Abstract:
A system of sliding valves wherein the inserts of multiple sliding valves may be shifted to an open position using a single shifting ball. Each individual sliding valve has a movable insert that, depending upon the position of the insert within the sliding valve, may either block or permit fluid to radially flow between the interior and exterior of the sliding valve. The insert has a profile about the interior of the movable insert allowing a shifting tool to connect to and move the insert so that fluid may be prevented from entering the interior portion of the sliding sleeve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application which claims priority to provisional application 61/525,544, filed Aug. 19, 2011, the contents of this application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A common practice in producing hydrocarbons is to fracture the hydrocarbon bearing formation. Fracturing the hydrocarbon bearing formation increases the overall permeability of the formation and thereby increases hydrocarbon production from the zone fractured. Increasingly a single wellbore may intersect multiple hydrocarbon bearing formations. In these instances each hydrocarbon bearing zone may be isolated from any other and the fracturing operation proceeds sequentially through each zone. 
         [0003]    In order to treat each zone sequentially a fracturing assembly is installed in the wellbore. The fracturing assembly typically includes of a tubular string extending generally to the surface, a wellbore isolation valve at the bottom of the string, various sliding sleeves placed at particular intervals along the string, open hole packers spaced along the string to isolate the wellbore into zones, and a top liner packer. 
         [0004]    The fracturing assembly is typically run into the hole with the sliding sleeves closed and the wellbore isolation valve open. In order to open the sliding sleeves a setting ball, dart, or other type of plug is deployed into the string. For the purposes of the present disclosure a ball may be a ball, dart, or any other acceptable device to form a seal with a seat. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The sliding sleeve has a movable insert that blocks radial fluid flow through the sliding sleeve when the sliding sleeve is closed. Fixed to the insert is a releasable seat that is supported about the seats periphery by the internal diameter of the housing. Upon reaching the first releasable seat the ball can form a seal. The surface fracturing pumps may then apply fluid pressure against the now seated ball and the corresponding releasable seat to shift open the sliding sleeve permanently locking it open. As the sliding sleeve and its corresponding seat shift downward the seat reaches an area where the releasable seat is no longer supported by the interior diameter of the housing causing the releasable seat to release the ball. The ball then continues down to seat in the next sliding sleeve and the process is repeated until all of the sliding sleeves that can be actuated by the particular ball are shifted to a permanently open position and the ball comes to rest in a ball seat that will not release it thus sealing the wellbore. 
         [0006]    Once the lower wellbore is effectively sealed by the seated shifting ball and the sliding sleeves are open the surface fracturing pumps may increase the pressure and fracture the hydrocarbon bearing formation adjacent to the sliding sleeves providing multiple fracturing initiation points in a single stage. 
         [0007]    Because current technology allows multiple sliding sleeves to be shifted by a single ball size multiple hydrocarbon bearing zones may be fractured in stages where the lower set of sliding sleeves utilizes a small diameter setting ball and seat and successively higher zones utilize successively greater diameter setting ball and seat sizes. 
         [0008]    A cluster of sliding sleeves may be deployed on a tubing string in a wellbore. Each sliding sleeve has an inner sleeve or insert movable from a closed condition to an opened condition. When the insert is in the closed condition, the insert prevents communication between a bore and a port in the sleeve&#39;s housing. To open the sliding sleeve, a ball is dropped into the wellbore and pumped to the sliding sleeve where it forms a seal with the releasable seat. Keys or dogs of the insert&#39;s seat extend into the bore and engage the dropped ball, providing a seat to allow the insert to be moved open with applied fluid pressure. After opening the external diameter of the housing is in fluid communication with the interior portion of the housing through the ports in the housing. 
         [0009]    When the insert reaches its open position the keys retract from the bore and allows the ball to pass through the seat to another sliding sleeve deployed in the wellbore. This other sliding sleeve can be a cluster sleeve that opens with the same ball and allows the ball to pass through after opening. Eventually, however, the ball can reach an isolation sleeve or a single shot sliding sleeve further down the tubing string that opens when the ball engages its seat but does not allow the ball to pass through. Operators can deploy various arrangements of cluster and isolation sleeves for different sized balls to treat desired isolated zones of a formation. 
         [0010]    After the various sliding sleeves are actuated it is sometimes necessary to run a milling tool through the wellbore to ensure that the inner diameter of the tubular is optimized for the fluid flow of the particular well. The mill out may include removing portions of sliding sleeve ball seats that are not releasable and any other debris that may be left over from the fracturing process. 
         [0011]    At some point over the life of the well it may become desirable to seal off the radial fluid communication between the interior of the sliding sleeve housing and the exterior of the sliding sleeve housing thereby sealing off a portion of the previously accessed formation. To accomplish sealing off a portion of the formation a shifting profile or other on demand actuating device is incorporated into the sliding sleeves. A shifting tool may be deployed into the well on coiled tubing, well tractor, etc, or other suitable device. The shifting tool is deployed into the wellbore until the appropriate sliding sleeve is reached. The shifting tool is then activated to engage a preformed shifting profile on the sliding sleeve insert. Force is then applied via the shifting tool to the insert and the insert is moved between an open position and a closed position. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment at least two sliding sleeves may be used together in a wellbore wherein each sliding sleeve has a housing having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and a port allowing fluid communication between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, an insert located about the inner diameter of the housing and having an outer insert diameter, an inner insert diameter, a releasable seat, and a shifting profile about the inner insert diameter, the releasable seat engages the insert to move the insert between a first position and a second position, the shifting profile engages the insert to move the insert between the second position and the first position. The shifting profile may be engaged by a shifting tool operated from the surface or remotely by a device located inside of the wellbore using any type of acceptable actuating mechanism such as coiled tubing or a wellbore tractor. In many instances the insert is retained in either or both the open or closed position. Preferably a snap ring is the retaining or locking mechanism. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment multiple sliding sleeves may be used together in a wellbore wherein each sliding sleeve has a central bore through its central mandrel and disposed on a tubing string deployable in a wellbore, each of the multiple sliding sleeves may be actuated by a single plug deployable down the tubing string to actuate all of the sliding sleeves sized for the single plug, each of the sliding sleeves being actuable between a closed condition and an opened condition, the closed condition preventing fluid communication between the central throughbore and the wellbore, the opened condition permitting fluid communication between central throughbore and the wellbore, each of the sliding sleeves allowing the single plug to pass therethrough after opening. The sliding sleeves are actuated by a shifting tool from the open position to the closed position. The shifting tool may be operated from the surface or may be operated remotely while in the wellbore using any type of acceptable actuating method such as coiled tubing or a wellbore tractor. In many instances the sliding sleeves are retained so that they may be secured in either the open or closed position. Preferably a snap ring is the securing or locking mechanism. 
         [0014]    A method of treating a wellbore where at least two sliding sleeves are deployed in to well on a tubing string, each of the sliding sleeves having a central throughbore and a closed condition preventing radial fluid communication between the central throughbore and the wellbore; a ball is dropped down the tubing string thereby changing the sliding sleeves from its closed condition to an open condition allowing radial fluid communication between the central throughbore and the wellbore by forming a seal between the plug and the seat disposed in the sliding sleeves; and after opening the sliding sleeves the plug is allowed to pass through the sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeves are actuated from the open to the closed position by a shifting tool which may be deployed into the well by any suitable means such as coiled tubing or a well tractor. The shifting tool may be controlled either from the surface or remotely while deployed in the wellbore. 
         [0015]    The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize every potential embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic view of a fracturing assembly installed in a wellbore. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts a sliding sleeve with a releasable seat in the closed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  depicts a sliding sleeve with a releasable seat in the open position. 
           [0019]    FIG.  3 AA depicts a cross-section of the sliding sleeve of  FIG. 3  at AA. 
           [0020]    FIG.  3 BB depicts a cross-section of the sliding sleeve of  FIG. 3  at BB. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  depicts an array sliding sleeves using at least two different sizes of ball prior to activation. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  depicts an array sliding sleeves using at least two different sizes of ball during activation. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  depicts a sliding sleeve with a releasable seat in the open position and having a shifting profile. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  depicts a shifting tool with the radially movable latch in the retracted position on coil tubing. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  depicts a shifting tool with the radially movable latch in the extended position on coil tubing. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6C  depicts a shifting tool with the radially movable latch in the extended position on a wellbore tractor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The description that follows includes exemplary apparatus, methods, techniques, and instruction sequences that embody techniques of the inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic view of a wellbore  11  with a single zone and having a fracturing assembly  10  therein. The fracturing assembly  10  typically consists of a tubular string  12  extending to the surface  20 , an open hole packer  14  near the upper end of the sliding sleeves  16 , and a wellbore isolation valve  18 . At the surface  20 , the tubular string  12  is connected to the fracturing pumps  30  through the rig  40 . The fracturing pumps  30  supply the necessary fluid pressure to activate the sliding sleeves  16 . The open hole packer  14  at the upper end of the sliding sleeves  16  isolates the upper end of the formation zone  22  being fractured. At the lower end of the sliding sleeves  16  a wellbore isolation valve  18  is placed to seal the lower end of the formation zone being fractured. 
         [0029]    The fracturing assembly  10  may be assembled and run into the wellbore  11  for a predetermined distance such that the wellbore isolation valve  18  is past the end of the formation zone  22  to be fractured. The fracturing assembly  10  and the wellbore  11  form an annular area  24  between the fracturing assembly  10  and the wellbore  11 . The open hole packer  14  is placed above the formation zone  22 , and the sliding sleeves  16  are distributed in the appropriate places along the formation zone  22 . Typically, when the fracturing assembly  10  is run into the wellbore  11  each of the sliding sleeves  16  are closed, the wellbore isolation valve  18  is open, and the open hole packer  14  is not set. The area towards the bottom end of the wellbore  11  is usually referred to as the toe  28  of the well and the area towards the upper end of the wellbore  11  where the wellbore  11  turns in a generally horizontal direction is usually referred to as the heel  26  of the wellbore  11 . 
         [0030]    Once the fracturing assembly  10  is properly located in the wellbore  11  the operator pumps down a shifting ball, dart, or other type of plug  66  to shift open the desired sliding sleeves  16 . Upon reaching the first appropriately sized releasable seat  52  the ball can form a seal. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  depicts a sliding sleeve  16  in a closed position with a type of releasable ball seat  52 .  FIG. 3  depicts the sliding sleeve  16  in the open position and includes like reference numbers. As depicted in in the cross-section of  FIG. 3  depicted in FIG.  3 AA, the sliding sleeve  16  has a housing  50 , with an outer diameter  51 , an inner diameter  53  defining a longitudinal bore therethrough  54 , and having ends  56  and  58  for coupling to the tubular string  12 . Ports  60  are formed in the housing  50  to allow fluid communication between the interior of the housing  50  and the exterior of the housing  50 . Located about the interior of the housing  50  is an inner sleeve or insert  62  having an outer insert diameter  61  and an inner housing diameter  63  that is movable between an open position (see  FIG. 3 ) and a closed position (see  FIG. 2 ). The insert  62  has slots  64  formed about its circumference to accommodate the releasable seat  52 . The releasable seat  52  is supported about its exterior diameter by the inner diameter of the housing  50 . 
         [0032]    As depicted in  FIG. 2 , conventionally, the operator uses the fracturing pumps  30  to force a shifting ball  66  down the wellbore  11 . When the shifting ball  66  engages and seats on the releasable seat  52  a seal is formed. The fluid pressure above the shifting ball  66  is increased by the fracturing pumps  30  causing the releasable seat  52  and its corresponding insert  62  to move towards the bottom of the wellbore  11 . As the insert  62  moves towards the toe  28 , the wellbore ports  60  are uncovered allowing radial access between the interior portion of the housing  50  or the housing longitudinal bore  54  and the exterior portion of the housing  50  accessing the formation zone  22 . As the releasable seat  52  and insert  62  move together the releasable seat  52  reaches an at least partially circumferential slot  68  as depicted in in the cross-section of  FIG. 3  depicted in FIG.  3 BB. The at least partially circumferential slot  68  may be located in the inner diameter of the housing  50  where typically material has been milled away to increase the inner diameter of the housing  50 . Before the shifting ball  66  actuates the sliding sleeve  16 , moving the releasable seat  52  and insert  62 , the releasable seat  52  is supported by the inner diameter of the housing  55 . As the outer diameter of the releasable seat  67  reaches the slot  68  the releasable seat  52  recesses into the at least partially circumferential slot  68 . Typically, the releasable seat  52  recesses into the at least partially circumferential slot  68  because as the releasable seat  52  and insert  62  move down the releasable seat  52  is no longer supported by the inner diameter of the housing  55 , but is now supported by inner diameter  53 , causing the outer diameter of the releasable seat  67  to move into the at least partially circumferential slot  68  and thereby causing a corresponding increase in the inner diameter of the releasable seat  65  thereby allowing the shifting ball  66  to pass through the sliding sleeve  16 . 
         [0033]    Typically the sliding sleeves  16  are grouped together such that those sliding sleeves  16  actuated by a particular shifting ball size are located sequentially near one another. However it is sometimes desirable to open the sliding sleeves in a non-sequential manner. For example such as when interspersing at least three sliding sleeves actuated by two different several shifting balls sizes. In these instances while several sliding sleeves in the wellbore may be shifted by shifting balls of the same size, these sliding sleeves do not have to be sequentially located next to one another. For example as depicted in  FIG. 4A  sliding sleeves  120  and  122  are located in a tubular string  124  and are actuated by the same sized shifting ball  128 . In  FIG. 4A  sliding sleeves  120  and  122  are placed above and below a third sliding sleeve  126  that is actuated by a different sized but larger shifting ball (not shown). The smaller shifting ball  128  can then be pumped down the well where it lands on the first releasable seat  130  in sliding sleeve  120 . As depicted in  FIG. 4B  pressure from the fracturing pumps  30  ( FIG. 1 ) against the shifting ball  128  and the corresponding releasable seat  130  forces the insert  132  and the first releasable seat  130  downwards until the releasable seat reaches the circumferential slot  134 . The releasable seat  130  then moves outwardly into the circumferential slot  134  thereby increasing the inner diameter of the releasable seat  130  and releasing the shifting ball  128 . The releasable seat  136  has a large enough inner diameter that shifting ball  128  passes through sliding sleeve  126  without actuating sliding sleeve  126 . The shifting ball  128  will then land on the second releasable seat  138  forcing the insert  140  and the second releasable seat  138  downwards until the releasable seat reaches the circumferential slot  142 . The second releasable seat  138  may then moves outwardly into the circumferential slot  142  thereby increasing the inner diameter of the releasable seat  138  and releasing the shifting ball  128 . 
         [0034]    After actuating the correspondingly sized sliding sleeves the shifting ball may then seat in the wellbore isolation tool  18  or actuate any other tool to seal against the wellbore  11 . Fluid is then diverted out through the ports  60  in the sliding sleeves  16  and into the annulus  24  created between the tubular string  12  and the wellbore  11 . 
         [0035]    In order to isolate the formation zone  22  the open hole packer  14  and the packer associated with the wellbore isolation valve  18  may be set above and below the sliding sleeves  16  to isolate the formation zone  22 , while isolation packers  17  may be placed between portions of the formation zone  22  or to isolate separate formations along the wellbore  11  from the rest of the wellbore  11 . 
         [0036]    The fracturing pumps  30  are now able to supply fracturing fluid at the proper pressure to fracture only that portion of the formation zone  22  that has been isolated. After the formation  22  has been fractured any hydrocarbons may be produced. 
         [0037]    Over the life of the wellbore  11  the pressure in certain areas may become reduced or the wellbore  11  may begin to produce more water in certain areas, such as the heel  26 , of the wellbore when compared to other areas of the wellbore. Such problems are more pronounced in horizontal wells where at times the heel  26  ( FIG. 1 ) of the wellbore  11  will produce water and prevent hydrocarbons from flowing out of the toe  28  ( FIG. 1 ) towards the surface  20 . In such instances in order to maintain production from the formation zone  22  it would helpful to be able shut off or reduce the flow from the heel  26  of the wellbore  11  or from any other section of the wellbore as may be desired. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  depicts a sliding sleeve  70  with a type of releasable ball seat  72  in the open position allowing fluid communication through the ports  90  between the interior of the housing and the exterior of the housing. The sliding sleeve  70  has a housing  74  defining a longitudinal bore  76  therethrough and having ends  78  and  80  for coupling to the tubing string. Located about the interior of the housing is an inner sleeve or insert  82  that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The insert  82  has slots  84  formed about its circumference to accommodate the releasable seat  86 . The insert  82  has a profile  88  formed about the inner insert diameter  91 . The profile  88  is typically formed by circumferentially milling away a portion of material around at least one end of the inner insert diameter  91 . The releasable seat  86  is supported around the outer diameter of the releasable seat  67  by the inner diameter of the housing  74 . A snap ring  93  is provided in circumferential slot  92  about the exterior diameter of insert  82 . The snap ring  93  latches into circumferential slot  92  about the interior diameter of the housing  74  to retain the insert  82  in its open position. As the insert  82  is moved between its open position and its closed position the snap ring will retract into circumferential slot  92  until it reaches circumferential slot  94  about the interior diameter of the housing where it will expand into circumferential slot  94  and thereby retaining the insert  82  in the closed position. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6A  depicts a shifting tool  100  having a radially movable latch  102 A to latch into profile  88 . The shifting tool  100  may be run into the fracturing assembly  10  on coiled tubing  106 , by a wellbore tractor, or by any other means that can carry the shifting tool  100  into the fracturing assembly  10 . Typically the shifting tool may be run into the wellbore  11  with the movable latch in a radially retracted position  102 A reducing the outer diameter of the shifting tool  100  and allowing the shifting tool  100  to clear any areas of reduced diameter inside of the fracturing assembly  10 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6B  depicts a shifting tool  100  with the radially movable latch  102 B in its extended position. Once the shifting tool  100  is located in the profile  88  the movable latch is actuated from its radially retracted position  102 A to its radially extended position  102 B and engages profile  88  ( FIG. 5 ) within the insert  82  ( FIG. 5 ). Tension is then applied to move the shifting tool  100  and thereby insert  82  from its open position to its closed position to block fluid flow between the exterior of the housing  74  through the ports  90  and into the interior of the housing. Typically the tension is applied from the rig  40  ( FIG. 1 ) on the surface however, as depicted in  FIG. 6C  any device such as an electrically (electric line  110 ) or hydraulically driven wellbore tractor  108  that can provide sufficient force to the shifting tool  100  to shift the insert  82  may be used. 
         [0041]    Once the insert  82  is moved to its closed position tension from the surface is reduced. The movable latch on  102  on shifting tool  100  is moved from its extended position to its retracted position thereby disengaging profile  88 . The shifting tool may then be moved to its next position to shift the insert on another tool or the shifting tool may be retrieved from the wellbore. 
         [0042]    While the embodiments are described with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements are possible. For example, the method of shifting the insert between an open position and a closed position as described herein is merely a single means of applying force to the sliding sleeve and any means of applying force to the sliding sleeve to move it between an open and a closed position may be utilized. 
         [0043]    Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.