Downhole flow-back control for oil and gas wells by controlling fluid entry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for use in hydrocarbon exploration. The method and apparatus improve downhole flow back control in oil and/or gas wells by controlling fluid entry into the well bore. Either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings is provided in a well liner or casing and cement sheath allowing fluid communication between a region of a well bore and a subterranean reservoir. The method also uses the limited entry opening or the cluster during an injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir to control fluid entry. The method also provides a proppant flow back treatment following the injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir.

1 . A method of controlling fluid downhole, comprising the steps of: 
 providing either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings in a well liner or casing and cement sheath allowing fluid communication between a region of a well bore and a subterranean reservoir;    controlling fluid entry using the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings during an injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir; and    providing a treatment.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment comprises a proppant flow back control treatment during or following a frac pac or hydraulic fracturing injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment comprises a formation consolidation enhancement treatment.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a treatment is performed some time after a frac pack, hydraulic fracturing treatment, or gravel pack operation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings cover no more than about 2 feet along the well bore.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to recomplete the well bore after previous well bore openings have been sealed to allow for controlling treating fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to complete fewer than all sections of the well bore.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of using at least one of slick line methods, wireline methods, coiled tubing methods, jointed tubing methods, and jointed pipe methods inside a casing string to provide isolation of the zone with the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings during injection treatment operations.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of using at least one of shape charge perforating methods, a hydrajetting method, or a method comprising chemical dissolution of a material to create the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of providing the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings is performed after the well casing is in place downhole using at least one of hydrajetting perforating and hydrajetting slotting.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total cross sectional area of the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings is in a range of from about 0.5 square inches to about 10 square inches.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total cross sectional area of the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings is in a range of from about 2 square inches to about 6 square inches.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings further comprises providing a slot having a width in a range of from about 1/16 inch to about 1 inch.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings further comprises providing a slot having a width in a range of from about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch.  
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling fluid downhole, comprising the steps of: 
 providing either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings in a well liner or casing and cement sheath allowing fluid communication between a region of a well bore and a subterranean reservoir;    controlling fluid entry using the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings during an injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir;    providing a proppant flow back treatment following the injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir; and    isolating the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings from other areas of the subterranean reservoir.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the well casing and cement sheath extends into at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir, allowing fluid communication between the region of the well bore of about 2 feet in length and the subterranean reservoir.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings is formed using at least one component disposed in a casing string.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing a well casing downhole prior to providing the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein placing the well casing downhole comprises using at least one of slick line methods, wireline methods, coiled tubing methods, jointed tubing methods, and jointed pipe methods inside a casing string.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings comprises using at least one of shape charge perforating methods, hydrajetting methods, hydrojetting methods, and methods comprising chemical dissolution of a material.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising using at least one of hydrajetting perforating and hydrajetting slotting.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings has a cross sectional area in a range of from about 1 square inch to about 10 square inches.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings has a cross sectional area in a range of from about 2 square inches to about 6 square inches.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings has a width in a range of from about 1/16 inch to about 1 inch.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings has a slot having a width in a range of from about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch.  
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling fluid downhole, comprising the steps of: 
 providing either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings in a well liner or casing and cement sheath allowing fluid communication between a region of a well bore and a subterranean reservoir;    controlling fluid entry using the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings during sequential injection treatments of the subterranean reservoir;    providing a proppant flow back treatment following each of the sequential injection treatments of the subterranean reservoir; and    isolating the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings from other areas of the subterranean reservoir, wherein each limited entry opening in a vertical well implementation has the limited entry opening aligned substantially vertically, each limited entry opening in a deviated well implementation having an axis of a region of the well bore deviated through an angle of about below a horizontal direction has the limited entry opening aligned substantially at an angle of about from the axis direction, and each cluster of limited entry opening in a horizontal well implementation has the limited entry opening aligned substantially radially.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings has a cross sectional area in a range of from about 1 square inch to about 10 square inches and a slot having a width in a range of from about 1/16 inch to about 1 inch.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings is formed using at least one component disposed in a casing string.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of placing a well casing downhole before the step of providing the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of placing the well casing downhole comprises using at least one of slick line methods, wireline methods, coiled tubing methods, jointed tubing methods, and jointed pipe methods inside a casing string.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings comprises using at least one of shape charge perforating methods, hydrajetting methods, hydrojetting methods, and methods comprising chemical dissolution of a material.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising using at least one of hydrajetting perforating and hydrajetting slotting.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry has a cross sectional area in a range of from about 2 square inches to about 6 square inches.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the single limited entry opening or small cluster of limited entry openings has a slot having a width in a range of from about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch.