Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02 927850 2 016- 04-25
SYSTEM FOR SUCCESSIVELY UNCOVERING PORTS ALONG A
WELLBORE TO PERMIT INJECTION OF A FLUID ALONG SAID WELLBORE
CROSS-REFERENCE
This application claims the benefit of priority from commonly-assigned United
States
Patent Application Serial No. 14/697,271 filed April 27, 2015 and Canadian
Patent
Application CA 2,904,470 filed September 18, 2015, both of which are entitled
"SYSTEM
FOR SUCCESSIVELY UNCOVERING PORTS ALONG A WELLBORE TO PERMIT
INJECTION OF A FLUID ALONG SAID WELLBORE".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to multi-stage liners used in open hole or cased
completions for injection of fluids at successive contiguous locations along a
wellbore to
create multiple fractures in a hydrocarbon zone along the wellbore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This background and documents mentioned below are provided for the purpose of
making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance
to the present
invention, and in particular allowing the reader to understand advantages of
the invention over
devices and methods known to the inventor, but not necessarily public. No
admission is
necessarily intended, nor should be construed as admitting, that any of the
following
documents or methods known to the inventor constitute legally citable prior
art against the
present invention.
After an oil or gas well is drilled within an underground hydrocarbon
formation, the
zones of interest need to be completed, namely conditioned typically by a
fracking operation,
in order to most quickly and to the greatest extent possible produce oil
and/or gas from each
particular zone. If the zone of interest requires a type of fracture
stimulation, including but
not limited to acid fracture or propped fracture, the zone of interest will be
isolated to focus
the fracture on the particular zone, and to prevent fracture in other zones
which may not be
- 1 -
CAL_LAVV\ 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
desired.
Liner systems can be used prior to conducting the fracture stimulation and can
be run
in either open hole or cased hole applications.
In the stimulation of directional and horizontal wells, it can be desirable to
treat
multiple stages in a single zone, known as a cluster, with a single fracture
stimulation. It can
also be desirable to treat more than one zone with a single fracture
stimulation to save time
and expense associated with multiple treatments and time spent running tubing
and tools in
and out of the wellbore.
Various downhole tools and systems have been used to stimulate wells by
permitting
treatment /fracturing in multiple contiguous regions within a single zone.
Many of such tools
and systems require components within the bore of the liner at each valve
which
disadvantageously restricts flow of fluid through the liner during fracture
pumping
operations, and also, to the extent such systems or remnants thereof remain,
similarly restrict
production of hydrocarbons. Due to such flow restrictions, pressure drops
occur, which result
in less efficient operations as there is pressure loss incurred prior to the
fracture fluid
contacting the zone. Ideally, less pressure drop is desired to conduct a
fracture stimulation
more efficiently in each stage and in addition. In addition, such tools and
methods require
milling out of such components at each valve location prior to switching to
production flow
from the hydrocarbon bearing zones. It is desirous to have fewer
materials/components to
mill out within the bore liner immediately prior to commencing production from
the
hydrocarbon bearing zones.
Numerous patents and pending patent applications exist related to apparatus
and
systems for opening a plurality of ports in a liner within a wellbore at
multiple contiguous
locations therealong, to thereby permit injection of a fluid from such liner
into a hydrocarbon
formation, typically for the purpose of fracturing the formation at such
locations.
For example, US Patent No. 8,215,411 teaches a plurality of opening
sleeve/cluster
valves along a liner for wellbore treatment, and utilizes a ball member or
plug to open a
sleeve at each valve thereby allowing fluid communication between the bore and
a port in the
- 2 -
CAL_LAIM 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
sleeve's housing. This invention requires, however, a ball seat corresponding
to each sleeve
in a cluster valve, potentially restricting flow. The presence of a ball seat
at each valve to be
opened, due to the resulting bore restriction at each valve sleeve, creates a
significant pressure
drop across the cluster valve assembly.
US Patent No. 8,395,879 teaches a hydrostatically powered sliding sleeve.
Again,
such configuration utilizes a single ball, but each sliding sleeve
configuration requires its own
ball seat.
US Patent No. 4,893,678 discloses a multiple-set downhole tool and method that
utilizes a single ball. Again, each valve requires a seat which is integral
with a sliding sleeve,
and which remains with each valve/port. When the sleeve/seat is forced by the
ball to slide
and thereby open the port, collet fingers may then move radially outwardly,
disengaging the
ball and allowing the ball to further travel downhole to actuate (open)
further ports.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0102709 discloses a tool and method
for fracturing a wellbore that uses a single ball , each valve with a
deformable ball seat.
Again, each valve has a valve seat which remains with each valve/port.
Other patents and published applications avoid the problem of each valve/port
having
a ball seat which remains with each valve, and provide a dart or ball member
which actuates a
number of valves/ports. However, such designs are not without their own unique
drawbacks.
For example, US 2013/0068484 published March 21, 2013, inter alia in Fig. 6
thereof,
(and likewise to same effect US 2004/0118564 published June 24, 2004, likewise
in Fig. 6
thereof) teaches an axially movable sliding sleeve 322 which is capable of
actuating (i.e.
opening) a number of downhole port sleeves 325a, 325b to thereby open
corresponding
respective downhole ports 317a, 317a' which are normally covered by port
sleeve 325a, and
similarly subsequently open respective downhole ports 317b, 317b' normally
covered by
port sleeve 325b. Sliding sleeve 322 is mounted by a shear pin 350 in the
tubing string.
Plug/ball 324 is inserted in the tubing, and uphole fluid pressure applied
thereto cause plug
324 to travel downwardly in the in the string and abut sliding sleeve 322,
further causing shear
pin 350 to shear and thus sleeve 322 to then be driven downhole. Spring-
biased dogs 351
- 3 -
CALLAVA 2470082\1
04124/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
on outer periphery of sliding sleeve 322 then engage inner profile 353a on
sliding sleeve
325a and cause sleeve 325a (due to fluid pressure acting on plug 324) to move
downhole
thereby opening ports 317a, 317a'. As noted in paragraph [0071] therein,
continued
application of fluid pressure causes dogs 351 to collapse, thereby releasing
sleeve 322 from
engagement with inner profile 353a on sliding sleeve 325, and allowing sleeve
322 to further
travel downhole and actuate (i.e. open) further sleeves in like manner.
Although not
expressly mentioned nor shown in US 2013/0068484, seals are necessary around
dogs 351 in
order to allow creation of a pressure differential when such continued
application of fluid
pressure is applied, in order to cause collapse of such dogs to allow
disengagement with a first
sleeve and allow the dart to thereafter further travel downhole for subsequent
actuation of
additional downhole sleeves and ports. The necessity for seals around dogs 351
necessarily
introduces added mechanical complexity and the possibility of inability to
release sleeve 322
from engagement if such seals were to leak due to the then-inability to create
a pressure
differential.
WO 2013/048810 entitled "Multizone Treatment System" published April 4, 2013
teaches a system and method for successively opening flow control devises (
which may be
sliding sleeves) in a tubing string along a length thereof, commencing with a
most downhole
valve and opening a sleeve at such location, and by insertion of additional
darts progressing
successively upwardly in the tubing string to open further uphole sleeves. The
tubing string is
provided with a plurality of spaced apart flow control devices, such as
sliding sleeves, each
having an annulary-located recess therein with a unique profile relative to
other flow control
devices. A first dart, having an engagement feature sized to correspond with a
selected
annulary-located recess of a particular most-downhole flow control device, is
injected, and
such dart passes to actuate the flow control device to allow it to open a
port. The process is
progressively repeated for additional uphole flow control devices by injecting
additional darts,
having corresponding features to engage a selected flow control device. The
darts are then
drilled out to allow production from the tubing. Disadvantageously, only one
dart can open
one port, and thus a plurality of contiguously spaced ports are not capable of
being opened by
a single dart using such apparatus/method, thereby rendering such
system/method time
consuming.
- 4 -
CALLAVV 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
CA 2,842,568 entitled "Apparatus and Method for Perforating a Wellbore Casing,
and
Method and Apparatus for Fracturing a Formation" published May 29, 2014
teaches inter alia
dart members similar to the dart of WO 2013/048810, each dart having a
protruding spring-
biased profile uniquely sized to engage a similarly-sized annular recess on a
plurality of
downhole sliding sleeves, and thereby open sliding sleeve, with further means
being
provided on each of such sliding sleeves to allow the single dart member to
further travel
downhole and open additional sleeves having similar-sized annular recesses. No
collet sleeve
is provided, and a non-beveled(non-chamfered) surface on the annular recess of
the most
downhole sleeve is used to retain the dart from travelling further downhole.
Disadvantageously, in comparison to the system as hereinafter described, the
configuration of
the dart, namely having a spring-biased profile and a cup seal thereon,
essentially requires the
dart to be virtually solid and thereby permanent obstruction to the wellbore
once opening the
last of a series of slidable sleeves. If additional uphole sleeves are desired
to be actuated
using a second dart (having a narrower protruding spring-biased profile than
the first dart
used), the first dart must be installed using a locator tool and thereafter
retrieved, after
actuating a plurality of sleeves and associated ports using such tool, a shown
in Fig.s 9A-9D.
Such a system involves use of extensive equipment from surface and the need of
a bypass
port that need by opened and closed to allow effective operation including
insertion and
withdrawal of the locator tool. These steps and features complicate the
operation of such prior
art system and add to expense and time.
A need exists for an effective and simpler system which does away with tools
from
surface for opening production tubing for use after actuation of such ports.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an additional alternative system
to existing
systems and methods for opening contiguously spaced-apart ports located along
a tubing
within a wellbore to allow injection of fluid into a hydrocarbon formation.
It is a further object of the present invention, in certain embodiments
thereof, to
- 5 -
CAL LAVVµ 2470082\1
04/2-4/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
provide a system which may selectively open groups of continuous ports along a
tubing liner
separately, to allow separate and discrete fracking of various differently-
located hydrocarbon
zones which may exist along a length of a tubing liner within a wellbore in a
hydrocarbon
formation.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system
which can do
each of the above, yet nevertheless provide a minimum restriction to the bore
of the tubing
liner to thereby maximize production and flow rate of hydrocarbon therefrom.
It is a still further object of certain embodiments of the present invention
to be able to
accomplish each of the foregoing objects, yet nonetheless not have to , after
the completion of
the opening of the ports and the fracking process, insert a reamer to ream out
any remaining
flow obstructions within the tubing liner, and thereby avoid additional steps
prior to being
able to produce hydrocarbons from a wellbore.
Accordingly, in a first broad embodiment, the present invention provides for a
system
for successively uncovering a plurality of contiguous spaced-apart ports along
a wellbore,
comprising:
(i) a tubular liner having a bore, further comprising:
(a) a plurality of said spaced-apart ports longitudinally and contiguously
spaced along said tubular liner;
(b) a corresponding plurality of cylindrical sliding sleeve members, each
longitudinally slidable within said bore, each configured in an initial closed
position to overlap a corresponding of said ports, and when slidably moved
to an open position to uncover said corresponding port, each of said sliding
sleeve members having an interior circumferential groove therein;
(c) a shear member, initially securing said slidable sleeve members in said
initial closed position, and sheareable when a force is applied to a
respective
of said slidable sleeve members;
- 6 -
CAL_LANA 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
(ii) an actuation member positioned within said bore, comprising:
(a) a cylindrical hollow collet sleeve, having a radially-outwardly biased and
protruding protuberance, said protuberance configured to successively
matingly engage each of said respective interior circumferential grooves on
said sliding sleeve members, wherein said protuberance is of a substantially
equal or lesser width than a width of said circumferential grooves on each of
said sliding sleeve members, wherein said protuberance may be inwardly
compressed to allow said collet sleeve and protuberance thereon to become
disengaged from mating engagement in said circumferential groove;
(b) a plug member, situated within said collet sleeve and when in a first
position situated at an uphole end thereof, which at least for a limited time
together with said collet sleeve substantially obstructs passage of fluid
within
said bore when said collet sleeve and plug member are together situated in
said bore;
(c) a
shear pin, releasably securing said plug member to an uphole end of
said collet sleeve, shearable when a force is applied to said plug member to
cause said plug member to move downhole in said collet sleeve to a second
position therein preventing said protuberance from thereafter being forcibly
inwardly compressed and thereby maintaining said protuberance in mating
engagement with said circumferential groove;
wherein fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of said actuation member
causes said
actuation member to move downhole and successively engage said circumferential
groove in
each of said sliding sleeve members and move said sliding sleeve members
downhole so as
to thereby uncover each of said plurality of ports;
wherein fluid pressure required to shear said shear members in all of said
slidable
sleeve members save and except for a most- downhole of said slidable sleeve
members, is
- 7 -
CALLAVIA 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
less than fluid pressure required to shear said shear pins securing said plug
member to said
uphole end of said collet sleeve; and
wherein said plug member, when opening a most-downhole sliding sleeve member,
shears said shear pin therein and moves downhole in said collet sleeve from
said first position
therein to said second position thereby preventing said protuberance from
being inwardly
compressed.
In a further refinement, the tubing liner is further provided with burst
plates covering
each of said ports, said burst plates adapted to rupture and allow fluid
communication from
said bore to said port upon a fluid pressure in said bore being higher than
and exceeding the
fluid pressure necessary to:
(i) cause said plug member and collet sleeve to shear said shear member; and
(ii) cause said plug member to shear said shear pin and move to said plug
member to
said second position.
In a still further refinement, the plug member is dissolvable, and after
moving to said
second position and after a period of time being exposed to fluid within said
bore, becomes
dissolved. Such advantageously avoids having to insert a downhole reamer
within the tubing
liner, once fluid injection into the formation via the opened ports has been
completed, in
order to ready the tubing liner for production so as to allow hydrocarbons
from locations
further downhole to flow uphole to surface.
In a further refinement of the aforementioned system, means is provided to
lock the
sliding sleeves in the open position once such sliding sleeves have been moved
by the plug
and collet sleeve to the open position uncovering such ports. Thus in a
preferred embodiment,
a snap ring member is provided with each of said plurality of sliding sleeve
members, which
snap ring member locks each sliding sleeve member in said open position when
said sliding
sleeve member is moved to said open position. Other similar means of locking
each sliding
sleeve in an open position will now occur to persons of skill in the art, and
are likewise
- 8 -
CAL...LAW\ 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
alternatively contemplated for use in the system of the present invention to
lock the sliding
sleeves in the open position.
In a still further refinement, the plug member upon movement to said second
position
prevents said protuberance from being inwardly compressed, and said actuation
member is
further prevented along from further movement downhole.
In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of actuation members, each
comprised
of a collet sleeve having a protuberance thereon of a different with, are
utilized to uncover a
plurality of groups of discrete/separate spaced apart ports, wherein each of
the groups of ports
in the liner are positioned in different zones of the formation. Such allows
injection of fluid in
separate zones of the wellbore, at a time and in a sequence determined by the
completions
engineer who controlling the fracking/completion process to be most optimal
for allowing
greatest recovery from the well.
Accordingly, in such further preferred embodiment of the system of the present
invention, a system for successively uncovering at least two separate groups
of
contiguous spaced-apart ports along a wellbore is provided, comprising:
(i) a tubular liner having a bore, further comprising:
(a) a plurality of first spaced-apart ports longitudinally spaced along said
tubular liner;
(b) a corresponding plurality of -first cylindrical sliding sleeve members,
each longitudinally slidable within said bore, each configured in an initial
closed position to overlap a corresponding of said first ports and when
slidably moved to an open position to not overlap said first port, each of
said sliding sleeve members having an interior circumferential groove
therein of a first width;
(c) a plurality of said second spaced-apart ports longitudinally and
contiguously spaced along said tubular liner, situated in said tubular liner
downhole from said first ports;
- 9 -
CAL_LAIM 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
(d) a corresponding plurality of second cylindrical sliding sleeve members,
each longitudinally slidable within said bore, each configured in an initial
closed position to overlap a corresponding of said second ports and when
slidably moved to an open position to not overlap said corresponding second
port, each of said second sliding sleeve members having an interior
circumferential groove therein of a second width, wherein said second width is
greater than said first width;
(e) shear members, respectively securing said first and second slidable sleeve
members in said initial closed position, and shearable when a force is applied
to a respective of said first and second slidable sleeve members;
(ii) a first actuation member positioned within said bore, comprising:
(a) a cylindrical hollow collet sleeve, having a plurality of elongate
longitudinally extending finger members thereon, said finger members having
thereon a radially-outwardly protruding protuberance, said protuberance
configured to successively matingly engage said respective interior
circumferential groove on each of said second sliding sleeve members, wherein
said protuberance is of a width substantially equal to said second width but
greater than said first width,
wherein said protuberance may upon fluid
pressure being applied to an uphole side of said first actuation member be
inwardly compressed to allow said collet sleeve and protuberance thereon to
become disengaged from mating engagement in said circumferential groove in
each of said second sliding sleeve members;
(b) a plug member, situated within said collet sleeve and when in a first
position situated at an uphole end of said collet sleeve, which at least for a
limited time together with said collet sleeve substantially obstructs passage
of
fluid within said bore when said collet sleeve and plug member are together
situated in said bore;
(c) a shear pin, releasably securing said plug member to an uphole end of said
collet sleeve, shearable when a force is applied to said plug member to cause
- 10 -
CAL_LAVIA 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
said plug member to move downhole in said collet sleeve to a second position
therein preventing said finger members from thereafter being forcibly inwardly
compressed and thereby maintaining said protuberance in mating engagement
with said circumferential groove;
wherein fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of said first actuation member
causes
said first actuation member to move downhole and cause said collet sleeve
thereof to
successively engage said second circumferential groove in each of said second
slidable sleeve
members and move each of said second sliding sleeve members downhole so as to
thereby
uncover each of said plurality of second ports;
wherein fluid pressure required to shear said shear members in all of said
second
slidable sleeve members save and except for a most- downhole of said slidable
sleeve
members, is less than fluid pressure required to shear said shear pins
securing said plug
member to said uphole end of said collet sleeve; and
wherein said plug member in said first actuation member, when opening a most-
downhole second sliding sleeve member, shears said shear pin therein and moves
downhole in
said collet sleeve from said first position therein to said second position
thereby preventing
said protuberance from being inwardly compressed;
said system further comprising:
(iii) a second actuation member positioned within said bore, comprising:
(a) a cylindrical hollow collet sleeve, having a plurality of elongate
longitudinally extending finger members thereon, said finger members having
thereon a radially-outwardly protruding protuberance, said protuberance
configured to successively matingly engage said respective interior
circumferential groove on each of said first sliding sleeve members, wherein
said protuberance is of a width substantially equal to said first width, but
less
than said second width, wherein said protuberance may be inwardly
compressed to allow said collet sleeve and protuberance thereon to become
disengaged from mating engagement in said first circumferential groove in
each of said first sliding sleeve members;
- 11 -
CAL_LAW\ 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
(b) a plug member, situated within said collet sleeve and when in a first
position situated at an uphole end of said thereof, which at least for a
limited
time together with said collet sleeve substantially obstructs passage of fluid
within said bore when said collet sleeve and plug member are together situated
in said bore;
(c) a shear pin, releasably securing said plug member to an uphole end of said
collet sleeve, shearable when a force is applied to said plug member to cause
said plug member to move downhole in said collet sleeve to a second position
therein preventing said finger members from thereafter being forcibly inwardly
compressed and thereby maintaining said protuberance in mating engagement
with said circumferential groove;
wherein fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of said second actuation
member
causes said second actuation member to move downhole and said collet sleeve
thereof
successively engage said circumferential grooves in each of said first
slidable sleeve
members and move each of said first sliding sleeve members downhole so as to
thereby
uncover each of said plurality of first ports; and
wherein fluid pressure required to shear said shear members in all of said
first
slidable sleeve members save and except for a most- downhole of said first
slidable sleeve
members, is less than fluid pressure required to shear said shear pins
securing said plug
member to said uphole end of said collet sleeve.
In a further embodiment the plug member in said second actuation member, when
opening a most-downhole sliding sleeve member, shears said shear pin therein
and moves
downhole in said collet sleeve from said first position therein to said second
position thereby
preventing said protuberance from being inwardly compressed.
In a still further embodiment, the plug member in the second actuation member
and/or
first actuation member may be dissolvable by a fluid that may be injected
downhole.
- 12 -
CALLAN\ 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
In a further refinement burst plates may likewise be provided covering each of
said
first and second ports, said burst plates adapted to rupture and allow fluid
communication
from said bore to said port only upon a fluid pressure in said bore exceeding:
(i) the fluid pressure necessary to cause said plug member in each of said
first and
second actuation member and said associated collet sleeve to shear said shear
member; and
(ii) the fluid pressure necessary to cause said plug member in each of said
first and
second actuation member to shear said shear pin and move to said plug member
to said
second position in each collet sleeve.
In such manner, as fracking operations are typically conduced commencing with
a
most downhole/furthest extremity of the wellbore, the wellbore may be
progressively fracked
in each zone, commencing from the most downhole/furthest extremity of the
wellbore.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a
system
using at least two actuating (slidable dart) members , each of said at least
two actuating
members having a differently-dimensioned (or differently-configured)
protuberance profile,
so that the protuberance profile on a collet sleeve of each of the actuation
members is unique.
A first of such actuation members having such a unique protuberance profile
successively
matingly engages at least one sliding sleeve member, and preferably
successively matingly
engages a first group of sliding sleeve members , all having a similarly
configured inner
circumferential groove or series of grooves thereon which matingly engage the
protuberance
profile on the actuation member, to allow the actuation member to thereby
uncover/open a
series of ports along a hollow tubular member. A plug member, typically a
spherical ball
pumped down the tubular liner, obstructs the flow of fluid through each
actuation member,
thereby providing a downhole motive force on each of said at least two
actuation members.
After opening, by a first of the at least two actuation members, at least one
port and
preferably a group of ports, a second actuation member having a differently
configured or
dimensioned profile, can be pumped downhole to then similarly move and thereby
open a
second group of sliding sleeve members, so as to allow opening at a different
time of a second
group of ports along a tubular liner.
- 13 -
CALLAW1 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
As many groups of ports may be individually opened as there are actuation
members
having different configured /dimensioned protuberance profiles.
In such further embodiment, it is not necessary the that plug member,
typically in this
embodiment a spherical ball, be affixed via shear pins to the collet sleeve of
the actuation
member.
Accordingly, in a first broad embodiment of such further embodiment a system
for
successively uncovering at least two separate groups of contiguous spaced-
apart ports
along a pipe inserted in a wellbore is provided. Such system comprises:
(i) a tubular liner having a bore, further comprising:
(a) a plurality of said spaced-apart ports longitudinally and contiguously
spaced along said tubular liner;
(b) a corresponding plurality of cylindrical sliding sleeve members, each of
said sleeve members associated with a respective of said plurality of spaced-
apart ports, each sliding sleeve member longitudinally slidable within
said bore and configured in an initial closed position to overlap a
corresponding of said ports, and when slidably moved to an open position to
uncover a corresponding of said ports, each of said sliding sleeve members
having an interior circumferential groove, a width of said interior
circumferential groove in said sliding sleeve members associated with a first
group of contiguous spaced-apart ports being different than a width of said
interior circumferential grooves in said sliding sleeve members associated
with
a second group of contiguous spaced-apart ports;
(c) a shear member, initially securing said slidable sleeve members in said
initial closed position, and sheareable when a force is applied to a
respective
of said slidable sleeve members;
- 14 -
CAL LAIM 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
(ii) a first actuation member positioned within said bore, comprising:
(a) a cylindrical hollow collet sleeve, having a radially-outwardly biased and
protruding profile, said profile configured to matingly engage said interior
cylindrical grooves in said sliding sleeves associated with a first of said at
least two
groups of ports, but not matingly engage said interior cylindrical grooves
associated
with sliding sleeve members which initially cover said second group of ports;
(b) a dissolvable plug member, dimensioned so as to be positionable and remain
lodged within said collet sleeve of said first actuation member at an uphole
end
thereof, which at least for a limited time when not dissolved together with
said collet
sleeve substantially obstruct passage of a fluid within said bore when said
collet
sleeve and dissolvable plug member are together situated in said bore, and
becomes
dissolved after said fluid is injected down said wellbore;
wherein fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of said first actuation member
causes
said first actuation member to move downhole and engage said circumferential
groove in said at least one sliding sleeve member associated with said first
group of
ports, and not engage said circumferential grooves of a different width in
remaining
cylindrical sliding sleeve members associated with said second group of ports,
and
move each sliding sleeve member associated with said first group of ports
downhole
so as to thereby uncover said ports in said first group of ports; and
(iii) a second actuation member positioned within said bore, comprising:
(a) a cylindrical hollow collet sleeve, having a radially-outwardly biased and
protruding profile, said profile configured to matingly engage said interior
cylindrical grooves in said sliding sleeves associated with a second of said
at least two
groups of ports;
(b) a dissolvable plug member, dimensioned so as to be positionable and remain
lodged within said collet sleeve of said second actuation member at an uphole
end
thereof, which at least for a limited time when not dissolved together with
said collet
- 15 -
CALLAWl 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
sleeve substantially obstructs passage of a fluid within said bore when said
collet
sleeve and dissolvable plug member are together situated in said bore, and
becomes
dissolved after said fluid is injected down said tubular liner;
wherein fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of said dissolvable plug
member upon
a fluid being injected down said tubular liner, causes said second actuation
member
to move downhole and engage said circumferential move in said at least one
sliding sleeve members associated with said second group of ports, and move
each
sliding sleeve member associated with said second group of ports downhole so
as to
thereby uncover said ports in said second group of ports.
As noted above, such system is particularly adapted for successively
uncovering at
least two separate groups of contiguous spaced-apart ports along a tubular
liner. Preferably,
the interior grooves and/or said resiliently outwardly biased profile on said
first and/or
second actuation members are provided with a chamfer so as to permit, after
said profile on
said first and second actuation members has matingly engaged a respective of
said interior
circumferential moves, said profile on said first and/or second actuation
member to be
released from said mating engagement therein upon further fluid pressure being
applied
uphole to said plug member, so as to allow the first and/or second actuation
member to move
further downhole and actuate(i.e. open) additional desired ports along such
tubing liner.
In a preferred refinement of such further embodiment, each of sliding sleeve
members
at a lowermost (downhole) end thereof, possess radially- outwardly biased and
extending tab
members which engage an aperture in said tubing liner when a respective of
said sliding
sleeve members is moved to uncover an associated port, which tab members when
engaged in
said aperture prevent respective of said sliding sleeve members from moving
uphole to
thereby close an associated port.
In a further refinement, said first and second actuation members are provided,
at a
downhole end thereof, with an annular ring of a diameter substantially equal
to the diameter
of the sliding sleeve members, having a chamfer thereon to assist said
actuation member in
moving downhole in the tubular liner.
- 16 -
CAL LAM 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
In a further refinement, one or both of said first or second actuation members
may be
dissolvable upon being exposed for a period of time to said fluid. Such a
configuration
advantageously eliminates, after the opening of ports along the tubular liner,
any remaining
restriction in the diameter of the tubing liner, and allows as much cross-
sectional area of the
tubing liner to be utilized for producing oil collected in such tubing liner
after fracking via the
opened ports. Horsepower pumping requirements, due to the reduced restrictions
inherent in
the tubing liner when producing, are thereby reduced to the maximum possible
for a given
tubing liner diameter.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the invention relates to a
method for
successively uncovering a plurality of spaced-apart ports along a hollow
tubular liner. Such
method comprises the steps of:
(i) injecting a first actuation member having a profile thereon of a first
width down
said tubular liner having a plurality of sliding sleeve members respectively
covering a
corresponding plurality of said spaced-apart ports along said tubular liner;
(ii) causing said profile on said first actuation member to engage an interior
circumferential groove on a lowermost of said sliding sleeve members , and
upon application
of fluid pressure uphole of said first actuation member, causing said sliding
sleeve member to
move downhole and thereby uncover an associated of said ports in said tubular
liner;
(iii) allowing fluid in said tubular liner to dissolve a plug in said first
actuation
member so as to allow flow of fluid in said tubular liner through said first
actuation member;
(iv) injecting a further actuation member down said tubular liner having a
profile
thereon of a lesser width;
(v) causing said profile of said lesser width thereon to engage an interior
circumferential groove on a sliding sleeve member uphole of said lowermost
sliding sleeve
member, and upon application of fluid pressure uphole of said further
actuation member,
causing said uphole sliding sleeve member to move downhole and thereby uncover
an
additional associated of said ports in said tubular liner;
- 17 -
CALLAW1 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
(vi) allowing fluid in said tubular liner to dissolve a plug in said further
actuation
member so as to allow flow of fluid in said tubular liner through said further
actuation
member; and
(vii) repeating steps (iv)-(vi) until all of said plurality of spaced-apart
ports along said
tubular liner have been opened.
The above summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all features
of the
invention. For a complete description of the invention, reference is to
further be had to the
drawings and the detailed description of some preferred embodiments, read
together with the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages and other embodiments of the invention will now appear from
the above along with the following detailed description of the various
particular embodiments
of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings each of which
are intended
to be non-limiting, in which:
FIG.'s 1A-1D show a series of sequential views of a tubing liner incorporating
the
system of the present invention, with:
FIG. 1A is an initial view showing the tubing liner with the ports and
corresponding sleeves in the closed position;
FIG 1B is a subsequent view showing the tubing liner with the actuation
member inserted in the liner and the collet sleeve and protuberances thereon
engaging the first sliding sleeve member;
FIG. 1C is a subsequent view showing the actuation member having moved
the most uphole sliding sleeve member so as shear the shear members and
force the associated sliding sleeve member to move dowhole so as to thereby
uncover its associated port, such actuation member having disengaged from
such sliding sleeve member and in the process of moving further downhole
- 18 -
CAL_LAVV12470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
to similarly open a further downhole sliding sleeve member and associated
port; and
FIG. ID is a subsequent view showing the actuation member having engaged
the more downhole sliding sleeve member and having sheared the associated
shear members thereof and having moved such sleeve member downhole so
as to likewise uncover its associated port, with the plug member having
further
sheared its retaining shear pins and moved downhole within the collet sleeve
thereby preventing the protuberances on the collet sleeve from disengaging
from the associated sliding sleeve member and the plug member and associated
collet sleeve being further prevented from moving further downhole;
FIG.'s 2A-2D show a series of sequential views of a tubing liner incorporating
a
further refinement of the system of the present invention, namely comprising
two different
types of sliding sleeve members intended to be separately actuated by
different actuation
members, with:
FIG. 2A showing a tubing liner with the ports and corresponding sleeves in
the closed position, and in particular with two types of sliding sleeve
members,
a first group thereof (the most uphole slidable sleeve member shown) having a
circumferential groove of lesser width than the circumferential groove in
adjacent downhole sliding sleeve members, and showing the tubing liner with
the actuation member inserted in the liner and the collet sleeve and
protuberances thereof having passed the first sliding sleeve member and
continuing downhole in the liner;
FIG. 2B is a subsequent view of the tubing liner showing the actuation
member having moved past the most uphole sliding sleeve member within the
tubular liner, and moved downhole to the second sliding sleeve member of the
second group of slidable sleeves, wherein protuberances on the collet sleeve
thereof having engaged the corresponding circumferential groove on such
second sliding sleeve member;
- 19 -
CALLAIM 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
FIG. 2C is a subsequent view showing the actuation member having sheared
the shear members initially retaining the second slidable sleeve member, and
having moved such slidable sleeve member dowhnole so as to thereby
uncover its associated port, and such actuation member having disengaged
from such second sliding sleeve member and in the process of moving further
downhole ; and
FIG. 2D is a subsequent view showing the actuation member having engaged
the most downhole sliding sleeve member and having sheared the associated
shear members thereof and having moved such sleeve member downhole so
as to likewise uncover its associated port, with the plug member having
further
sheared its retaining shear pins and moved downhole within the collet sleeve
thereby preventing the protuberances on the collet sleeve from disengaging
from the associated sliding sleeve member and the plug member and associated
collet sleeve being further prevented from moving further downhole;
FIG. 3A-3B show two different types of sliding sleeve members-a first type as
shown in Fig. 3A having a circumferential groove of width W1 , and a second
type as
shown in Fig. 3B having a circumferential groove of width W2;
FIG.'s 4-8 show enlarged successive views of a most downhole sliding sleeve
member and associated port when acted on by an actuation member, wherein:
FIG. 4 shows an actuation member having been placed in the tubing liner, and
such
actuation member approaching the most-downhole sliding sleeve member;
FIG. 5 shows the actuation member having engaged the circumferential groove(s)
in the most-downhole sliding sleeve member;
FIG.6 shows the plug member having sheared the shear pins retaining it in the
uphole end of the collet sleeve, and the plug member having moved to the
downhole end of
the collet sleeve thereby preventing disengagement of the collet fingers with
the
circumferential groove;
- 20 -
CAL_LAVV1247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
FIG. 7 shows the collet sleeve and plug member having sheared the shear
members
retaining the slidable sleeve member in a closed position, and having moved
the slidable
sleeve member to the open position;
FIG. 8 shows the most downhole sleeve in the open position, with the plug
member
having dissolved:
FIG 9 is s perspective sectional view of a modified system, using modified
sleeves
adapted to receive a dart having a dissolvable ball therein, and which sleeves
each have a
uniquely sized or proportioned annular recess therein adapted to matingly
engage only a
unique dart having a mating unique profile;
FIG. 10 is a cross-section through a sleeve and dart, when the unique
resiliently-
biased profie of a particular dart has matingly engaged a correspondingly
uniquely
dimensioned annular recess of a particular sliding sleeve;
FIG. 11 is a similar cross-section through the same sleeve and dart, taken at
a later
point in time, namely when fluid pressure exerted uphole has forced shearing
of the shear
screws originally retaining the sliding sleeve covering the port/slots within
the pipe mandrel,
and moved the sleeve so downhole so as to uncover the port and allow
engagement of collet
fingers on the dart with a recess in the pipe to retain the sleeve in such
position uncovering the
port;
FIG. 12 is 3- dimensional enlarged view of the components shown in Fig. 10;
FIG. 13 is a 3-dimensional enlarged view of the compoents shown in Fig. 10,
with
fluid pressure being applied uphole to cause the dart with engaged sleeve to
being to be
moved downhole in order to commence opening the ports in the pipe mandrel;
FIG. 14 is is a 3-dimensional enlarged view of the components shown in Fig.
10,
with fluid pressure having been being applied uphole for a further period of
time so that the
dart with engaged sleeve has bee moved further downhole in order to completely
open the
ports in the pipe mandrel;
- 21 -
CALLAW12470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
FIG 15 is a another view of the sliding sleeve and dart, with ball, showing
the
position after the ports have been opened;
FIG 16 is a similar view of the sliding sleeve and dart, after a further
period of time
when the ball has dissolved thus opening the pipe for flow; and
FIG. 17 is a view of the dart member, while being run downhole in the pipe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description, similar components in the drawings are
identified with
corresponding same reference numerals.
The system of the present invention is to be used in the conditioning of a
wellbore
(i.e. "completion" of a wellbore in oilfield parlance) prior to production of
hydrocarbons
from such wellbore.
Specifically, the present system can advantageously be used to provide and
allow
the injection of pressurized fluid into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation at
desired optimal
locations along the wellbore, for the purposes of initially fracturing the
hydrocarbon
formation and/or injecting flow-enhancing agents into the formation (such as
acids, flow
enhancing agents, and/or proppants) all for the purpose and objective of
increasing the rate
and quantity of hydrocarbons to be subsequently recovered from the hydrocarbon
formation.
A tubing liner 200 inserted into a drilled wellbore serves a variety of
purposes, one
of which is the reinforcement of the wellbore and preventing collapse of the
wellbore, another
of which is to allow supply of such completion fluids under pressure to
desired zones of the
hydrocarbon formation, via ports situated longitudinally in spaced-apart
relation along the
tubing liner.
FIG. lA shows a portion of a tubing liner 200 for insertion into a drilled
horizontal
wellbore (not shown), incorporating portions of the system of the present
invention.
- 22 -
CAL _LAW 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
Tubing liner 200 is typically constructed of segments of steel pipe members
211,
212. 213 each of uniform length threadably coupled together at their
respective ends. Pipe
members 211, 212, 213 are typically manufactured in various standardized
lengths, widths,
thicknesses, and material strengths, depending on the wellbore depth,
diameter, pressures to
which the tubing liner 200 will be exposed to, and the like. Tubing liners 200
typically
contain a bore 210, and further possess a plurality ports, such as ports 206,
206', 206",
which in certain conditions are permitted to fluidly communicate with bore
210. Ports 206,
206', 206" are initially closed during insertion of the tubing liner 200 into
a wellbore, in
order to avoid ingress into the bore 210 of detritus such as residual drill
cuttings typically
present in a wellbore which would otherwise clog ports 206, 206' and/or bore
210 thereby
preventing collection of hydrocarbons in the tubing liner and/or preventing
production of
such hydrocarbons to surface.
FIGS. 1B-1D show the same tubing liner 200 in combination with an actuation
member 202, which actuation member 202 is used to open selective ports 206,
206' in the
manner hereinafter explained. FIGS. 1B-1D respectively depict the successive
manner of
operation of the actuation member 202 on the plurality of sliding sleeve
members 204, 205 in
the tubing liner 200 to successively open associated ports 206, 206' in tubing
liner 200 .
Such components together broadly comprise the system of the present invention.
As may be seen from all figures herein, hollow cylindrical sliding sleeve
members
203, 204, 205 are provided within tubing liner 200, initially each in a closed
position
overlapping and thereby covering respective ports 206, 206', 206" thus
preventing fluid
communication between bore 210 and any of ports 206, 206', 206". Each of
sliding sleeve
members 203, 204, 205 is provided with a circumferential groove or aperture
220, of a
uniform width 'W' as shown in FIG.'s 1A-1D. Alternatively, in a further
refinement of the
present invention as more fully explained herein, groups of sliding sleeve
members possess
circumferential grooves 220 of a given uniform width 'WV, whilst other groups
of sliding
sleeves possess circumferential grooves 220 of a greater uniform width 'W2',
as shown in
FIG's 2A-2D herein.
- 23 -
CAL LAM 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
Shear members, which in one embodiment comprise shear screws or shear pins
222, are provided to secure, at least initially, each of sliding sleeve
members 203, 204, 205 to
tubing liner 200, to thereby secure each of sleeve members 203, 204, 205 in an
initial closed
position overlapping each of respective ports 206, 206', 206". Shear screws
222 are
configured to shear upon a force being applied to the respective sliding
sleeve members 203,
204, 205 exceeding a given design value, so as to allow slidable downhole
movement of
sleeve members 203, 204, 205 to uncover a respective ports 206,206', 206".
To operate the system of the present invention and open a single group of
contiguous, spaced-apart ports 206', 206" as shown in FIG.'s 1A-1D, an
actuation member
202 is provided, positionable within bore 210. Actuation member 202 comprises
a
cylindrical hollow collet sleeve 232. Collet sleeve 232 possesses at least one
radially-
outwardly protruding and outwardly-biased protuberance 234. In a preferred
embodiment the
collet sleeve 232 possesses a plurality of elongate longitudinally extending
and radially
outwardly biased finger members 240 thereon, with each finger member 240
having thereon
said radially-outwardly protruding protuberance 234.
Protuberance 234 is configured of a width equal to or slightly less than width
'W"
of circumferential groove 220, to thereby allow matingly engagement with each
of
respective interior circumferential grooves 220 in each of sliding sleeve
members 206', 206".
Finger members 240, being radially outwardly biased, may be inwardly
compressed to allow
collet sleeve 232 and associated protuberances 234 to become radially inwardly
compressed
to thereby allow disengagement of collet sleeve 232 and protuberance 234 from
a respective
sliding sleeve member and associate groove 220, once the respective sliding
sleeve member
204, 205 is moved so as to uncover respective port 206', 206", to thereby
allow actuation
member 202 to continue to move downhole and further actuate (open) all desired
remaining
sliding sleeve members 204, 205 having circumferential grooves 220 therein of
width 'W".
A plug member 250 is provided within collet sleeve 232 of actuation member
202.
Plug member 250 is initially secured by shear pins 275 to collet sleeve 232 at
an uphole end
of collet sleeve 232, as shown for example in FIG.'s 1B, 1C, 2B, 2C, and FIG.
5. Of note,
all instances of use of the term "shear pin" herein in this application means
and includes any
- 24 -
CALLAVA 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
shear screw, shear pin, frangible weld or solder connection initially securing
plug member 250
to uphole end of collet sleeve 232.
Shear pins 275, when a fluid pressure is applied on an unphole side of plug
member
250 in excess of a given value, are adapted to shear so as to release plug
member 250 from
being secured to the uphole side of collet sleeve 232 and to then travel
downhole within collet
sleeve 232 to a downhole portion of collet sleeve 232, where further movement
of plug
member 250 is prevented by an extremity (a chamfered shoulder 255) of collet
sleeve 232.
Fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of said actuation member 202 and plug
member 250 causes collet sleeve 232 to move downhole, as shown in successive
FIG.'s 1B-
1D, and in successive figures FIG.'s 2B-2D, and engage circumferential grooves
220 in
respective downhole sliding sleeve members 204, 205 and successively move
sliding sleeve
members 204, 205 downhole so as to thereby uncover each of corresponding ports
206',
206".
The fluid pressure required to shear said shear members 222 securing slidable
sleeve members 204 is less than the fluid pressure required to shear said
shear pins 275
securing said plug member 250 to said uphole end of said collet sleeve 232,
save and except
for the fluid pressure required to shear the shear members 220 securing the
most downhole
sliding sleeve member 205.
Accordingly, when opening a most-downhole sliding sleeve member 205, due to
the
higher shearing strength in shearing members 222 than shear pins 275, plug
member 250
firstly shears shear pin 275 therein and thereby allows plug member 250 to
move downhole in
collet sleeve 232 from the first uphole position (FIG. 5) in collet sleeve 232
to the second
position (ref. FIG. 6) where it is restrained by chamfered shoulders 255 on
plug member 250.
Movement of plug member 250 to the second position (ref. FIG. 1D and FIG. 6)
thereby
prevents protuberances 234 from being inwardly compressed Application of
additional
uphole fluid pressure acting on the plug member 250 then causes shearing
members 222
securing most downhole sliding sleeve member 205 to shear, thus allowing the
most
- 25 -
CAL LAVV\ 2470082\1
04/2:1/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
downhole sliding sleeve to move downhole and thereby uncover the most downhole
port 206"
in the series of ports 206', 206".
In the system shown in FIG.'s 1A-1D, and also for a system where individual
discrete groups of ports are provided which are desired to be opened
separately, for example
uphole first ports 206 and a second downhole group of (second) ports 206',
206" and each of
said first ports 206 and second ports 206', 206" are desired to be opened
separately as shown
in FIG's 2A-2D, burst plates 300 may be provided which cover each of ports
206, 206', and
206. Burst plates 300, as shown in FIG's IA-1D, are adapted to rupture and
allow fluid
communication from bore 210 to a respective port 206', 206" when fluid
pressure in bore 210
(i) exceeds the fluid pressure necessary to cause plug member 250 and collet
sleeve 232 to
shear the shear members 222, including the most downhole of the shear members
220
securing the most downhole sliding sleeve 205; and (ii) when the fluid
pressure in bore 210
also exceeds the fluid pressure necessary to cause plug member 250 to shear
the shear pins
275 and move plug member 250 to the second downhole position in collet sleeve
232. Burst
ports 300 covering such first group of ports 206 may be provided with a
different burst
pressure than burst ports 300 covering ports 206', 206". In particular, when
first ports 206
are located uphole of second ports 206', 206" as shown in FIG.'s 2A-2D, burst
plates
covering second ports 206', 206" may have a lower burst pressure than burst
ports covering
uphole first ports 206.
FIG's 2A-2D show the embodiment of the system discussed immediately above,
namely were individual discrete groups of ports are provided, namely first
ports 206 and
second ports 206', 206" where each of said first ports and second ports 206',
206" are desired
to be opened separately, but without burst plates 300 being provided.
In such embodiment, a series/group of first uphole sleeve members 203, as
shown in
Fig. 2A-2D and as best shown in enlarged view in FIG. 3A, are provided. Each
of first ports
206 have an associated sliding sleeve member 203 which in a closed position
overlaps port
206 preventing fluid communication with bore 201. Uphole sliding sleeve member
203
possesses a circumferential groove 220 of width Wl, adapted to be matingly
engaged by a
- 26 -
CAL_LAVA 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
protuberance 234 on an actuation member 202 to allow fluid pressure uphole of
actuation
member 202 to force actuation member 202 comprising collet sleeve 232 and plug
member
250 downhole thereby likewise forcing sliding sleeve member 203 downhole
thereby
uncovering port 220. Chamfered edges 221 on groove 220 and continued fluid
pressure
exerted on actuation member 202 allow collet sleeve 232, and in particular
collet fingers 240
thereon, to be radially inwardly compressed thereby causing protuberance 234
thereon to be
likewise radially inwardly compressed, thereby freeing protuberances 234 from
mating
engagement with groove 220 and allowing continued downhole movement of
actuation
member 202 to actuate similar downhole slidable sleeve members having grooves
220 of
similar or lesser widths Wl.
In the embodiment of the system 200 shown in FIG's 2A-2D, a second
series/group
of (second) ports 206', 206" are located downhole from said first ports 206,
each of second
ports 206', 206" having respective second sliding sleeve members 204, 205.
Each of such
sliding sleeve members 204, 205 have a circumferential groove 220 of width W2,
wherein
W2>W1.
Operation of Preferred Embodiment Shown in FIG. 's 2A-2D and FIG. 's 3A - FIG.
8
The manner of operation of the system 200 for uncovering two separate groups
of
ports, namely first ports 206, and second group of (second) ports 206', 206"
as shown in
FIG.'s 2A-21) and FIG's 3A - FIG. 8, is described below, and is in effect a
duplication of
the system shown in FIG's 1A-1D described above, but with uphole sliding
members 203
covering the group of first ports 206, such sliding members 203 (of the type
shown in FIG.
3A) having grooves 220 thereon of a lesser width W1 than the circumferential
grooves 220 of
width W2 on associated sliding sleeve members 204, 205 of the type shown in
FIG's 3B
covering respective (second) ports 206', 206".
Specifically, as regards the operation of the system 200 for uncovering two
separate
groups of ports, a first actuation member 220 having thereon a protuberance
234 of width W2
is firstly inserted into bore 210, and propelled downhole by fluid pressure
applied to bore
- 27 -
CAL_LAVV\ 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
210. First actuation member 220 , having a collet sleeve 232 and protuberances
234 thereon
of width W2 does not engage circumferential groove 220 on (first) (uphole)
sliding sleeve
member(s) 203 covering first port 206 due to width W2 of protuberance 234 on
first
actuation member 220 being greater than width W1 of groove(s) 220 in first
sliding sleeve
member(s) 203. First actuation member 220 continues to travel further downhole
in tubing
liner 200.
First actuation member 202 when travelling further downhole then encounters
sliding sleeve member 204 covering second port 206' (of the second group of
second ports
206', 206"), and protuberance 234 matingly engages groove 220 therein, since
width W2 of
protuberance 234 on first actuation member is equal to (or somewhat less than)
width W2 of
groove 220 on collet sleeve 232. Fluid pressure on the uphole side of
actuating member 202
causes further downhole movement thereof, causing sliding sleeve 204 to move
downhole and
thus uncover/ open associated port 206'. A snap ring 270 may further engage
the sliding
sleeve 204 when in such open position, in order to retain sliding sleeve 204
in such position
uncovering associated port 206'.
Due to chamfering (i.e. provision of chamfered shoulders 221) in groove 220 ,
collet
sleeve 232 (and in particular collet fingers 240 and protuberances 234
thereon) are radially
inwardly compressed when downhole force is continued to be applied to
actuation member
202, causing disengagement of protuberances 234 from groove 220. Such allows
first
actuation member 202 to continue to further downhole to actuate /open
additional ports in said
group of second ports 206', 206".
FIG.'s 2C & 2D, along with FIG.'s 4-7 showing an enlargement of the operation
of
the most-dowhnole sleeve 205 when actuated on by the first actuation member
202, and depict
the system's operation in actuating the most-downhole sleeve 205 and
uncovering the
associated most-downhole (second ) port 206".
Upon protuberances 234 of width W2 on actuating member 202 encountering
circumferential groove 220 on the most-downhole sliding sleeve 205 associated
with
downhole port 206", protuberance(s) 234 matingly engage groove 220 thereon.
However, as
the shear force necessary to shear the shear screws 222 securing sliding
sleeve member 205
- 28 -
CALLAW12470082
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
to associated pipe member 213 is greater than the force necessary to shear the
shear pins 275
securing plug member 250 to uphole end of collet sleeve 232, continued fluid
pressure acting
on actuation member 202 therefore causes shear pins 275 to shear thereby
allowing plug
member 250 to slidably move to a second position within collet sleeve 232,
namely to the
downhole end of collet sleeve 232 as shown in FIG. 6, where shoulder members
255 on collet
sleeve 232 arrest further movement dovvnhole of plug member 250. Plug member
250 when
is such second position prevents collet fingers 240 and associated
protuberances 234 thereon
from being inwardly radially compressed and thereby prevents protuberances 234
from
becoming disengaged with circumferential groove 220 (ref. FIG. 6). Further
fluid pressure
applied to bore 210 uphole of first actuation member 202 then causes further
downhole
movement of plug member 202 thereby causing sliding sleeve 205 to move
downhole and
thus uncover/ open associated port 206". A snap ring 270 may further be
provided to engage
sliding sleeve 205 when in such open position, to thereby retain sliding
sleeve 204 in such
position uncovering associated port 206", as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter,
fluid can be
injected into the formation via open ports 206', 206", to allow fracicing of
the formation in the
region of ports 206', 206".
Where a dissolvable plug member 250 has been used, action of fluid remaining
in
bore 210 dissolves plug member 250 leaving pipe members 212. 213 in a
configuration to
allow ingress of hydrocarbons from the formation via opened ports 206, 206',
and 206" into
the tubing liner for subsequent production to surface.
Alternatively, plug member 250 if not dissolvable may be reamed out by
insertion
of a reaming member (not shown) within liner 200 to thereby remove actuation
member 202
and associated plug member 250 from within tubing liner 200 to prevent
obstruction of fluids
within liner 200.
In order to actuate/open additional uphole (first) port(s) 206 in a similar
manner, in
such further refinement another (second) actuating member 202 is employed,
also having
protuberance profiles 234 thereon. Second actuating member 202 differs only
from the first
actuating member 202 in that the second actuating member 202 has protuberances
profiles
234 thereon of width Wl, where WI is less than the width W2 of protuberances
234 on first
-29 -
CAL LAW 247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
actuating member 202.
The operation of second actuation member 202 on uphole
sliding sleeve member(s) 203 to thereby actuate/uncover uphole (first) port(s)
206 is identical
to the manner described above for utilizing first actuating member 202 in
actuating
downhole sliding sleeve members 204, 205 to open second ports 206', 206".
Again, if
desired, a snap ring 270 may further be provided to engage sliding sleeve 203
when in such
open position, to thereby retain sliding sleeve 203 in such position
uncovering associated
port 206.
Again, if desired, burst ports may be provided over each of ports 206, 206',
and 206".
Likewise in such further embodiment utilizing groups of ports, burst plates
300 covering each
of said ports in a plurality of groups of ports are expressly configured to
rupture and allow
fluid cormnunication from said bore 210 only upon a fluid pressure in said
bore exceeding:
(i) the fluid pressure necessary to cause plug member 250 in each of said
first and
second actuation member 202 and said associated collet sleeve 232 to shear the
shear screws
222; and
(ii) the fluid pressure necessary to cause plug member 250 in each of said
first and
second actuation members 202 to shear the shear pins affixing plug member 250
to the
uphole side of collet sleeve 232 to shear and allow plug member 250 to move to
said
second position in each collet sleeve 232 when actuating/opening the most
downhole sleeve
in a group of ports.
The further embodiment of the invention and its method, will now be described
with
reference to Figs. 9-17 which illustrate various aspects thereof.
Fig. 9 shows a portion of a tubing liner 200 of the present invention when
installed in
a wellbore, and prior to injection in tubing liner 200 of an actuation member
202. Sliding
sleeve members 203, 204,are shown in their initial (closed) position covering
respective ports
206,206' in tubing liner 200. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, each of
sliding sleeve
members 203, 204 at a lowermost downhole end thereof possess radially-
outwardly biased
and extending tab members 400, upwardly protruding ends 402 thereof being
configured to
engage an aperture 410 in said tubing liner 200 when a respective of said
sliding sleeve
- 30 -
CALLAIM 24700821
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
members 203,204 is moved to uncover an associated port 206,206', which ends
402 of tab
members 400 when engaged in said aperture 410 prevent respective of said
sliding sleeve
members 203,204 from moving uphole to thereby close an associated port
206,206'.
Figs. 10 and 11 show a sequence of operation of one actuation member 202, when
a
plug member 250 such as a spherical ball 250' and actuation member 202 are
forced
downhole via fluid pressure injected at surface into tubing liner 200.
Specifically, Fig. 10 shows the initial engagement of the radially outwardly
¨biased
protuberance profile 234 of width W1 on actuation member 202, with interior
annular groove
220 in sliding sleeve member 203 of corresponding width Wl.
Fig. 11 shows the subsequent position of sliding sleeve member 203, after
pressurized fluid has been injected uphole of actuation member 202, and ball
member 250'
has forced sliding sleeve member 203 and tabs 400 downhole so as to open ports
206 and
simultaneously cause ends 402 on tab members 400 to engage aperture 410 in
tubular liner
200, thereby thereafter preventing slidable sleeve member 203 from moving back
uphole.
Importantly, Figs. 10 and 11 show an abrupt edge 700, 702 on respectively a
downhole side of each of inner groove 220 and protruding profile /protuberance
234, which
abupt edges 700,702 together prevent further downhole movement of actuating
member 202
within tubing liner 200. For actuation members 202 having such abrupt edge
700, actuation
member 202 can only be used for engaging and moving a single sliding sleeve
member 203,
which may be desired for some fracking operations looking to only open a
single localized
port 206 in said tubing liner 200 for a particular fracking operation.
However, if movement of other sliding sleeve members (eg. such as additional
downhole sliding sleeve member 204) is desired, another actuation member 202'
need be
employed. In such an embodiment it is useful if the actuation member 202
comprising collet
sleeve 232 and protuberance/profile 234 is made dissolvable, namely of a
dissolvable material
which relatively rapidly dissolves in a fluid such as a highly basic or acidic
fluid which may
be injected downhole in said tubing liner 200 to thereby remove actuation
member 202 from
tubing liner 200.
- 31 -
CALLAW1247008211
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
Fig.'s 12, 13, and 14 show a three dimensional partial cut-away rendition of
the two-
dimensional illustrations shown in Fig. 10 & 11, showing in Fig. 12 the
protruding profile
234 of width W1 on actuation member 202 initially engaging inner
circumferential groove
220 of width WI in sliding sleeve member 203. Fig.'s 12-14 illustrate
consecutive steps (i)-
(iii) of the method set out above in the Summary of the Invention.
Importantly, Figs. 12, 13, and 14 however show a variation of the protuberance
profile 234 and interior groove 220, wherein interior groove 220 on a downhole
side edge
thereof and/or said protruding profile 234 on a downwhole side edge thereof
are each
provided with a chamfer 800, 802, respectively. Such a configuration
advantageously
permits, after actuation member 202 has matingly engaged a respective of said
interior
circumferential grooves 220 on an associated slidable sleeve member 203 and
moved said
slidable sleeve member 203 downhole to open an associated port 206, said
resiliently-
outwardly-biased profile 234 on actuation member 202 to be released from said
mating
engagement therein upon further fluid pressure being applied uphole to said
plug member
250'. In such manner actuation member 202 may advantageously then continue
downhole,
along tubular member 200 as shown in Fig. 9, to then actuate additional
downhole sliding
sleeve member 204 having similarly-dimensioned inner circumferential groove
220 of width
Wl, and thereby open additional downhole port 206' and potentially other
downhole ports
in a group desired to be opened by single actuation member 202 (ref. Fig. 9).
Fig. 12 shows actuation member 202 having a protruding profile 234 of width W1
matingly engaging circumferential groove 220 of width Wl.
Fig. 13 shows the actuation member 202 having partially moved sliding sleeve
member 203 to partially uncover ports 206 in tubing liner 200.
Fig. 14 shows the actuation member 202 having completely moved sliding sleeve
member 204 to completely uncover ports 206' in tubing liner 200, so that tab
members 400,
and in particular protruding ends 402 thereof, have then engaged aperture 410
in tubular liner
200, thereby preventing sliding sleeve member from thereafter moving uphole to
again cover
ports 206'. Additional fluid pressure exerted on ball member 250' and
actuation member 202
causes chamfer surfaces 800 and 802 on circumferential groove 220 and profile
234
- 32 -
CAL....LAW\ 2470082\1
04/24/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
respectively to abut and thereby allow actuation member to thereafter pass
downhole to
actuate similar sleeves having groove 220 therein, until a circumferential
groove 220 in a
sliding sleeve member is encountered not having a chamfer 800 thereon, at
which point
further downhole movement of actuation member 202 may be stopped. This will be
the case
if actuation member 202 is not provided with a chamfer 800 and instead
provided with an
abrupt edge 700 as shown in Figs. 10 & 11, which when encountering a
circumferential
groove 220 having an abrupt edge 700, will be prevented from disengaging the
respective
sliding sleeve member and forced to remain matingly engaged to such sliding
sleeve member.
Fig. 15 shows the position of actuation member 202 and ball member 250'
thereof,
after having opened ports 206.
Fig. 16 shows a subsequent step in the method, wherein the plug member 250
(ball
250') has dissolved.
The above process may be repeated for similar of downhole sliding sleeve
members
203 having a consistent width Wl, by employing chamfers on said downhole edge
of each of
said circumferential groove 220 and protuberance profile 234, to allow
actuation member 202
to disengage from a respective sliding sleeve member after opening such sleeve
member, for
subsequent travel downhole to actuate other similar sleeve members with
identically
configured/sized circumferential grooves 220.
For other groups of uphole sliding sleeve members , where circumferential
grooves
220 therein are of a lesser width than WI, an actuation member such as the
actuation member
202' shown in Fig. 17 having a protuberance profile 234 of corresponding
lesser width Wo ,
may be used to consecutively then open sliding sleeve members in such group.
As may be seen from Fig. 17, actuation member 202' may be provided with an
annular
ring 600 of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the sliding
sleeve members, to
assist actuation member 202' in moving downhole in the tubular liner without
becoming
otherwise "cocked" in said liner 200. A bevel 602 on ring 600 may further be
provided to
further assist in this function.
- 33 -
CAL LAWS 2470082\1
04/2:4/16
CA 02927850 2016-04-25
The above description of some embodiments of the system and method of the
present invention is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make
or use the present
invention.
For a complete defmition of the invention and its intended scope, reference is
to be
made to the summary of the invention and the appended claims read together
with and
considered with the disclosure and drawings herein.
Reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article "a" or
"an" is
not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but
rather "one or
more". In addition, where reference to "fluid" is made, such term is
considered meaning all
liquids and gases having fluid properties.
Reference made to "lowermost", "lower, "uppermost", and "upper", and all other
adjectives of relativistic reference mean in relation to the position of a
component when
placed in a vertical wellbore.
- 34 -
CALLAW1247008211
04/24/16
