Flow management in existing wells during adjacent well hydraulic fracturing

Abstract

A method of managing flow in a first producing well section when hydraulic fracturing a second well section includes reperforating the first producing well section to create a new set of perforations, pressurizing the formation through the new set of perforations, and pressurizing the formation through the second well section with a second amount of hydraulic fracturing liquid while the formation is still pressurized from the first producing well section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing flow in a first producing well section when hydraulic fracturing a second well section, comprising:
 reperforating the first producing well section to create a new set of perforations;   pressurizing the formation through the new set of perforations;   pressurizing the formation through the second well section with a second amount of hydraulic fracturing liquid while the formation is still pressurized from the first producing well section.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first producing well section is a horizontal well section. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second well section is aligned with the first producing well section. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the formation through the second well section includes pressurizing the formation through the first producing well section and the second well section simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the formation through the second well section includes alternating between pressurizing at least one segment of the first producing well section and pressurizing at least another segment of the second well section. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the formation through the second well section includes pressurizing at least one of the first producing well section and the second well section along its entire perforated length before pressurizing the other of the first producing well section or the second well section. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second well section is positioned close enough to the first producing well section that pressure from the second well section negatively affects a fracture network in the formation that directs hydrocarbons towards the first producing well section when the formation is not pressurized from the first producing well section. 
     
     
         8 . A method of managing flow in a first producing well section when hydraulic fracturing an adjacent, second well section, comprising:
 closing off a first set of perforations in a first producing well section that was previously used to pressurize the formation through hydraulic fracturing where the first producing well section is adjacent to a second well section that has not been previously used to pressurize the formation;   reperforating the first producing well section to create a second set of perforations in the first producing well section;   pressurizing the formation through the second set of perforation in the first producing well section with first volume of hydraulic fracturing liquid;   pressurizing the formation through the second well section with a second volume of hydraulic fracturing liquid while the formation is still pressurized from the first producing well section.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein pressurizing the formation through the second well section includes pressurizing the formation through the first producing well section and the second well section simultaneously. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein pressurizing the formation through the second well section includes alternating between pressurizing at least one segment of the first producing well section and pressurizing at least another segment of the second well section. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein pressurizing the formation through the second well section includes pressurizing at least one of the first producing well section and the second well section along its entire perforated length before pressurizing the other of the first producing well section or the second well section. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first producing well section and the second well section have a common well platform. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first producing well section is part of a first well platform and the second well section is part of a second well platform, where the first well platform is independent of the second well platform. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein closing off the first set of perforations in the first producing well section includes sealing off the first set of perforations with an expandable liner. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein closing off the first set of perforations in the first producing well section includes directing a diverting agent into the first set of perforations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein closing off the first set of perforations includes using a packer to isolate at least one segment of the existing well from at least a portion of the first set of perforations. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein reperforating the first producing well section of the well to create a second set of perforations in the first producing well section includes forming a new perforation cluster in the first producing well section between existing perforation clusters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein reperforating the first producing well section of the well to create a second set of perforations in the first producing well section includes forming new perforation clusters through a liner disposed within the first producing well section. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein reperforating the first producing well section of the well to create a second set of perforations in the first producing well section includes forming new perforation clusters through a cement barrier formed within the first producing well section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , further including perforating the second well section prior to pressurizing the formation through the second well section.