IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,834,941
Granted Patent B2
US 11,834,941 · App. 17/215,373 · Granted Dec 5, 2023

Frac stack well intervention

Inventor: Kirk P. Guidry (Cypress, TX)
Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
E21B43/2607E21B33/072E21B33/062E21B43/267
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,834,941
App. No.
17/215,373
Granted
Dec 5, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fracturing system having rams for controlling flow through a fracturing tree is provided. In one embodiment, a well intervention method includes injecting fracturing fluid into a well through a bore of a frac stack coupled to a wellhead. The frac stack includes rams that can be moved between open and closed positions to control flow through the bore. The well intervention method also includes coupling a lubricator to the frac stack without a blowout preventer between the lubricator and the frac stack and lowering an intervention tool from the lubricator through the bore of the frac stack and into the well. Additional systems, devices, and methods for fracturing and intervention are also disclosed.

Claims (20)

1. A well intervention system comprising:

a wellhead; and

an equipment stack mounted over the wellhead, the equipment stack including:

a ram assembly above the wellhead;

a swab valve above the ram assembly; and

a lubricator above the swab valve;

wherein the equipment stack mounted over the wellhead does not include a blowout preventer between the lubricator and the swab valve, and wherein the equipment stack includes a bore and is configured to receive fracturing fluid into the bore at a location above the ram assembly.

2. The well intervention system of claim 1 , wherein the equipment stack includes a goat head above the ram assembly and below the swab valve.

3. The well intervention system of claim 1 , comprising an intervention tool.

4. The well intervention system of claim 3 , wherein the intervention tool is positioned in a well and suspended on a line extending through the lubricator, the swab valve, and the ram assembly.

5. The well intervention system of claim 4 , wherein the line is a wireline, a slickline, a braided line, or a coiled tubing line.

6. A well intervention method comprising:

injecting fracturing fluid into a well through a bore of a frac stack coupled to a wellhead, wherein injecting the fracturing fluid into the well through the bore of the frac stack includes pressurizing the bore of the frac stack with the fracturing fluid, the frac stack including rams that can be moved between open and closed positions to control flow of the fracturing fluid through the bore;

lowering a perforating gun through the bore of the frac stack and into the well from a lubricator coupled to the frac stack;

perforating a downhole casing in the well with the perforating gun;

after perforating the downhole casing, retrieving the perforating gun from the well and into the lubricator; and

after retrieving the perforating gun, isolating the lubricator and the perforating gun from well pressure.

7. The well intervention method of claim 6 , wherein isolating the lubricator and the perforating gun from well pressure includes closing a swab valve to isolate the lubricator and the perforating gun from well pressure.

8. The well intervention method of claim 6 , wherein isolating the lubricator and the perforating gun from well pressure includes closing at least some of the rams of the frac stack to isolate the lubricator and the perforating gun from well pressure.

9. The well intervention method of claim 6 , wherein the rams of the frac stack include intervention rams to seal around a line on which the perforating gun is lowered into the well and the method further includes closing the intervention rams to seal around the line.

Continuity (8)
Continuation In Part 16440344 · Jun 13, 2019
Continuation In Part 16440408 · Jun 13, 2019
Continuation In Part 15837176 · Dec 11, 2017
Continuation In Part 15837176 · Dec 11, 2017
Provisional Application 62694883 · Jul 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62694885 · Jul 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62433923 · Dec 14, 2016
Related Publication 20210355800A1 · Nov 18, 2021
Cited By (4)
US 12,492,625 US 12,534,993 US 12,644,368 US 12,662,925