Methods and apparatus for fiber-based diversion

• US 20080196896A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Boney, Curtis L., Bustos, Oscar
• Application Number:
  US11/857,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196896A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/281
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for fiber-based fluid diversion in hydrocarbon-containing wells. One method embodiment of the invention comprises treating a first zone in a well; conveying a tool into the well, the tool carrying a composition comprising fibers; and activating the tool to deploy enough of the composition to form a fibrous plug and at least partially plug the first zone. The tool may be a positive displacement bailer, and an apparatus of the invention comprises a positive displacement bailer; the bailer comprising a compartment for holding a composition comprising fibers for forming fiber-based plugs in a well; the compartment partially defined by and cooperating with a positive displacement portion to expel and selectively deploy the composition in the well to form one or more fiber-based plugs in the well.

Claims

1. A method of fluid diversion in a well, comprising:

(a) treating a first zone in a well;

(b) conveying a tool into the well, the tool carrying a composition comprising fibers; and

(c) activating the tool to deploy enough of the composition to form a fibrous plug and at least partially plug the first zone.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for at least one more zone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the treating comprises flowing a stimulation fluid through one or more previously formed perforations into channels.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising injecting the stimulation fluid under pressure sufficient to fracture a formation which the well intersects.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the conveying a tool into the well comprises conveying a bailer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the bailer is a positive displacement bailer.

7. The method of claim 5 comprising conveying the bailer on the distal end of a perforating gun.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fibers of the composition are selected from degradable fibers, non-degradable fibers, fibers comprising a degradable portion and a non-degradable portion, and mixtures and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises non-fiber particulates.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the non-fiber particulates are selected from organic materials, organometallic materials, inorganic materials, and combinations and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the inorganic materials are selected from sand, ceramics, salts, and combinations and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein the conveying comprises stopping the tool adjacent the first zone, the composition comprises fibers having bridging characteristics, and the method comprises forming a fiber-based plug in the well adjacent the perforations.

13. A method for performing multi-zone well treatment operations, comprising:

(a) treating a first zone in a well by flowing a completion or stimulation fluid through one or more previously formed perforations into channels;

(b) conveying a bailer on the distal end of a perforating gun into the well using a conveying device selected from slickline, wireline, coiled tubing, and jointed tubing, the bailer carrying a composition comprising water-dispersible fibers;

(c) stopping the bailer adjacent the first zone;

(d) activating the bailer to deploy enough of the composition to form a fiber-based plug and at least partially plug the first zone; and

(e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for at least one more zone.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bailer is a positive displacement bailer.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the composition comprises fibers having bridging characteristics and at least two particulates having different particle sizes, and the method comprises forming a fiber-based plug in the well adjacent the perforations of the first zone and said at least one other zone.

16. An apparatus useful for performing multi-zone well treatment operations, the apparatus comprising:

a positive displacement bailer;

the bailer comprising a compartment for holding a composition comprising fibers for forming fiber-based plugs in a well;

the compartment partially defined by and cooperating with a positive displacement portion to expel and selectively deploy the composition in the well to form one or more fiber-based plugs in the well.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the positive displacement bailer is connected to an end of a perforating gun.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the positive displacement bailer is attached to and deployable by a wireline.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the positive displacement bailer is attached to and deployable by coiled tubing.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the positive displacement bailer is attached to a jetting device.