Methods for Refracturing a Subterranean Formation Using Shearable Ball Seats for Zone Isolation
First Claim
1. A method for refracturing a subterranean formation via a hydrocarbon well including a downhole tubular extending within a wellbore formed within the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- positioning a plurality of isolation structures within a tubular conduit defined by the downhole tubular to define a plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones within the tubular conduit, wherein the downhole tubular includes a plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations that provides fluid communication between the tubular conduit and the subterranean formation, and further wherein each stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones includes a corresponding subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations;
subsequent to the positioning, stimulating an initial region of the subterranean formation associated with an initial stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones, wherein the initial stimulation zone includes an initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, wherein the stimulating the initial region includes injecting a stimulant fluid from a surface region, via the tubular conduit, through the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, and into the subterranean formation while resisting flow of the stimulant fluid through stimulation zones of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones that are downhole from the initial stimulation zone;
sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations;
establishing fluid communication between the initial stimulation zone and an adjacent stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones within the tubular conduit while maintaining the sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, wherein the adjacent stimulation zone is downhole from the initial stimulation zone; and
stimulating an adjacent region of the subterranean formation associated with the adjacent stimulation zone, wherein the adjacent stimulation zone includes an adjacent subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, wherein the stimulating the adjacent region includes injecting the stimulant fluid from the surface region, via the tubular conduit, through the initial stimulation zone, through the adjacent subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, and into the subterranean formation while resisting flow of the stimulant fluid through stimulation zones of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones that are downhole from the adjacent stimulation zone.
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Abstract
Methods for refracturing a subterranean formation via a hydrocarbon well that includes a downhole tubular extending within a wellbore formed within the subterranean formation. The methods include positioning a plurality of isolation structures within a tubular conduit defined by the downhole tubular to define a plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones. The downhole tubular includes a plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations. The methods also include stimulating an initial region of the subterranean formation, which is associated with an initial stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones, via an initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations and subsequently sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations. The methods further include establishing fluid communication between the initial stimulation zone and an adjacent stimulation zone and stimulating an adjacent region of the subterranean formation that is associated with the adjacent stimulation zone.
22 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for refracturing a subterranean formation via a hydrocarbon well including a downhole tubular extending within a wellbore formed within the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
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positioning a plurality of isolation structures within a tubular conduit defined by the downhole tubular to define a plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones within the tubular conduit, wherein the downhole tubular includes a plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations that provides fluid communication between the tubular conduit and the subterranean formation, and further wherein each stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones includes a corresponding subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations; subsequent to the positioning, stimulating an initial region of the subterranean formation associated with an initial stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones, wherein the initial stimulation zone includes an initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, wherein the stimulating the initial region includes injecting a stimulant fluid from a surface region, via the tubular conduit, through the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, and into the subterranean formation while resisting flow of the stimulant fluid through stimulation zones of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones that are downhole from the initial stimulation zone; sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations; establishing fluid communication between the initial stimulation zone and an adjacent stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones within the tubular conduit while maintaining the sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, wherein the adjacent stimulation zone is downhole from the initial stimulation zone; and stimulating an adjacent region of the subterranean formation associated with the adjacent stimulation zone, wherein the adjacent stimulation zone includes an adjacent subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, wherein the stimulating the adjacent region includes injecting the stimulant fluid from the surface region, via the tubular conduit, through the initial stimulation zone, through the adjacent subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations, and into the subterranean formation while resisting flow of the stimulant fluid through stimulation zones of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones that are downhole from the adjacent stimulation zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification