IP Library Granted Patent US 9,410,399
Granted Patent B2
US 9,410,399 · App. 13/954,522 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Multi-zone cemented fracturing system

Inventor: Clayton R. Andersen (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
E21B34/14E21B23/08E21B33/16E21B43/26E21B2034/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,410,399
App. No.
13/954,522
Granted
Aug 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of cementing a liner string into a wellbore includes deploying a liner string into a wellbore; pumping cement slurry into a workstring; and pumping a dart through the workstring, thereby driving the cement slurry into the liner string. The dart engages a first wiper plug and releases the first wiper plug from the workstring. The dart and engaged first wiper plug drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore. The dart and engaged first wiper plug land onto a first fracture valve. The dart releases a first seat into the first wiper plug. The dart engages a second wiper plug connected to the first fracture valve and releases the second wiper plug from the first fracture valve.

Claims (110)

1. A method of cementing a liner string into a wellbore, comprising:

deploying a liner string into the wellbore to a portion of the wellbore traversing a productive formation using a workstring, the liner string comprising a first fracture valve and the workstring comprising a first wiper plug;

pumping cement slurry into the workstring; and

pumping a dart through the workstring, thereby driving the cement slurry into the liner string, wherein:

the dart engages the first wiper plug and releases the first wiper plug from the workstring,

the dart and engaged first wiper plug drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore,

the dart and engaged first wiper plug land onto the first fracture valve,

the dart releases a first seat into the first wiper plug, and

the dart engages a second wiper plug connected to the first fracture valve and releases the second wiper plug from the first fracture valve.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the liner string further comprises a second fracture valve;

the dart and engaged second wiper plug further drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore,

the dart and engaged second wiper plug land onto the second fracture valve,

the dart releases a second seat into the second wiper plug, and

the dart engages a third wiper plug of the second fracture valve and releases the third wiper plug from the second fracture valve.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

after curing of the cement slurry, deploying first and second balls through the liner string to the first and second seats,

wherein the first and second balls land onto the respective first and second seats and open the respective first and second fracture valves.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the first and second balls are deployed to the first and second seats by pumping fracturing fluid, and

pumping of the fracturing fluid is continued, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid through the respective open fracture valves and the cured cement and into the productive formation by creating respective first and second fractures.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:

the second ball is pumped ahead of the first ball, and

the first ball has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second ball,

the second ball travels through the first seat to arrive at the second seat, and

the second fracture is created before the first ball lands onto the first seat.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after curing of the cement slurry, deploying a ball through the liner string to the first seat,

wherein ball lands onto the first seat and opens the first fracture valve.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the ball is deployed to the first seat by pumping fracturing fluid, and

pumping of the fracturing fluid is continued, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid through the open first fracture valve and the cured cement and into the productive formation by creating respective a fracture.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the liner string further comprises a liner hanger, a packer, and a toe sleeve, and

the method further comprises:

setting the liner hanger before the cement slurry is pumped; and

setting the packer after the cement slurry is pumped; and

the toe sleeve opens in response to pumping of the ball.

9. A method of fracturing a productive formation, comprising:

deploying a liner string into a wellbore to a portion of the wellbore traversing the productive formation using a workstring, the liner string comprising a first cluster valve and the workstring comprising a first wiper plug;

pumping cement slurry into the workstring;

pumping a dart through the workstring, thereby driving the cement slurry into the liner string, wherein:

the dart engages the first wiper plug and releases the first wiper plug from the workstring,

the dart and engaged first wiper plug drive the cement slurry through the liner string and into an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore,

the dart and engaged first wiper plug land onto the first cluster valve,

the first wiper plug releases the dart, and

the dart engages a second wiper plug connected to the first cluster valve and releases the second wiper plug from the first cluster valve; and

deploying a ball through the liner string to the first cluster valve, wherein:

the ball lands onto the first wiper plug and opens the cluster valve, and

the first wiper plug releases the ball.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the ball is deployed to the first cluster valve by pumping fracturing fluid, and

pumping of the fracturing fluid is continued, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid through the open cluster valve and the cured cement and into the productive formation by creating a fracture.

11. A method of cementing a liner string in a wellbore, comprising:

deploying a liner string into the wellbore, the liner string comprising a first valve;

pumping a cement slurry into the liner string;

pumping a dart and a first wiper plug through the liner string, thereby driving the cement slurry through the liner string;

releasing a first seat from the dart;

landing the dart in a second wiper plug; and

releasing the second wiper plug from the first valve.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

landing the dart and the second wiper plug onto a second valve;

releasing a second seat from the dart;

landing the dart in a third wiper plug; and

releasing the third wiper plug from the second valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

deploying first and second balls through the liner string to the first and second seats;

exerting pressure on the first and second balls to open the first and second valves; and

pumping fracturing fluid through the open first and second valves to create first and second fractures.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

deploying the second ball before the first ball, wherein the first ball has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second ball;

pumping the second ball past the first seat to arrive at the second seat; and

creating the second fracture before the first ball lands onto the first seat.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

deploying a ball through a liner string to the first seat; and

landing the ball onto the first seat to open the first fracture.

16. A method of fracturing a productive formation, comprising:

deploying a liner string into the wellbore, the liner string comprising a first valve;

pumping a cement slurry into the liner string;

pumping a dart and a first wiper plug through the liner string, thereby driving the cement slurry through the liner string;

releasing the dart from a first wiper plug;

landing the dart in a second wiper plug;

releasing the second wiper plug from the first valve;

deploying a ball through the liner string to the first valve;

landing the ball onto the first wiper plug to open the first valve; and

releasing the ball from the first wiper plug.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

deploying the ball to the first cluster valve by pumping fracturing fluid; and

pumping fracture fluid through the open cluster valve to create a fracture.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

landing the ball onto the second wiper plug to open the second fracture valve; and

releasing the ball from the second wiper plug.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

deploying the ball to the second cluster valve by pumping fracturing fluid; and

pumping fracture fluid through the open cluster valve to create a fracture.

20. A method of cementing a liner string in a wellbore, comprising:

deploying a liner string into the wellbore, the liner string comprising a first valve and a plug;

pumping a cement slurry into the liner string;

landing a dart in the plug;

releasing the plug and the dart from the first valve;

landing the plug and the dart in a second valve;

releasing the dart from the plug; and

landing the dart in a second plug.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising, releasing the second plug and the dart from the second valve.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

landing the second plug and the dart in a third valve; and

releasing the dart from the second plug.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, fracturing the third valve.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising, fracturing the second valve after fracturing the third valve.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising, fracturing the first valve after fracturing the second valve.

Assignments (9)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034526/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2013
From: ANDERSEN, CLAYTON R.
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 031265/0913 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61677911 · Jul 31, 2012
Related Publication 20140034310A1 · Feb 6, 2014