Hydrocarbon sweep into horizontal transverse fractured wells

• US 20060118305A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: East, Loyd E. Jr., Farabee, Leldon M., Warren, John M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/308.200
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/20 Displacing by water
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of increasing hydrocarbon production in an existing well in a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes the steps of forming a substantially horizontal transverse fractured wellbore that intersects the existing well and injecting a fluid remote from the existing well so as to form a fluid front that sweeps the hydrocarbons into the horizontal transverse fractured wellbore. Successive fractures can be sealed to control propagation of the fluid front and delay infiltration of the fluid into the production.

Claims

1. A method of increasing hydrocarbon production of an existing well in a reservoir, comprising the steps of:

(a) drilling a substantially horizontal wellbore that intersects the existing well;

(b) forming at least one transverse fracture in the reservoir along the substantially horizontal wellbore;

(c) drilling an injection well into the reservoir;

(d) injecting a fluid into the reservoir through the injection well so as to force the hydrocarbons toward the at least one transverse fracture; and

(e) draining the hydrocarbons into the at least one transverse fracture.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of transverse fractures are formed in the reservoir along the substantially horizontal wellbore.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step (f) of installing a bridge plug in the substantially horizontal wellbore between a transverse fracture farthest from the existing well and a transverse fracture adjacent to the farthest transverse fracture to seal off the farthest transverse fracture from the existing well when an unacceptable amount of non-hydrocarbon fluids begin seeping into the hydrocarbon production.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of repeating step (f) for each transverse fracture that begins to allow the unacceptable amount of non-hydrocarbon fluids to seep into the hydrocarbon production.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of squeezing a sealant into the farthest transverse fracture so as to divert the non-hydrocarbon fluids away from the remaining transverse fractures.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the sealant is pumped into the transverse fracture via a hydra jetting tool.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the transverse fracture is formed at the same time that the sealant is being pumped.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a cement, a linear polymer mixture, a linear polymer mixture with cross-linker, an in-situ polymerized monomer mixture, a resin based fluid, an epoxy-based fluid, and a magnesium based slurry.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sealant comprises H₂Zero™

.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of lining the substantially horizontal wellbore with a casing string.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the casing string is cemented to a sidewall of the substantially horizontal wellbore.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures are formed using a hydra jetting tool.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the hydra jetting tool forms each fracture of the plurality of transverse fractures one at a time.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the hydra jetting tool forms each transverse fracture by:

(i) positioning the hydra jetting tool in the substantially horizontal wellbore at the location where the transverse fracture is to be formed;

(ii) perforating the reservoir at the location where the transverse fracture is to be formed; and

(iii) injecting a fracture fluid into the perforation at sufficient pressure to form a transverse fracture along the perforation.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures are formed by staged fracturing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the staged fracturing is performed by:

(i) detonating a charge in the substantially horizontal wellbore at the location where a transverse fracture is to be formed so as to form a perforation in the reservoir at that location;

(ii) pumping a fracture fluid into the perforation at sufficient pressure to propagate the transverse fracture;

(iii) installing a plug in the substantially horizontal wellbore uphole of the transverse fracture;

(iv) repeating steps (i) through (iii) until the desired number of transverse fractures have been formed; and

(v) removing the plugs following the completion of step (iv).

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the plug is a mechanical bridge plug selected from the group consisting of a drillable bridge plug and a retrievable bridge plug.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the plug is particulate matter selected from the group consisting of sand and diverting agents.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the plug is a viscous fluid that can be removed.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures are formed using a limited entry perforation and fracture technique.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the limited entry perforation and fracture technique is performed by:

(i) lining the substantially horizontal wellbore with a casing string having a plurality of sets of predrilled holes arranged along its length; and

(ii) pumping a fracturing fluid through the plurality of sets of predrilled holes in the casing string at sufficient pressure to fracture the reservoir at the locations of the sets of predrilled holes.

22. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures are formed by:

(i) installing a tool having a plurality of hydra jets formed along its length into the substantially horizontal wellbore; and

(ii) pumping fluid through the plurality of hydra jets simultaneously at one or more pressures sufficient to first perforate and then fracture the reservoir at the locations of the hydra jets.

23. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of installing a device for monitoring the amount of infiltration of the non-hydrocarbon fluid into the hydrocarbons being produced in the substantially horizontal wellbore adjacent to one or more of the fractures that have not been sealed.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the device for monitoring the amount of infiltration of the non-hydrocarbon fluid comprises a sampling tube ran from the surface to the substantially horizontal wellbore from which samples of the fluid can be taken.

25. The method of claim 5 wherein each of the transverse fractures are generally parallel to one another and the method further comprises the step (g) of sealing the transverse fracture adjacent to the transverse fracture previously sealed when the amount of non-hydrocarbon fluid infiltrating the hydrocarbons being produced reaches an undesirable value.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of continuing to repeat step (g) until all but the last fracture has been sealed.

27. A method of increasing hydrocarbon production of an existing well in a reservoir, comprising the steps of:

drilling a substantially horizontal wellbore that intersects the existing well;

forming a plurality of transverse fractures in the reservoir along the substantially horizontal wellbore;

installing a tubing in the substantially horizontal wellbore with an end of the tubing being disposed at a toe portion of the substantially horizontal wellbore, downhole of the transverse fracture farthest from the existing well;

installing a packer between the tubing and a sidewall forming the substantially horizontal wellbore uphole of the transverse fracture farthest from the existing well;

injecting a fluid into the reservoir through the end of the tubing at the toe of the substantially horizontal wellbore to force the hydrocarbons toward the plurality of transverse fractures; and

draining the hydrocarbons into the plurality of transverse fractures.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of squeezing a sealant into the transverse fracture farthest from the existing well to divert non-hydrocarbon fluids away from the substantially horizontal wellbore.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of squeezing a sealant into the transverse fracture adjacent to the one farthest from the existing well to divert the injection fluid away from the wellbore to increase the reservoir coverage and pumping the injection fluid into the farthest transverse fracture.

30. A method of increasing hydrocarbon production of an existing well from a reservoir infiltrated with a non-hydrocarbon fluid, comprising the steps of:

(a) drilling a first substantially horizontal wellbore that intersects the existing well;

(b) forming a plurality of transverse fractures in the reservoir along the first substantially horizontal wellbore;

(c) drilling a second substantially horizontal wellbore that intersects the existing well;

(d) forming at least one transverse fracture in the reservoir along the second substantially horizontal wellbore;

(e) sealing the at least one transverse fracture formed along the second substantially horizontal wellbore; and

(f) draining the hydrocarbons into the plurality of transverse fractures formed along the first substantially horizontal wellbore.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of injecting a fluid into the reservoir through a toe portion of the second substantially horizontal wellbore to sweep the hydrocarbons toward the plurality of transverse fractures formed along the first horizontal wellbore.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of lining the first and second substantially horizontal wellbores with a casing string.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the casing string is cemented to sidewalls of the first and second substantially horizontal wellbores.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the transverse fractures in steps (b) and (d) are formed using a hydra jetting tool.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the hydra jetting tool forms each fracture one at a time.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the hydra jetting tool forms transverses fracture in the first and second substantially horizontal wellbores by:

(i) positioning the hydra jetting tool in the substantially horizontal wellbore being fractured at the location where the transverse fracture is to be formed;

(ii) perforating the reservoir at the location where the transverse fracture is to be formed; and

(iii) injecting a fracture fluid into the perforation at sufficient pressure to form a transverse fracture along the perforation.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures in step (b) are formed by staged fracturing.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the staged fracturing is performed by:

(i) detonating a charge in the first substantially horizontal wellbore at the location where a transverse fracture is to be formed so as to form a perforation in the reservoir at that location;

(ii) pumping a fracture fluid into the perforation at sufficient pressure to propagate the transverse fracture;

(iii) installing a plug in the first substantially horizontal wellbore uphole of the transverse fracture;

(iv) repeating steps (i) through (iii) until the desired number of transverse fractures have been formed; and

(v) removing the plugs following the completion of step (iv).

39. The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures in step (b) are formed using a limited entry perforation and fracture technique.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the limited entry perforation and fracture technique is performed by:

(i) lining the first substantially horizontal wellbore with a casing string having a plurality of sets of predrilled holes arranged along its length; and

(ii) pumping a fracturing fluid through the plurality of sets of predrilled holes in the casing string at sufficient pressure to fracture the reservoir at the locations of the sets of predrilled holes.

41. The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of transverse fractures in step (b) are formed by:

(i) installing a tool having a plurality of hydra jets formed along its length into the first substantially horizontal wellbore; and

(ii) pumping fluid through the plurality of hydra jets simultaneously at one or more pressures sufficient to first perforate and then fracture the reservoir at the locations of the hydra jets.

42. The method of claim 30 wherein step (e) is performed by pumping a sealant into the at least one transverse fracture that intersects the second substantially horizontal wellbore, wherein the sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a cement, a linear polymer mixture, a linear polymer mixture with cross-linker, an in-situ polymerized monomer mixture, a resin based fluid, an epoxy-based fluid, and a magnesium based slurry.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the sealant comprises H₂Zero™

.

44. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of installing a plug uphole of the at least one sealed transverse fracture.

45. The method of claim 30 further comprising the steps of installing a tubing in the second substantially horizontal wellbore with an end of the tubing being disposed at a toe portion of the second substantially horizontal wellbore, which is downhole of the at least one sealed transverse fracture;

and installing a packer between the tubing and a sidewall forming the second substantially horizontal wellbore uphole of the at least one sealed transverse fracture.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of injecting a fluid into the reservoir through the end of the tubing at the toe of the second substantially horizontal wellbore to sweep the hydrocarbons toward the plurality of transverse fractures formed along the first substantially horizontal wellbore.

47. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of installing a device for monitoring the amount of infiltration of the non-hydrocarbon fluid into the hydrocarbons being drained into the plurality of transverse fractures formed along the first substantially horizontal wellbore.

48. A method of increasing the hydrocarbon production of an existing well formed in a reservoir, comprising the steps of:

drilling a pair of oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores that intersect the existing well;

drilling a plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores that intersect the existing well and are disposed between the injection wellbores;

forming a plurality of transverse fractures in the reservoir along each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores;

injecting a fluid into the reservoir from the pair of oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores; and

draining the hydrocarbons into the plurality of transverse fractures formed along the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein each of the oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores has a multi-port tubing disposed therein through which the fluid is injected into the reservoir.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the ports of each tubing are spaced substantially along the lengths of each oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbore.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the hydrocarbons are swept toward the existing well.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of sealing one transverse fracture in each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores, which is farthest from the existing well.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of sealing the next transverse fracture in each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores, which is second farthest from the existing well.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of repeating the step of sealing the transverse fracture next closest to the existing well for each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores until all of the transverse fractures have been sealed.

55. The method of claim 50 wherein the hydrocarbons are swept away from the existing well.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of sealing one transverse fracture in each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores, which is closest to the existing well.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of sealing the next transverse fracture in each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores, which is second closest to the existing well.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising the step of repeating the step of sealing the transverse fracture next farthest from the existing well for each of the plurality of substantially horizontal producing wellbores until all of the transverse fractures have been sealed.

59. A method of increasing hydrocarbon production of an existing well formed in a reservoir, comprising the steps of:

drilling a pair of oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores that intersect the existing well;

drilling a pair of oppositely disposed substantially horizontal producing wellbores that intersect the existing well and are disposed between the substantially horizontal injection wellbores, wherein each substantially horizontal producing wellbore is formed with a plurality of laterals;

forming a plurality of transverse fractures in the reservoir along each of the plurality of laterals;

injecting a fluid into the reservoir from the pair of oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores; and

draining the hydrocarbons into the plurality of transverse fractures formed along the plurality of laterals.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein each of the oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores has a tubing disposed therein through which the fluid is injected into the reservoir.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the laterals are formed generally parallel to the oppositely disposed substantially horizontal injection wellbores and generally perpendicular to the oppositely disposed substantially horizontal production wellbores.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the hydrocarbons are swept away from ends of the laterals farthest from the oppositely disposed substantially horizontal producing wellbores toward ends of the laterals that intersect the oppositely disposed substantially horizontal producing wellbores.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of sealing one transverse fracture in each of the plurality of laterals, which is farthest from the nearest substantially horizontal producing wellbore.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising the step of sealing the next transverse fracture in each of the plurality of laterals, which is second farthest from the nearest substantially horizontal producing wellbore.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising the step of repeating the step of sealing the transverse fracture next closest to the nearest substantially horizontal producing wellbore until all of the transverse fractures have been sealed.

66. A method of increasing hydrocarbon production of an existing well, comprising the steps of:

forming a substantially horizontal transverse fractured wellbore that intersects the existing well; and

injecting a fluid remote from the existing well so as to form a fluid front that forces the hydrocarbons to drain into the horizontal transverse fractured wellbore.

67. A method of increasing hydrocarbon production of an existing well, comprising the steps of:

forming a substantially horizontal wellbore having a toe portion and a heel portion that is disposed opposite to the toe portion with the heel portion intersecting the existing well;

forming a transverse fracture at the toe section of the substantially horizontal wellbore; and

producing hydrocarbons from the well.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the amount of non-hydrocarbon fluid that has infiltrated the hydrocarbons being produced;

sealing the transverse fracture when an unacceptable level of injection fluid is produced;

forming a second transverse fracture uphole of the toe fracture; and

producing hydrocarbons from the second transverse fracture.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising the steps of:

repeating the monitoring step;

sealing the second transverse facture when an unacceptable level of injection fluid is produced; and

creating an additional transverse fracture uphole from the second transverse fracture from which additional hydrocarbons can be produced.