CA-3078389-C - MULTI-ZONE PERFORATE AND TREAT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A downhole well tool assembly can include a perforator and a selectively openable and closable perforation plug discharge port. A method of perforating and treating multiple formation zones of a well in a single trip of a downhole well tool assembly into the well can include positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a zone, closing a perforation plug discharge port of the downhole well tool assembly, perforating the zone, treating the zone, opening the perforation plug discharge port, deploying perforation plugs into the well via the perforation plug discharge port, plugging perforations in the zone with the perforation plugs, positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a subsequent zone, closing the perforation plug discharge port, perforating the subsequent zone, and treating the subsequent zone.

Inventors

• Andrew M. Ferguson
• Brock W. Watson
• Roger L. Schultz

Assignees

• THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20181115

Priority Date

20171117

Claims (18)

1. EMBODIMENTS IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A downhole well tool assembly, comprising: 5 a perforator; a selectively openable and closable perforation plug discharge port; and a valve assembly configured to selectively open and close the perforation plug discharge port, in which manipulation of a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a longitudinal flow passage extending through the valve assembly causes the 10 perforation plug discharge port to alternately open and close, in which the manipulation comprises decreasing the flow rate of the fluid after the flow rate has been increased to at least a predetermined level, and in which the perforation plug discharge port is positioned downstream of the perforator relative to fluid flow through the flow passage.
2. 2. The downhole well tool assembly of claim 1, in which the flow passage extends longitudinally through the perforator.
3. 3. The downhole well tool assembly of claim 2, in which the valve 20 assembly comprises a valve that opens and permits fluid flow through the flow passage when the perforation plug discharge port is closed.
4. 4. The downhole well tool assembly of claim 3, in which the valve closes and prevents fluid flow through the flow passage when the perforation plug discharge 25 port is open.
5. 5. A method of perforating and treating multiple formation zones of a well in a single trip of a downhole well tool assembly into the well, the method comprising: (a) positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a first zone; (b) closing a perforation plug discharge port of the downhole well tool assembly, in which a first manipulation of a flow rate of a fluid flowing 5 through a flow passage extending longitudinally through the downhole well tool assembly causes the perforation plug discharge port to close, and in which the flow passage extends completely longitudinally through a perforator of the downhole well tool assembly; (c) perforating the first zone; 10 (d) treating the first zone; (e) opening the perforation plug discharge port, in which a second manipulation of the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow passage causes the perforation plug discharge port to open, and in which the first and second manipulations each comprise decreasing the flow rate of the fluid after the flow rate 15 has been increased to at least a predetermined level; (f) deploying perforation plugs into the well via the perforation plug discharge port; (g) plugging perforations in the first zone with the perforation plugs; (h) positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a second zone; 20 (i) closing the perforation plug discharge port; (j) perforating the second zone; and (k) treating the second zone.
6. 6. The method of claim 5, in which the step of closing the perforation plug discharge port is performed prior to the step of positioning the downhole well tool assembly at the first zone.
7. 7. The method of claim 5, in which the step of closing the 5 perforation plug discharge port is performed after the step of positioning the downhole well tool assembly at the first zone.
8. 8. The method of claim 5, in which the step of closing the perforation plug 10 discharge port is performed during the step of positioning the downhole well tool assembly at the first zone.
9. 9. The method of claim 5, in which the step of opening the perforation plug discharge port is performed prior to the step of treating the first zone.
10. 10. The method of claim 5, in which the step of opening the perforation plug discharge port is performed after the step of treating the first zone.
11. 11. The method of claim 5, in which the step of opening the perforation plug 20 discharge port is performed during the step of treating the first zone.
12. 12. The method of claim 5, further comprising closing a valve of the downhole well tool assembly, thereby preventing fluid flow through the flow passage.
13. 13. The method of claim 5, further comprising, after step (k): (l) opening the perforation plug discharge port; (m) deploying perforation plugs into the well via the perforation plug discharge port; (n) plugging perforations in the second zone with the 5 perforation plugs; (o) positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a third zone; (p) closing the perforation plug discharge port; (q) perforating the third zone; and (r) treating the third zone.
14. 14. A method of perforating and treating multiple formation zones of a well in a single trip of a downhole well tool assembly into the well, the method comprising: (a) perforating a first zone with an abrasive perforator of the downhole well tool assembly, in which the abrasive perforator utilizes a fluid flowing through the 15 downhole well tool assembly to perforate the first zone; (b) treating the first zone by flowing a treatment fluid through an annulus formed between the downhole well tool assembly and a casing of the well; (c) discharging perforation plugs from the downhole well tool assembly, thereby plugging perforations of the first zone, in which manipulation of a flow rate of 20 the fluid flowing through the downhole well tool assembly causes a perforation plug discharge port of the downhole well tool assembly to open, and in which the step of discharging the perforation plugs comprises displacing the perforation plugs completely through the abrasive perforator; (d) positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a second zone; 25 (e) perforating the second zone with the abrasive perforator; and (f) treating the second zone by flowing the treatment fluid through the annulus.
15. 15. The method of claim 14, in which step (c) is commenced prior to conclusion of step (b).
16. 16. The method of claim 14, in which step (d) is commenced prior to conclusion of step (b).
17. 17. The method of claim 14, in which step (d) is commenced prior to 10 conclusion of step (c).
18. 18. The method of claim 14, in which the step of discharging the perforation plugs comprises displacing the perforation plugs through a flow passage extending longitudinally through the abrasive perforator.

Description

MULTl-ZONE PERFORATE AND TREAT SYSTEM AND METHOD TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in some examples described below, more particularly provides for perforating and treating multiple formation zones in a single trip of a tool assembly into a wellbore. BACKGROUND Production of hydrocarbons from a well can be enhanced by various forms of treatment, such as, fracturing, acidizing, injection of permeability enhancers, conformance agents, etc. In cases where it is desired to perforate and treat 20 multiple formation zones of a well, the time and costs required to perform these operations can be reduced by perforating and treating the multiple zones in a single trip. Therefore, it will be readily appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the art of multiple zone perforating and treating operations. Such 25 improvements may be useful for completions of hydrocarbon production wells, and may also be useful for injection wells, disposal wells, geothermal wells, or other types of wells. - 1a - SUMMARY Accordingly, there is described a downhole well tool assembly, comprising: a perforator; a selectively openable and closable perforation plug discharge port; and a valve assembly configured to selectively open and close the 5 perforation plug discharge port, in which manipulation of a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a longitudinal flow passage extending through the valve assembly causes the perforation plug discharge port to alternately open and close, in which the manipulation comprises decreasing the flow rate of the fluid after the flow rate has 10 been increased to at least a predetermined level, and in which the perforation plug discharge port is positioned downstream of the perforator relative to fluid flow through the flow passage. There is also described a method of perforating and treating multiple formation zones of a well in a single trip of a downhole well tool assembly into the well, the 15 method comprising: (a) positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a first zone; (b) closing a perforation plug discharge port of the downhole well tool assembly, in which a first manipulation of a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a flow passage extending longitudinally through the downhole well tool assembly causes the perforation plug discharge port to close, and in which the flow passage extends 20 completely longitudinally through a perforator of the downhole well tool assembly; (c) perforating the first zone; (d) treating the first zone; (e) opening the perforation plug discharge port, in which a second manipulation of the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow passage causes the perforation plug discharge port to open, and in which the first and second manipulations each comprise decreasing the flow rate of 25 the fluid after the flow rate has been increased to at least a predetermined level; (f) deploying perforation plugs into the well via the perforation plug discharge port; (g) plugging perforations in the first zone with the perforation plugs; (h) positioning the - 1b - downhole well tool assembly at a second zone; (i) closing the perforation plug discharge port; (j) perforating the second zone; and (k) treating the second zone. There is further descried a method of perforating and treating multiple formation zones of a well in a single trip of a downhole well tool assembly into the well, the method comprising: (a) perforating a first zone with an abrasive 5 perforator of the downhole well tool assembly, in which the abrasive perforator utilizes a fluid flowing through the downhole well tool assembly to perforate the first zone; (b) treating the first zone by flowing a treatment fluid through an annulus formed between the downhole well tool assembly and a casing of the well; (c) discharging 10 perforation plugs from the downhole well tool assembly, thereby plugging perforations of the first zone, in which manipulation of a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the downhole well tool assembly causes a perforation plug discharge port of the downhole well tool assembly to open, and in which the step of discharging the perforation plugs comprises displacing the perforation plugs completely through the 15 abrasive perforator; (d) positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a second zone; (e) perforating the second zone with the abrasive perforator; and (f) treating the second zone by flowing the treatment fluid through the annulus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A-C are representative partially cross-sectional views of successive axial sections of an example of a well tool assembly and associated 5 method which can embody principles of this disclosure. FIG. 1 D is a representative cross-sectional view of an alternate discharge port section that may be used with the well tool assembly and method of FIGS. 1A-C. FIGS. 2A-G are representative partially cross-sectiona