US 9,284,823 B2Granted

Combined perforating and fracking tool

AssigneeIron Horse Coiled Tubing Inc.

InventorsRobert B. Kratochvil, Brendon Hamilton, Daniel Meier

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Abstract

A combined perforating and fracking tool, and method for using same, for perforating a hydrocarbon well casing and for subsequently fracturing the formation while maintaining the tool in situ. The combined perforating and fracking tool comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a series of connected cylinders arranged to be disposed in a well casing, each of the cylinders comprising a cooperating piston whereby a magnification of hydraulic force is generated. The series of pistons operate to actuate a punch assembly disposed at a downhole end of the series of connected cylinders to perforate the casing. A fluid injection port, in operation with at least one sealing member disposed at each end of the series of connected cylinders, allows fluid to be diverted into the formation through the perforations created in the well casing to induce fracturing in the formation.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A combined perforating and fracking tool for perforating a hydrocarbon well casing disposed in a formation and for subsequently fracturing the formation while maintaining the tool in situ, the tool comprising:

(a) at least one cylinder arranged to be disposed in a well casing and adapted at an uphole end to receive a delivered fluid that is delivered into the tool, said cylinder comprising a cooperating piston;
(b) a punch assembly disposed at a downhole end of said cylinder and co-operating piston, the punch assembly comprising a punch comprising a pointed piercing member for perforating the casing, wherein the punch assembly is actuated by the delivered fluid exerting an actuation pressure on the cooperating piston, and the cooperating piston exerting a force which causes outward extension of the pointed piercing member to perforate the casing;
(c) a fluid injection port disposed at an upper end of the tool to allow at least some of the delivered fluid to be injected into the formation through the perforations created in the well casing by the tool;
(d) at least one sealing member disposed proximate an upper uphole end of the cylinder, downhole of said fluid injection port, adapted to prevent fracking fluid from travelling, when such tool is in a well casing, outside the cylinder in a direction downhole;
and
a valve assembly disposed between the fluid injection port and said cylinder, the valve assembly actuatable between a first position and a second position, when in the first position at least some of the delivered fluid flows through the fluid injection port and wherein the punch assembly is isolated from the delivered fluid, and when in the second position at least some of the delivered fluid flows through the valve assembly for exerting the actuation pressure on the cooperating piston to actuate the punch assembly and extend said pointed piercing member to perforate the casing,
wherein the delivered fluid may be provided in a bore defined along a longitudinal axis of said cylinder.

4 more elements

A combined perforating and fracking tool for perforating a well casing disposed in an underground formation and for subsequently fracturing the formation while maintaining the tool in situ, the tool comprising:

(a) at least a pair of cylinders arranged to be disposed in a well casing and adapted at an uphole end to receive a delivered fluid that is delivered into the tool, each of said cylinders comprising a cooperating piston, wherein each piston defines a bore along its longitudinal axis and an associated port for conducting at least some of the delivered fluid to flow from the bore into each cylinder;
(b) a punch assembly disposed at a downhole end of the cylinders, the punch assembly comprising a punch for perforating the casing, wherein the punch assembly is actuated by a piston which outwardly extends a punch to perforate the casing;
(c) a fluid injection port disposed at the uphole end of the tool, and a valve member to allow the delivered fluid to be diverted from the cylinders and injected into the formation through the perforations created in the well casing;
(d) at least a pair of sealing members respectively disposed respectively at an upper and lower end of the tool, forming a seal between the casing and the tool such that at least some of the delivered fluid can be diverted through the fluid injection port for fracturing the formation;
and
(e) a valve assembly disposed between the fluid injection port and said cylinder, the valve assembly actuatable between a first position and a second position, when in the first position the delivered fluid flows through the fluid injection port with said punch assembly isolated from the delivered fluid and when in the second position at least some of the delivered fluid flows through the valve assembly to communicate with said punch assembly;
wherein the punch assembly and piston each remain isolated from the injected fluid flowing between the tool and well casing during fracturing when the valve assembly is in the first position;
and
wherein during a perforation step when the valve assembly is in the second position at least some of the delivered fluid flowing through a bore defined along the longitudinal axis of the tool sequentially fills each of the cylinders whereby a magnification of hydraulic force is generated by the cooperating piston to actuate the punch.

6 more elements

A combined perforating and fracking tool for perforating a well casing disposed in an underground formation, and for subsequently fracturing the formation while maintaining the tool in situ, the tool comprising:

(a) a series of connected cylinders arranged to be disposed in a well casing and adapted at an uphole end to receive fluid that is delivered to the tool, the series of connected cylinders comprising:
a first cylinder comprising a valve assembly for controlling activation of a punch assembly, the valve assembly actuatable between a first position and second position;
a second cylinder comprising an associated piston, the associated piston being isolated from the valve assembly when the valve assembly is in the first position and in fluid connection with the valve assembly when the valve assembly is in the second position so that at least some of the delivered fluid flows through the valve assembly to the associated piston and associated ports to fill the second cylinder so that fluid pressure within the second cylinder increases to cause the associated piston to move therein;
(b) a punch assembly disposed at a downhole end of the series of connected cylinders, the punch assembly comprising a pointed punch member for perforating the casing, wherein the punch assembly is actuated by the first and second pistons to outwardly extend the punch member to perforate the casing;
(c) a fluid injection port disposed at the uphole end of the series of connected cylinders to allow at least some of the delivered fluid to be diverted from the series of connected cylinders and injected into the formation through the perforations created in the well casing when the valve assembly is in the first position;
and
(d) at least one sealing member disposed at each end of the series of connected cylinders, each sealing member forming a seal between the casing and the tool such that when the valve assembly is in the first position, at least some of the delivered fluid can be diverted through the fluid injection port for fracturing the formation and the series of cylinders is isolated from the injected fluid flowing between the tool and well casing;
wherein fluid flowing through the second cylinder results in a force supplied by the associated piston to actuate the punch assembly.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/183,914Filed 19 Feb 2014
Priority: CA 284258611 Feb 2014
Published: US 2015/0233217 A120 Aug 2015
Granted: 15 Mar 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

E21B 43/112
Perforators; Permeators: perforators with extendable perforating members, e.g. actuated by fluid means
E21B 33/124
Packers; Plugs: units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
E21B 34/103
With means for locking the closing element in open or closed position: with a shear pin
E21B 43/26
Methods for stimulating production: by forming crevices or fractures