Methods and devices for treating multiple-interval well bores

• US 7,874,365 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Clayton, Robert, Courville, Perry Wayne, East, Loyd E. Jr., Altman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US12/435,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20090211759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 166/305.1, 166/386, 166/308.1, 166/33.4, 166/334.4, 166/332.1, 166/387, 166/297
• US Class Current: 166/305.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/14 operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools E21B34/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/114 Perforators using direct fluid action on the wall to be perforated, e.g. abrasive jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for treating multiple interval well bores. More particularly, an isolation assembly may be used to allow for zonal isolation to allow treatment of selected productive or previously producing intervals in multiple interval well bores. One example of a method for treating a multiple interval well bore includes the steps of: introducing an isolation assembly to a well bore, the isolation assembly comprising a liner, one or more sleeves and a plurality of swellable packers, wherein the sleeves and swellable packers are disposed about the liner; deploying a shifting tool inside the liner, where the sleeves are configured so as to provide open, closed and open to screen positions when actuated by the shifting tool. An open position allows for treatment of the well bore while an open to screen position allows for receiving fluid from the well bore. A closed position re-establishes zonal isolation.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an isolation assembly comprising a liner and a plurality of swellable packers, wherein the swellable packers are disposed around the liner at selected spacings, wherein the isolation assembly further comprises a frangible disc capable of establishing fluidic connectivity to at least one of a plurality of selected intervals upon application of pressure to the frangible disc beyond the burst pressure of the frangible disc;

introducing the isolation assembly into a well bore;

allowing at least one of the plurality of swellable packers to swell so as to provide isolation of the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals;

establishing fluidic connectivity to at least one of the plurality of selected intervals; and

treating the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals by introducinq a fluid treatment into the liner;

wherein all steps occur in a single trip into the well bore.

2. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an isolation assembly comprising a liner and a plurality of swellable packers, wherein the swellable packers are disposed around the liner at selected spacings;

introducing the isolation assembly into a well bore;

allowing at least one of the plurality of swellable packers to swell so as to provide isolation of at least one of a plurality of selected intervals;

establishing fluidic connectivity to at least one of the plurality of selected intervals; and

treating the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals by introducing a fluid treatment into the liner and sealing a previously bypassed well bore interval;

wherein all steps occur in a single trip into the well bore.

3. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an isolation assembly comprising a liner and a plurality of swellable packers, wherein the swellable packers are disposed around the liner at selected spacings;

introducing the isolation assembly into a well bore;

allowing at least one of the plurality of swellable packers to swell so as to provide isolation of at least one of a plurality of selected intervals;

establishing fluidic connectivity to at least one of the plurality of selected intervals; and

treating the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals by introducing a fluid treatment into the liner;

wherein a casing string is disposed within the well bore, the casing string having at least one perforation;

wherein introducing the isolation assembly into the well bore results in the isolation assembly being disposed within the casing string; and

wherein all steps occur in a single trip into the well bore.

4. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an isolation assembly comprising a liner and a plurality of swellable packers, wherein the swellable packers are disposed around the liner at selected spacings;

introducing the isolation assembly into a well bore;

allowing at least one of the plurality of swellable packers to swell so as to provide isolation of at least one of a plurality of selected intervals;

establishing fluidic connectivity to at least one of the plurality of selected intervals; and

treating the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals by introducing a fluid treatment into the liner;

wherein all steps occur in a single trip into the well bore;

further comprising introducing an additional isolation assembly into the well bore.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an isolation assembly comprising a liner and a plurality of swellable packers wherein the swellable packers are disposed around the liner at selected spacings;

introducing the isolation assembly into a well bore;

allowing at least one of the plurality of swellable packers to swell so as to provide isolation of at least one of a plurality of selected intervals; and

stimulating the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals;

wherein all steps occur in a single trip into the well bore; and

wherein stimulating the at least one of a plurality of selected intervals comprises;

perforating the selected interval;

introducing a fluid treatment in the selected interval through the liner; and

controlling flow between the liner and the selected interval.