Method of treating oil and gas wells
AssigneeKey Energy Services, Inc.
InventorJeffery M. Wilkinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of stimulating an entire target formation of an oil or gas well during fluid treatment is obtained by dividing the target formation into intermediate zones and initiating stimulation in each intermediate zone. Once stimulation is initiated in each intermediate zone, ball sealers are used to block the casing perforations at the intermediate zone and divert fluids to another intermediate zone. After stimulation has been initiated in all intermediate zones, the ball sealers are removed from the perforations and treatment of the entire target formation is conducted.
Claims47
A method of stimulating an earth formation, the formation having a plurality of intermediate zones and a casing through the zones, the intermediate zones having fracture gradients, the casing having perforations, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) pumping fluid into the casing to initiate hydraulic treatment of a first intermediate zone having a first fracture gradient;
- (b) using a first instant shut-in pressure to determine the first fracture gradient of the first intermediate zone;
- (c) diverting the pumped fluid into a second intermediate zone by using a diverter to block the pumped fluid from the first intermediate zone;
- (d) pumping fluid into the casing to initiate hydraulic treatment of the second intermediate zone having a second fracture gradient;
- (e) using a second instant shut-in pressure to determine the second fracture gradient of the second intermediate zone;
- (f) determining if the pumped fluid is diverted from the first intermediate zone to the second intermediate zone by verifying that the second fracture gradient is greater than the first fracture gradient by a predetermined amount;
- (g) dislodging the diverter from the first intermediate zone;
- and
- (h) hydraulically stimulating all of the intermediate zones of the formation.
A method of treating a formation with fluid, the formation having a plurally of portions and having a casing positioned through the plurality of portions, the portions defining fracture gradients, the easing defining a plurality of perforations, the method comprising the steps of:
- treating at least a first portion of the formation regardless of the location of the first portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing;
- treating at least a second portion of the formation regardless of the location of the second portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first portion;
- determining if fluid is substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion;
- if fluid is substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion, treating at least a successive portion of the formation regardless of the location of the successive portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the easing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first and second portions;
- determining if fluid is substantially diverted from the first and second portions to the successive portion;
- and
- if fluid is not substantially diverted from the first and second portions to the successive portion, stimulating the formation by removing the diversion of fluid from the previously treated portions and pumping fluid into the casing.
A method of treating a formation with fluid, the formation having a plurality of portions and having a casing positioned through the plurality of portions, the portions defining fracture gradients, the casing defining a plurality of perforations, the method comprising the steps of:
- treating at least a first portion of the formation by pumping fluid into the casing;
- determining a first fracture gradient of the first portion;
- treating at least a second portion of the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting pumped fluid from the first portion;
- determining a second fracture gradient of the second portion;
- determining if the second fracture gradient is greater than the first fracture gradient;
- if the second fracture gradient is not greater than the first fracture gradient stimulating the formation by removing the diversion of fluid from the first portion and pumping fluid into the casing;
- and
- if the second fracture gradient is greater than the first fracture gradient, treating a successive portion of the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first and second portions.
The method of claim 24, wherein diverting the pumped fluid from the first portion comprises inserting a diverter into the casing to block the perforations in the casing adjacent the first portion with the diverter.
A method of treating a formation with fluid, the formation having a plurality of portions and having a casing positioned through the plurality of portions, the portions defining fracture gradients, the casing defining a plurality of perforations, the method comprising the steps of:
- treating at least a first portion of the formation regardless of the location of the first portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing;
- treating at least a second portion of the formation regardless of the location of the second portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first portion;
- determining if fluid is substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion, comprising the steps of:
- determining a first fracture gradient of the first portion after treating the first portion,
- determining a second fracture gradient of the second portion after treating the second portion, and
- determining if the second fracture gradient is greater than the first fracture gradient by a predetermined amount;
- and
- if fluid is substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion, treating at least a successive portion of the formation regardless of the location of the successive portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first and second portions.
A method of treating a formation with fluid, the formation having a plurality of portions and having a casing positioned through the plurality of portions, the portions defining fracture gradients, the casing defining a plurality of perforations, the method comprising the steps of:
- treating at least a first portion of the formation regardless of the location of the first portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing;
- treating at least a second portion of the formation regardless of the location of the second portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first portion;
- determining if fluid is substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion;
- and
- if fluid is substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion, treating at least a successive portion of the formation regardless of the location of the successive portion in the formation by pumping fluid into the casing and diverting the pumped fluid from the first and second portions;
- and
- if fluid is not substantially diverted from the first portion to the second portion, stimulating the formation by removing the diversion of fluid from the first portion and pumping fluid into the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.