Patent ID: 9181774
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for zonal isolation and management of recovery of reserves from a horizontal well comprising a wellhead, a vertical section and a horizontal section, the horizontal section passing through a formation with a multiplicity of permeability zones, including a plurality of separated first zones each having approximately the same permeability as each other and a plurality of separated second zones each having approximately the same permeability as each other and a different permeability than each of the plurality of first zones, the method comprising running into the well a tubing string with a cable, first and second control devices comprising respective valves and a plurality of measurement sensors, a pump, a plurality of packers and a plurality of conduits such that: (a) the plurality of packers are disposed in the horizontal section separating the multiplicity of permeability zones from each other with each of the plurality of separated first zones connected to each other with a first of the plurality of conduits for delivery of a first stream comprising reserves from each of the plurality of first zones, and with each of the plurality of separated second zones connected to each other with a second of the plurality of conduits for delivery of a second stream comprising reserves from each of the plurality of second zones; (b) the first and second control devices are positioned in the vertical section of the well one above the other with an inlet of the first control device in fluid communication with the first stream and an inlet of the second control device in fluid communication with the second stream and with respective outlets of the first and second control devices operationally connected to an inlet of the pump such that the pump can pump to the wellhead either reserves from the first stream through the first control device or reserves from the second stream through the second control device; and (c) the measurement sensors can transmit data to the wellhead and the cable can transmit signals from the wellhead to the respective first and second control devices to control opening and closing of the respective valves of the first and second control devices whereby to control whether reserves from the first or second stream are pumped to the wellhead based upon data transmitted from the measurement sensors.