IP Library Granted Patent US 9,534,471
Granted Patent B2
US 9,534,471 · App. 13/250,115 · Granted Jan 3, 2017

Multizone treatment system

Inventor: Ethan Etzel (Houston, TX)
Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
E21B34/14E21B43/14E21B2034/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,534,471
App. No.
13/250,115
Granted
Jan 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique provides a system and methodology for treating a plurality of zones, e.g. well zones. A plurality of flow control devices is located along a tubular structure, such as a well string in a wellbore. Each flow control device comprises a seat member with an annularly located recess having a unique profile relative to the annularly located recesses of the other flow control devices. Darts are designed with engagement features sized to correspond with selected annularly located recesses. Each dart may have an engagement feature of a specific length designed to engage the corresponding recess of a specific flow control device to enable actuation of that flow control device once the dart is dropped through the tubular structure.

Claims (29)

1. A method of treating a plurality of well zones, comprising:

locating a plurality of flow control devices along a well string in a well bore;

providing each flow control device with a seat member having an annular recess of a unique axial length relative to the annular recesses of the other flow control devices, wherein the plurality of flow control devices are arranged in a sequence such that the axial lengths of the annular recesses progressively decrease along the well string in a given direction;

dropping a dart with an engagement feature sized to engage the annular recess of a specific flow control device of the plurality of flow control devices;

applying pressure through the well string after the engagement feature engages the annular recess of a desired flow control device to actuate the desired flow control device to an open flow position;

stimulating a surrounding well zone after actuating the desired flow control device; and

flowing via an internal valve and flow passage in the dart after stimulating the surrounding well zone, wherein the internal flow passage is formed upon dissolution of a dissolvable material of the dart.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein locating comprises locating a plurality of sliding sleeves along a well completion.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein providing comprises providing each flow control device with the seat member having an internal flow diameter the same as the internal flow diameters of the other seat members.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising forming the engagement feature as a spring-loaded member biased radially outward from a dart body.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising dropping a second dart with its engagement feature having a shorter axial length that the engagement feature of the dart.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising dropping a third dart with its engagement feature having a shorter axial length that the engagement feature of the second dart.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein locating comprises locating the flow control devices along a tubular of a well completion.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein locating comprises locating the flow control devices along a casing in the wellbore.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the internal flow passage comprises a unidirectional flow passage.

10. A system for use in a well, comprising:

a plurality of flow control devices positioned along a tubing to control flow between an interior and an exterior of the tubing, each flow control device having a seat member with a sidewall forming a longitudinal flow through passage and a lateral recess having a unique profile relative to the lateral recesses of the other seat members, wherein the plurality of flow control devices are arranged in a sequence such that axial lengths of the lateral recesses progressively decrease along the tubing in a given direction; and

a plurality of darts, each dart comprising a dart body and an engagement feature uniquely sized to engage a specific lateral recess and an internal flow passage, wherein the internal flow passage comprises a check valve oriented to enable pressure buildup directed in a downhole direction and flowback of formation fluid in an uphole direction wherein the internal flow passage is formed upon dissolution of a dissolvable material of the dart.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the plurality of flow control devices comprises a plurality of sliding sleeves.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the tubing comprises a well casing.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the engagement feature of each dart is spring biased radially outward from the dart body.

14. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal flow through passage of each seat member has the same diameter as the longitudinal flow through passages of the other seat members, and each lateral recess has the unique profile in the form of a unique axial length.

15. A method, comprising:

providing a multizone well stimulation system with a plurality of flow control devices actuated via darts dropped to engage seat members of the plurality of flow control devices;

forming the seat members with flow through passages of common diameter and with annular recesses having axial lengths uniquely corresponding with specific flow control devices, wherein the plurality of flow control devices are arranged in a sequence such that the axial lengths of the annular recesses progressively decrease along a well bore in a given direction; and

selecting a plurality of darts, each dart having an engagement feature of a length corresponding to a specific annular recess of a specific flow control device and having an internal flow passage, wherein the internal flow passage comprises a check valve oriented to enable pressure buildup directed in a downhole direction and flowback of formation fluid in an uphole direction wherein further the internal flow passage is formed upon dissolution of a dissolvable material of the dart;

dropping a first dart of the plurality of darts through at least one flow through passage and into engagement with the seat member having the specific annular recess corresponding with the engagement feature of the first dart; and

applying pressure to shift the flow control device engaged by the first dart and performing a well treatment of a surrounding well zone.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising dropping a second dart of the plurality of darts through at least one flow through passage and into engagement with the seat member having the specific annular recess corresponding with the engagement feature of the second dart.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2012
From: ETZEL, ETHAN
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027668/0878 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130081827A1 · Apr 4, 2013