Refracturing Options for Existing Wells

8/11/2016

Youcef

8/11/2016 12:06:35 pm

Hi Aaron,
Thank you very much for the courses. Very useful
I just have a question regarding thevrecloseabke sleeves as you mentioned them in the open hole solutions! I thought it was just possible in Cases hole. Please give us some additional info regarding this technique.

Best regards.
Youcef.

Aaron Burton

8/15/2016 05:40:03 pm

Hi Youcef,

Thank you for the feedback, and I'm glad you found the video useful!

The short answer is yes, you can use the reclosable sleeves in openhole or cased hole applications. Actually, the openhole version was available several years before the cementable one in applications with multistage hydraulic fracturing. From an operations standpoint, the only difference in the sleeves is whether you use cement or openhole packers to isolate the annulus of the well. The functionality of the sleeves is the same.

There is a lot more to cover on reclosable sleeves that I couldn't squeeze into this blog, so I'll have to do one specifically for them soon. Thanks for the idea! Stay tuned!

Aaron Burton

10/26/2016 06:41:15 pm

Hi Youcef,

I posted a video blog last week that addresses part of the question you're asking in this post. Here' s the link to the video:

http://www.unconventionaloilandgastraining.com/blog/reclosable-coiled-tubing-activated-frac-sleeves

Stayed tuned for another module on reclosable ball-activated sleeves to finish answering your question.

FRED WOODS

8/12/2016 09:42:00 am

Thank you - well done - appreciate the simple yet informative video.

Aaron Burton

8/15/2016 05:43:21 pm

Hi Fred,

Thank you for the feedback and the compliment! I try to keep them simple and informative, so it's great to hear that kind of feedback.

Scott Doyle

8/24/2016 09:21:10 pm

Thought provoking presentation. you indicate that after cementing a 3-1/2" or 2-7/8" tubing into well. conventional Plug and Perf completion can be conducted. Are there plugs available for those sizes, perf guns with adequate penetration thru 2 strings of pipe, and coil tools condusive to PNP in those sizes? Any feel for how many of these designs gave actually been conducted, and outcomes?

Aaron Burton

8/25/2016 04:32:28 pm

Hi Scott,

Thank you for the feedback! Yes, there are plugs, perf guns, and coiled tubing available for this application. I taught a class last year and I had a student that was directly involved in a project using this refracturing method. Based on their good production results they were continuing their refracturing program with this design. If I recall correctly, they had done this on 10-15 wells at that point.

I've heard discussions of using this technique and running a third string into wells to refracture a second time, but I'm not sure if there are perf guns that will penetrate 3 casing strings and 3 layers of cement.

Another method that is being tested for multiple refracs is to use a cement alternative with this technique. The alternative provides the same isolation as cement, but it is not permanent. Afterwards, the refracturing string can be removed from the well, and the well can be refractured again using the same size tubing string.

Julian Majic link

9/2/2016 07:43:29 am

This is a great video which shows the options on refracturing.
The least complicated option appears to be a re-closable sleeve which is functioned opened and closed with coiled tubing.

My company provides these sleeves at a reasonable price.
if any one would like to know more about Kobold Re-Closable sleeves, please feel free to contact me.
Thanks Aaron for a very informative presentation

Aaron Burton

9/14/2016 04:21:59 pm

Hi Julian,

Absolutely! Thank you for the feedback and the compliment!

I agree, I like the reclosable sleeve option as well, but there are only a handful of these types of sleeves in existing wells. As refracturing becomes more common, these sleeves may as well.

Rick Bonneau

9/16/2016 04:04:27 pm

I am interested in refracing but but isolating and reperforating into like density rock. Then, run diverter Frac design in 2 steps per stage. The conventional fracs are producing 70 percent of the flow from 20 percent of the perforations. Like density perforating, diverter fracturing 2 times per perforated area has proven to
Make much more productive wells( 85% better ) in 3 toe to toe (6 over all
Wells) testing. Initial production and 65% better that any wells in the field.... I think it's the way to go. Any feed back on this procedure?

Aaron Burton

9/20/2016 05:25:37 pm

Hi Rick,

I agree that the fewer perf clusters per stage the better, and diversion could have a significant impact as well. If you're going to use plug-and-perf completions, these techniques could have a significant impact on production.

I believe the way forward will be single-entry-point fracturing. Today the most common way of doing this is ball-activated frac sleeves or coiled-tubing-activated frac sleeves, but they both have limitations on number of stages. The ball-activated sleeves have limitations on the number ball seat combinations and the coiled tubing is limited by the length and the ability to operate in longer laterals. Single-entry is technically possible with plug-and-perf, but not very efficient. However, all three of these techniques have new products and techniques that are being applied to target all of the limitations. I think whichever technique can adapt to do hundreds of single-entry points in an efficient manner will be the way of the future.

Refracturing Options for Existing Wells

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