Pressure response fracture port tool for use in hydraulic fracturing applications
A pressure response fracture port tool and method for its use reliably provides a noticeable indication at surface to an operator as to when the flow port is opened. The tool includes an outer housing and a sliding sleeve which resides within the outer housing. The outer housing has a first and second set of flow ports. The inner mandrel moves between a first position and a third position to expose the flow ports to the wellbore. The first set of flow ports, with its smaller area relative to the second set of flow ports, creates a noticeable pressure increase or spike that can be observed at surface when exposed to the wellbore. The second set of flow ports creates a noticeable pressure drop when it is exposed to the wellbore.
1. A pressure response fracture port tool comprising:
an outer housing having a first set of flow ports and a second set of flow ports, the first set of flow ports having a smaller flow area than the second set of flow ports;
a sliding sleeve residing within the outer housing, the sliding sleeve capable of moving in response to fluid pressure between a first position in which the first and second set of flow ports of the outer housing are covered by a portion of the sliding sleeve, to a second position in which the first set of flow ports of the outer housing are uncovered by the portion of the sliding sleeve, to a third position in which the second set of flow ports of the outer housing are uncovered by the portion of the sliding sleeve, wherein a fluid medium is used to affect the rate of travel between the second and third positions.
2. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein the second position results in a pressure increase relative to that of the first position.
3. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 2 wherein the pressure increase is at least about double that of an ambient pressure.
4. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein the third position results in a pressure decrease relative to that of the second position.
5. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein the time required to move between the first and second positions is a different time than the time required to move between the second and third positions.
6. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein the distance required to move between the first and second positions is a different distance than the distance required to move between the second and third positions.
7. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein the fluid medium used to affect the rate of travel between the second and third positions is a different fluid medium than that used to affect the rate of travel between the first and second positions.
8. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein in the second position the first set of flow ports is exposed to a fluid flow on a well casing ID.
9. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 wherein in the third position the second set of flow ports is exposed to a fluid flow on a well casing ID.
10. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 further comprising the sliding sleeve having a ball-receiving profile located toward one end of the sliding sleeve.
11. A pressure response fracture port tool according to claim 1 further comprising means for temporarily securing the sliding sleeve in the first position relative to the outer housing.
12. A pressure response tool according to claim 11 wherein the temporary securing means is a set of shear pins.