subterranean well about the work string end, the viscous fluid contacting the formation;
• forming a first opening from the cutting head to the formation through the viscous fluid;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluid through the first opening to the formation.

A method of stimulating a formation intersecting a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a work string having an end and an axially spaced apart series of seals externally disposed on an outer side surface of the work string;
• providing a packer having a seal bore;
• setting the packer in the well;
• disposing the work string within the subterranean well, the work string being reciprocably received in the seal bore;
• providing a viscous fluid;
• disposing the viscous fluid in the subterranean well about the work string end, the viscous fluid contacting the formation;
• providing a tubing string having an end and a cutting head attached to the tubing string end;
• disposing the tubing string within the work string;
• positioning the tubing string end relative to the work string end, such that the cutting head extends axially outward from the work string end;
• sealingly engaging one of the seals with the seal bore;
• forming a first opening from the cutting head to the formation through the viscous fluid;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluid through the first opening to the formation.

A method of stimulating a formation intersecting a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a work string having an axially spaced apart series of sliding sleeves connected to the remainder of the work string;
• disposing the work string within the subterranean well;
• positioning the work string within the subterranean well such that each of the sliding sleeves is radially opposite a desired stimulation location in the formation;
• providing a viscous fluid;
• disposing the viscous fluid in the subterranean well about the work string end, the viscous fluid contacting the formation;
• providing a tubing string having an end and a cutting head attached to the tubing string end;
• opening a first one of the sliding sleeves;
• disposing the tubing string within the work string;
• positioning the tubing string end relative to the work string end, such that the cutting head is aligned with the first one of the sliding sleeves;
• forming a first opening from the cutting head to the formation through the first one of the sliding sleeves and the viscous fluid;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluid through the first opening to the formation.

A method of stimulating a formation intersecting a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubular string having an end;
• disposing the tubular string within the subterranean well, thereby forming an annulus between the tubular string and the well;
• providing a viscous fluid;
• disposing the viscous fluid in the subterranean well about the tubular string end in a first portion of the annulus, the viscous fluid contacting the formation;
• sealingly engaging the tubular string With the subterranean well, thereby isolating the first annulus portion from a second annulus portion;
• forming a first opening to the formation through the viscous fluid;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluid through the first opening to the formation.

A method of stimulating a portion of a subterranean well at desired stimulation locations therein, the well portion intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of:

• disposing a barrier fluid within the well portion;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluids through the barrier fluid and into the formation at a first one of the desired stimulation locations,
• whereby the barrier fluid substantially prevents flow of the stimulation fluids into a portion of the formation other than at the first desired stimulation location.

A method of injecting a fluid into successive desired locations in a formation surrounding a subterranean wellbore while preventing the injection of the fluid into other locations in the formation exposed to the wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubular member;
• disposing the tubular member in the wellbore proximate a first one of the desired locations;
• contacting the formation exposed to the wellbore with a first quantity of barrier material, the material being at least initially capable of flowing within the wellbore and substantially incapable of flowing into the formation;
• and
• flowing the fluid through the tubular member, through the first quantity of barrier material, and to the first one of the desired locations, the barrier material preventing the fluid from flowing into any portion of the formation other than at the first one of the desired locations.

A method of stimulating a formation intersecting a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubing string including a plurality of fluid delivery devices;
• disposing the tubing string within the subterranean well, the fluid delivery devices being positioned opposite the formation;
• providing a barrier fluid;
• disposing the barrier fluid in the subterranean well about the tubing string, the barrier fluid contacting the formation;
• and
• flowing stimulation fluid through the fluid delivery devices to the formation through the barrier fluid.