Apparatus and method for well completion

Abstract

A flow back process usable on a well during a drilling operation includes the steps of flowing the commingled well fluids and solids into a surface-mounted flow back system under wellbore pressure. Alternatively, a flow back process includes the steps of connecting a surface-mounted flow back system to the well while the well is in an underbalanced condition. The operation of sequentially drilling through each of a plurality of isolation plugs is then initiated while flowing the well fluids and plug fragments into a surface-mounted flow back system. In yet another aspect, a large particle filter includes a filter section, a monitoring assembly, a bypass system and a purge assembly. The large particle filter can be connected to a Christmas tree and used to remove plug fragments from commingled flow leaving the well during a drilling operation.

1 . A flow back process usable on a well following a multi-stage hydraulic fracturing operation, in which at least one plug is installed to isolate separate zones within the well, the process comprising the steps of: 
 destroying the plug;    flowing the plug fragments and well fluids into a surface-mounted flow back system while the plug is being destroyed;    removing solid particles from the well fluids with the surface-mounted flow back system;    separating gaseous components of the well fluids from liquid components with the surface-mounted flow back system; and    directing the gaseous components to gas sales lines or storage facilities.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of destroying the plug comprises drilling out the plug.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of flowing the plug debris further comprises flowing the plug debris and well contents into a flow back system using downhole pressures.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of removing solid components from the well contents further comprises conducting the flow of plug debris and well fluids directly from the well to a large particle filter configured to remove solid particles from the filtered effluent.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of purging the large particle filter into a disposal tank using downstream fluids in a backflow direction.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the step of purging the high-pressure filter is conducted in response to an increased pressure drop across the high-pressure filter.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the step of removing the gaseous components of the well fluids from the liquid components of the well fluids further comprises passing the well fluids through a three-phase separator downstream from the high-pressure filter.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of sending liquid petroleum products separated in the three-phase separator to a liquids sales line or storage facility.  
   
   
       9 . A large particle filter connectable to the Christmas tree of a petroleum well, the filter comprising: 
 a filter section;    a monitoring assembly;    a bypass system; and    a purge assembly.    
   
   
       10 . The large particle filter of  claim 9 , wherein the filter section comprises: 
 a first spool;    a second spool; and    a filter component disposed within the second spool.    
   
   
       11 . The large particle filter of  claim 10 , wherein the filter is configured as a portion of tubing that includes a series of slots extending therethrough.  
   
   
       12 . The large particle filter of  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring system is connected to the first spool and wherein the monitoring system further comprises a pressure transducer configured to detect the pressure of the fluid passing through the first spool.  
   
   
       13 . The large particle filter of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure transducer is configured to transmit a signal representative of the fluid pressure in the first spool.  
   
   
       14 . The large particle filter of  claim 9 , wherein the bypass system comprises: 
 an upstream bypass valve;    an upstream diverter valve;    a bypass line;    a downstream bypass valve; and    a downstream cutoff valve.    
   
   
       15 . A flow back process usable on a well during a drilling operation, the process comprising the steps of: 
 connecting a surface-mounted flow back system to the well, wherein the well is maintained in an underbalanced condition;    initiating the drilling operation;    flowing the commingled well fluids and solid particles into a surface-mounted flow back system during the drilling operation;    removing the solid particles from the well fluids with a large particle filter within the surface-mounted flow back system;    separating gaseous components of the well fluids from liquid components with the surface-mounted flow back system; and    directing the gaseous components to gas sales lines or storage facilities.    
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising a step of purging the large particle filter into a disposal tank using downstream fluids in a backflow direction.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the step of separating the gaseous components of the well fluids from the liquid components of the well fluids further comprises passing the well fluids through a three-phase separator downstream from the large particle filter.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the drilling process is conducted to remove one or more isolation plugs used to separate zones within a well following a multi-stage treatment operation.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the drilling process is conducted as the initial drilling operation on a coal bed methane well.  
   
   
       20 . A flow back system configured to be connected to a Christmas Tree, the flow back system comprising: 
 a choke manifold; and    a plurality of large particle filters, wherein each of the plurality of large particle filters is located between the Christmas Tree and the choke manifold.    
   
   
       21 . The flow back system of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of large particle filters are plug catchers.  
   
   
       22 . The flow back system of  claim 21 , wherein the plug catchers are configured in a parallel relationship.  
   
   
       23 . The flow back system of  claim 21 , wherein the plug catchers are configured in a serial relationship.