System and Method to Facilitate Treatement and Sand Control in a Wellbore

Abstract

A technique provides a multi-stage well treatment system having a plurality of packers and a plurality of flow valves. The multi-stage well treatment system can be moved downhole in a wellbore and actuated to isolate a plurality of sections along the wellbore for treatment. The system and methodology enable treatment, e.g. fracturing, of select sections via the flow valves, while also enabling use of the flow valves to establish a permeable, stabilized pack surrounding each flow valve.

1 . A well system, comprising:
 a tubular structure deployed in a wellbore;   a plurality of packers mounted on the tubular structure and positioned for actuation in an annulus surrounding the tubular structure to divide the wellbore into isolated sections;   a plurality of flow valves arranged on the tubular structure to provide at least one flow valve in each isolated section to control flow between an interior of the tubular structure and the annulus, wherein the flow valves comprise a ball seat; and   a stabilized filter pack disposed in the annulus at each isolated section, the stabilized filter pack being formed of a resin coated sand.   
   
   
       2 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flow valves comprises a plurality of sliding sleeves. 
   
   
       3 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resin coated sand is disposed in each isolated section between the flow valve and a surrounding casing having a perforated region positioned to allow fluid communication between the annulus and a surrounding formation. 
   
   
       4 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resin coated sand is placed at or below fracturing pressure. 
   
   
       5 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each flow valve comprises a ball seat. 
   
   
       6 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each flow valve can be selectively closed to block flow between the annulus and an interior of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       7 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of packers comprises open hole packers. 
   
   
       8 . A method to improve production from a well, comprising:
 forming a tubular structure with a plurality of packers and a plurality of flow valves, the plurality of packers creating sections for isolation along the tubular structure, the plurality of flow valves being placed such that at least one flow valve is in each section between adjacent packers, and wherein the flow valves comprise a ball seat;   deploying the tubular structure in a wellbore;   isolating the sections along an annulus surrounding the tubular structure;   performing a fracturing procedure at each section by delivering a fracturing fluid down through the tubular structure and out through a flow valve at each section; and   using the plurality of flow valves to deliver a proppant to each section to form a permeable, stabilized pack that performs sand control.   
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein isolating comprises actuating a plurality of packers. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the packers against a well casing having perforations in each section. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein using comprises filling the annulus in each section with the permeable, stabilized pack until the permeable, stabilized pack fills the space between the flow valve in each section and a surrounding casing having a perforated region. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein using comprises creating the permeable, stabilized pack with resin coated sand. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising flowing a production fluid from a surrounding formation, through the permeable, stabilized pack, and into the tubular structure through the flow valve in at least some of the sections. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising selectively closing selected flow valves. 
   
   
       15 . A well system, comprising:
 a well string having a multi-stage fracturing system deployed in a wellbore to fracture a plurality of sections along the wellbore, the multi-stage fracturing system having packers that can be actuated to isolate the plurality of sections and flow valves disposed between the packers, and wherein the flow valves comprise a ball seat; and   a permeable, stabilized pack disposed in each of the plurality of sections via the flow valves.   
   
   
       16 . The well system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the permeable, stabilized pack comprises resin coated sand. 
   
   
       17 . The well system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein each flow valve may be individually shifted between open and closed positions. 
   
   
       18 . The well system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein each flow valve comprises a sliding sleeve. 
   
   
       19 . A method, comprising:
 constructing a multi-stage fracturing system having packers and flow valves disposed between the packers to create a plurality of sections, and wherein the flow valves comprise a ball seat;   deploying the multi-stage fracturing system in a wellbore;   actuating the packers to isolate the plurality of sections; and   using the flow valves to deliver a fracturing fluid to each section and to deliver a proppant to each section for forming a permeable, stabilized pack in an annulus at each section.   
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising sequentially fracturing each section. 
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising producing a fluid at each section by flowing a production fluid from a surrounding formation, through the permeable, stabilized pack, and into the multi-stage fracturing system. 
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein using comprises forming the permeable, stabilized pack from resin coated sand.