1111111111111111 IIIIII IIIII 1111111111 11111 11111 1111111111 lllll lllll 111111111111111 11111111
`US 20210025267Al
`
`c19) United States
`c12) Patent Application Publication
`Christie et al.
`
`c10) Pub. No.: US 2021/0025267 Al
`Jan. 28, 2021
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) COORDINATED PUMPING OPERATIONS
`
`(71) Applicant: Schlumberger Technology
`Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Richard Christie, Sugar Land, TX
`(US); Florence Binet, Antony (FR)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 16/937,681
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 24, 2020
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 62/877,994, filed on Jul.
`24, 2019.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`E21B 43126
`
`(2006.01)
`
`200~
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .................................... E21B 43126 (2013.01)
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Systems and methods presented herein enable coordinated
`pumping operations. An example system may include a
`treatment fluid system configured to pump a treatment fluid
`into a wellbore, a pump-down system configured to pump a
`pump-down fluid into the wellbore to convey a perforating
`tool, a fluid valve system configured to selectively fluidly
`connect and disconnect the treatment fluid system and the
`pump-down system to and from the wellbore, and a con(cid:173)
`troller communicatively connected to the treatment fluid
`system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system.
`The controller may be configured to monitor operational
`status of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system,
`and the fluid valve system, and control operations of the
`treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid
`valve system based at least in part on the operational status
`of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and
`the fluid valve system.
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 28, 2021 Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 2021/0025267 Al
`
`100~
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`196
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 28, 2021 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2021/0025267 Al
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 28, 2021 Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 2021/0025267 Al
`
`300~
`
`328
`324~
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`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 28, 2021 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2021/0025267 Al
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`400~
`
`CONTROLLER
`410
`
`I ORCHESTRATION LEVEL PROGRAM I
`
`412
`
`STIMULATION SYSTEM
`
`448
`
`PUMP-DOWN SYSTEM
`PLUG AND PERF SYSTEM
`S
`430
`
`FLUID FLOW CONTROL VALVE SYSTEM
`
`440
`
`448
`
`HIGH
`LOW
`PRESSURE PRESSU
`
`448
`
`448
`
`448
`
`448
`FIG. 4
`
`448
`
`448
`
`448
`
`50~""'\ ____________ -- ______ _
`
`EXTERNAL
`STORAGE
`MEDIUM
`534
`I 532 I
`
`MAIN MEMORY
`516
`VOLATILE
`MEMORY
`518
`I 532 I
`
`NON-
`VOLATILE
`MEMORY
`520
`I 532 I
`
`PROCESSOR
`512
`LOCAL
`MEMORY
`514
`I 532 I
`
`MASS
`STORAGE
`DEVICE
`530
`I 532 I
`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`526
`
`INTERFACE
`CIRCUIT
`524
`
`OUTPUT
`DEVICE
`528
`
`522
`
`FIG. 5
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 28, 2021 Sheet 5 of 6
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`
`211,311
`
`230
`
`/ 1 IOI, II Zu,1
`
`1,11
`
`234
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`
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`
`FIG. 6
`
`238
`l
`
`236
`/
`
`I, a:J, 7 .. 11111,17
`
`r100
`
`DEPLOYING AT LEAST ONE PERFORATION GUN INTO
`A WELL WITH A CONVEYANCE LINE COUPLED TO A
`HEAD OF A DOWN HOLE TOOL STRING COMPRISING
`THE AT LEAST ONE PERFORATION GUN
`
`ADVANCING THE AT LEAST ONE PERFORATION
`GUN IN THE WELL WITH PUMP ASSISTANCE FROM
`AT LEAST ONE PUMP UNIT AT THE OILFIELD
`
`l
`
`l
`
`702,
`
`70 4,
`
`70 6,
`
`MONITORING, USING AT LEAST ONE PUMP RATE SENSOR,
`A PUMP RATE OF THE AT LEAST ONE PUMP UNIT
`
`70 8,
`
`l
`
`MONITORING, USING AT LEAST ONE TENSION SENSOR,
`A TENSION AT THE HEAD OF THE DOWN HOLE TOOL STRING
`
`71 o,
`
`l
`
`ADJUSTING, USING A COORDINATED CONTROLLER,
`DEPLOYMENT OF THE AT LEAST ONE PERFORATION GUN IN
`AN AUTOMATED MANNER BASED AT LEAST IN PART ON THE
`MONITORING OF THE PUMP RATE AND THE TENSION
`
`FIG. 7
`
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`
`802,
`
`~800
`
`80 4,
`
`80 6,
`
`OPERATING A FLUID VALVE SYSTEM TO FLUIDLY DISCONNECT A
`TREATMENT FLUID SYSTEM FROM A WELLBORE
`!
`OPERATING THE FLUID VALVE SYSTEM TO FLUIDLY CONNECT A PUMP-
`DOWN SYSTEM WITH THE WELLBORE
`!
`PERFORMING PUMP-DOWN OPERATIONS BY OPERATING THE PUMP-
`DOWN SYSTEM TO PUMP THE PUMP-DOWN FLUID INTO THE WELLBORE
`TO CONVEY A PERFORATING TOOL WITHIN THE WELLBORE
`!
`OPERATING THE FLUID VALVE SYSTEM TO FLUIDLY DISCONNECT THE
`PUMP-DOWN SYSTEM FROM THE WELLBORE
`!
`OPERATING THE FLUID VALVE SYSTEM TO FLUIDLY CONNECT THE
`TREATMENT FLUID SYSTEM WITH THE WELLBORE
`!
`PERFORMING WELL TREATMENT OPERATIONS BY OPERATING THE
`TREATMENT FLUID SYSTEM TO PUMP A TREATMENT FLUID INTO THE WELLBORE
`FIG. 8
`
`80 8,
`
`81 o,
`
`81 2,
`
`~900
`
`FLUIDLY DISCONNECTING A RESPECTIVE PUMP-DOWN SYSTEM FROM A
`SECOND WELLBORE
`!
`90 4,
`FLUIDLY CONNECTING A RESPECTIVE TREATMENT FLUID SYSTEM WITH THE
`SECOND WELLBORE TO PERMIT PUMPING OF THE TREATMENT FLUID INTO
`THE SECOND WELLBORE
`!
`FLUIDLY DISCONNECTING A RESPECTIVE TREATMENT FLUID SYSTEM
`FROM A FIRST WELLBORE
`i
`FLUIDLY CONNECTING THE RESPECTIVE PUMP-DOWN SYSTEM WITH THE
`FIRST WELLBORE TO PERMIT PUMPING OF A PUMP-DOWN FLUID INTO THE
`FIRST WELLBORE TO CONVEY A PERFORATING TOOL WITHIN THE FIRST WELLBORE
`
`90 8,
`
`90 6,
`
`FIG. 9
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`US 2021/0025267 Al
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`1
`
`COORDINATED PUMPING OPERATIONS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit
`of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/877,994, entitled
`"Coordinated Pumping Operations," filed Jul. 24, 2019,
`which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for
`all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to systems
`and methods for coordinated pumping operations with
`respect to wellbore stimulation jobs.
`[0003] This section is intended to introduce the reader to
`various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects
`of the present techniques, which are described and/or
`claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in
`providing the reader with background information to facili(cid:173)
`tate a better understanding of the various aspects of the
`present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that
`these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an
`admission of any kind.
`[0004] A wellbore stimulation job utilizes several well
`service systems at a wellsite. A stimulation job for a hori(cid:173)
`zontal wellbore may include dividing the wellbore into
`numerous individual operations or stages. For example, a
`wellbore stimulation job may be divided into sixty or more
`individual stimulation operations or stages. The process
`utilizes individual pumping and wireline operations ( e.g.,
`pump-down and perforating operations) between each
`stimulation stage ( e.g., hydraulic fracturing) to isolate the
`wellbore and perforate a casing. Such pumping and wireline
`operations also include wellhead fluid control valves asso(cid:173)
`ciated with the wellbore.
`[0005] The above-described operations and systems uti(cid:173)
`lize different well services that are executed independently,
`each focusing on different objectives without knowledge or
`consideration of status of other well services. For example,
`each well service is conducted by corresponding equipment
`that is manually coordinated by different companies and/or
`crews, with little to no automation or communication
`between the well services. Coordination across these well
`services may include implementing checklists, manual hand
`signals, and voice communication via radios in order to
`execute each consecutive well service. A completion job
`becomes even more challenging as multi-well pads are
`constructed to permit multiple wellbores to be stimulated in
`parallel with the same suite of well servicing equipment.
`Lack of coordination and communication between the well
`services results in inefficiencies, resulting in fewer ( e.g., just
`12-16) hours of active pumping per day.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0006] A summary of certain embodiments described
`herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these
`aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a
`brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these
`aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.
`[0007] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure
`include a system that includes a treatment fluid system
`configured to pump a treatment fluid into a wellbore extend(cid:173)
`ing into a subterranean formation from a surface of an oil
`
`and gas wellsite. The system also includes a pump-down
`system configured to pump a pump-down fluid into the
`wellbore to convey a perforating tool through the wellbore.
`The system further includes a fluid valve system configured
`to selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the treatment
`fluid system and the pump-down system to and from the
`wellbore. In addition, the system includes a controller hav(cid:173)
`ing at least one processor and at least one memory storing
`executable program code instructions. The controller is
`communicatively connected to the treatment fluid system,
`the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system. The
`program code instructions, when executed by the at least one
`processor, cause the controller to: monitor operational status
`of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and
`the fluid valve system; and control operations of the treat(cid:173)
`ment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid
`valve system based at least in part on the operational status
`of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and
`the fluid valve system.
`[0008]
`In addition, certain embodiments of the present
`disclosure include a method that includes operating a treat(cid:173)
`ment fluid system to pump a treatment fluid into a wellbore
`extending into a subterranean formation from a surface of an
`oil and gas wellsite. The method also includes operating a
`pump-down system to pump a pump-down fluid into the
`wellbore to convey a perforating tool through the wellbore.
`The method further includes operating a fluid valve system
`to selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the treatment
`fluid system and the pump-down system to and from the
`wellbore. In addition, the method includes monitoring, using
`a controller, operational status of the treatment fluid system,
`the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system. The
`method also includes controlling, using the controller,
`operations of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down
`system, and the fluid valve system based at least in part on
`the operational status of the treatment fluid system, the
`pump-down system, and the fluid valve system.
`[0009]
`In addition, certain embodiments of the present
`disclosure include a system that includes a fracturing fluid
`system having a fracturing fluid mixing and pumping system
`for facilitating well fracturing operations including pumping
`a fracturing fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterra(cid:173)
`nean formation from a surface of an oil and gas wellsite. The
`system also includes a pump-down system having at least
`one pump and at least one container storing a pump-down
`fluid. The pump-down system is configured to pump the
`pump-down fluid into the wellbore to convey a perforating
`tool downhole through the wellbore when the pump-down
`system is fluidly connected to the wellbore. The system
`further includes a fluid valve system configured to selec(cid:173)
`tively fluidly connect and disconnect the fracturing fluid
`system and the pump-down system to and from the wellbore.
`The fluid valve system includes a fracturing manifold fluidly
`connected between the fracturing fluid system and the
`wellbore. The fracturing manifold is configured to selec(cid:173)
`tively fluidly connect and disconnect the fracturing fluid
`system to and from the wellbore. In addition, the system
`includes a controller having at least one processor and at
`least one memory storing executable program code instruc(cid:173)
`tions. The controller is communicatively connected to the
`fracturing fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid
`valve system. The program code
`instructions, when
`executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller
`to: monitor operational status of the fracturing fluid system,
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`2
`
`the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system; and
`operate the fluid valve system to altematingly connect and
`disconnect the fracturing fluid system and the pump-down
`system to and from the wellbore based at least in part on the
`operational status of the fracturing fluid system, the pump(cid:173)
`down system, and the fluid valve system.
`[0010] Various refinements of the features noted above
`may be undertaken in relation to various aspects of the
`present disclosure. Further features may also be incorpo(cid:173)
`rated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and
`additional features may exist individually or in any combi(cid:173)
`nation. For instance, various features discussed below in
`relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may
`be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of
`the present disclosure alone or in any combination. The brief
`surmnary presented above is intended to familiarize the
`reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of
`the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed
`subject matter.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0011] Various aspects of this disclosure may be better
`understood upon reading the following detailed description
`and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
`[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of at least a portion of
`an example implementation of a wellsite system, in accor(cid:173)
`dance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a portion of an
`example implementation of the wellsite system shown in
`FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the present
`disclosure;
`[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of an
`example implementation of the wellsite system shown in
`FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the present
`disclosure;
`[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of at least a portion of
`a control system, in accordance with embodiments of the
`present disclosure;
`[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of at least a portion of
`a processing device (or system), in accordance with embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present disclosure;
`[0017] FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of a portion of an
`example tool string, in accordance with embodiments of the
`present disclosure;
`[0018] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a method for auto(cid:173)
`mating perforation gun deployment to a downhole location
`in a well at an oilfield, in accordance with embodiments of
`the present disclosure;
`[0019] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method for coordi(cid:173)
`nate pumping operations of a wellbore, in accordance with
`embodiments of the present disclosure; and
`[0020] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a method for coordi(cid:173)
`nate pumping operations of a plurality of wellbores, in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0021] One or more specific embodiments of the present
`disclosure will be described herein. These described
`embodiments are only examples of the presently disclosed
`techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise
`description of these embodiments, all features of an actual
`implementation may not be described in the specification. It
`should be appreciated that in the development of any such
`
`actual implementation, as in any engineering or design
`project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must
`be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as
`compliance with system-related and business-related con(cid:173)
`straints, which may vary from one implementation to
`another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a
`development effort might be complex and time consuming,
`but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design,
`fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill
`having the benefit of this disclosure.
`[0022] When introducing elements of various embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and
`"the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the
`elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "hav(cid:173)
`ing" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be
`additional elements other than the listed elements. Addition(cid:173)
`ally, it should be understood that references to "one embodi(cid:173)
`ment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not
`intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of
`additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited
`features.
`[0023] As used herein, the terms "connect," "connection,"
`"connected," "in connection with," and "connecting" are
`used to mean "in direct connection with" or "in connection
`with via one or more elements"; and the term "set" is used
`to mean "one element" or "more than one element." Further,
`the
`terms "couple," "coupling," "coupled," "coupled
`together," and "coupled with" are used to mean "directly
`coupled together" or "coupled together via one or more
`elements." As used herein, the terms "up" and "down,"
`"uphole" and "downhole", "upper" and "lower," "top" and
`"bottom," and other like terms indicating relative positions
`to a given point or element are utilized to more clearly
`describe some elements. Commonly, these terms relate to a
`reference point as the surface from which drilling operations
`are initiated as being the top ( e.g., uphole or upper) point and
`the total depth along the drilling axis being the lowest (e.g.,
`downhole or lower) point, whether the well (e.g., wellbore,
`borehole) is vertical, horizontal or slanted relative to the
`surface.
`[0024] As used herein, a fracture shall be understood as
`one or more cracks or surfaces of breakage within rock.
`Fractures can enhance permeability of rocks greatly by
`connecting pores together and, for that reason, fractures can
`be induced mechanically in some reservoirs in order to boost
`hydrocarbon flow. Certain fractures may also be referred to
`as natural fractures to distinguish them from fractures
`induced as part of a reservoir stimulation. Fractures can also
`be grouped into fracture clusters ( or "perf clusters") where
`the fractures of a given fracture cluster (perf cluster) connect
`to the wellbore through a single perforated zone. As used
`herein, the term "fracturing" refers to the process and
`methods of breaking down a geological formation and
`creating a fracture (i.e., the rock formation around a well(cid:173)
`bore) by pumping fluid at relatively high pressures (e.g.,
`pressure above the determined closure pressure of the for(cid:173)
`mation) in order to increase production rates from a hydro(cid:173)
`carbon reservoir.
`[0025]
`In addition, as used herein, the terms "real time",
`"real-time", or "substantially real time" may be used inter(cid:173)
`changeably and are intended to described operations (e.g.,
`computing operations) that are performed without any
`human-perceivable interruption between operations. For
`example, as used herein, data relating to the systems
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`
`described herein may be collected, transmitted, and/or used
`in control computations in "substantially real time" such that
`data readings, data transfers, and/or data processing steps
`occur once every second, once every 0.1 second, once every
`0.01 second, or even more frequent, during operations of the
`systems (e.g., while the systems are operating). In addition,
`as used herein, the terms "automatic" and "automated" are
`intended to describe operations that are performed are
`caused to be performed, for example, by a process control
`system (i.e., solely by the process control system, without
`human intervention).
`[0026] Exploring, drilling and completing hydrocarbon
`and other wells are relatively complicated, time consuming
`and, ultimately, relatively expensive endeavors. As a result,
`over the years, well depth and architecture have been
`extended in order to help enhance access to underground
`hydrocarbon reserves. For example, it is not uncommon to
`find hydrocarbon wells exceeding 30,000 feet in depth.
`While such well depths may increase the likelihood of
`accessing underground hydrocarbon reservoirs, other chal(cid:173)
`lenges are presented in terms of well management and the
`maximization of hydrocarbon recovery from such wells. For
`example, during completions, the well architecture may be
`enhanced by a series ofwireline-run perforating applications
`tailored to introduce fractures and perforations into a for(cid:173)
`mation defining the well. Thus, subsequent stimulated
`recovery from the reservoir may help to maximize overall
`production.
`[0027] However, the added depth and increased complex(cid:173)
`ity of the well architecture may present new challenges to
`running such wireline run applications, for example, by
`increasing trip time for a wireline run into the well. In
`addition to increased time spent on the more extensive
`pump-down-perforating applications, the added depth and
`time of the application may also translate into other potential
`issues. For example, accurately locating the perforating guns
`of the system in the well may be a challenge. Further, as with
`any pump-down-perforating operations, tension on the wire(cid:173)
`line from the pump-aided deployment may lead to separa(cid:173)
`tion of the guns or other tool components from the wireline.
`However, where the well depth is increased, the possibility
`of such separation is increased due to the added potential
`pressure buildup as well as the increased time spent on
`deployment of the system.
`[0028] The embodiments described herein combine the
`pumping data with downhole data into software that is
`configured to provide a "master" automated ( e.g., without
`human intervention) control of the pumps and the other
`equipment of a well site system. In certain embodiments, the
`software is configured to coordinate control of all of the
`equipment of the wellsite system, which may be followed if
`the context of the operation is suitable or ignored, if desired,
`by the wireline or pump operator. As used herein, the terms
`"automated" and "automation" are intended to mean per(cid:173)
`formance of certain operations without human intervention.
`[0029] The data acquisition system described herein may
`include data collected downhole via a wireline system,
`which provides several data channels that provide time,
`depth, velocity, casing collar locator (CCL), tension, and
`fluid pressure, among other data. For example, head tension
`may be provided by a tool attached to the top of the
`perforating gun, and may be transmitted via wireline to the
`surface into the data acquisition system. The data acquisition
`system also acquires pump data at perhaps about 1 Hz from
`
`multiple pumps, and sends commands to control the overall
`rate of fluid being pumped downhole, among other control
`commands, as described herein. In addition, the discharge
`pressure may be provided by the pumps, which may be very
`close to the pressure being applied to the wellhead and to the
`downhole tool (e.g., which may be monitored by the down(cid:173)
`hole tool, as described herein). Variations due to pipe
`roughness and fluid compressibility may cause a slight
`difference between discharge pressure and the pressure on
`the tool downhole.
`[0030] By monitoring the tension, the pump rate, and
`discharge pressure from the pumps, it is possible to monitor
`and automate actions, which may include increasing pump
`rate to move the downhole tool faster, or decreasing pump
`rate to slow or stop the tool from moving downhole. In
`addition, if the tension is relatively low, then the pumping
`can be increased to some maximum predefined rate, and if
`the tension raises too high, then the wireline may be pulling
`too much on the downhole tool, and an automation routine
`may choose to slow the rate of the pumps, or to stop
`pumping entirely, to avoid a potential separation of the
`wireline from the downhole tool. The automation actions are
`exemplary, and are not intended to be limiting. Many other
`exemplary automation actions are described in more detail
`herein.
`[0031] As such, embodiments of the present disclosure
`include an apparatus including a treatment fluid system, a
`pump-down system, a fluid valve system, and a controller.
`The treatment fluid system is configured to pump a treatment
`fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation
`from a surface of an oil/gas wellsite. The pump-down
`system is configured to pump a pump-down fluid into the
`wellbore to convey a perforating tool through the wellbore.
`The fluid valve system is configured to selectively fluidly
`connect and disconnect the treatment fluid system and the
`pump-down system to and from the wellbore. The controller
`includes a processor and a memory storing computer pro(cid:173)
`gram code, and is communicatively connected to the treat(cid:173)
`ment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid
`valve system. The controller is configured to monitor opera(cid:173)
`tional status of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down
`system, and the fluid valve system. The controller is also
`configured to control operations of the treatment fluid sys(cid:173)
`tem, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system
`based at least in part on the operational status of the
`treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid
`valve system.
`[0032]
`In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure
`also include an apparatus including a treatment fluid system,
`a pump-down system, a fluid valve system, and a controller
`comprising a processor and a memory storing computer
`program code. The treatment fluid system is configured to
`perform well treatment operations by pumping a treatment
`fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation
`from a surface of an oil and gas wellsite. The pump-down
`system is configured to perform pump-down operations by
`pumping a pump-down fluid into the wellbore to convey a
`perforating tool through the wellbore. The fluid valve system
`is configured to fluidly connect the treatment fluid system to
`the wellbore during the well treatment operations and the
`pump-down system to the wellbore during the pump-down
`operations. The controller is communicatively connected to
`the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the
`fluid valve system. The controller is configured to, after the
`
`IWS EXHIBIT 1018
`
`EX_1018_010
`
`

`

`US 2021/0025267 Al
`
`Jan. 28, 2021
`
`4
`
`treatment fluid is pumped into the wellbore, operate the fluid
`valve system to fluidly disconnect the treatment fluid system
`from the wellbore, operate the fluid valve system to fluidly
`connect the pump-down system to the well bore, and perform
`the pump-down operations by operating the pump-down
`system to pump the pump-down fluid into the wellbore to
`convey the perforating tool through the wellbore. The con(cid:173)
`troller is also configured to, after the pump-down fluid is
`pumped into the wellbore and the perforating tool is
`retrieved from the wellbore, operate the fluid valve system
`to fluidly disconnect the pump-down system from the well(cid:173)
`bore, operate the fluid valve system to fluidly connect the
`treatment fluid system to the wellbore, and perform the well
`treatment operations by operating the treatment fluid system
`to pump the treatment fluid into the wellbore.
`[0033]
`In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure
`also include an apparatus including a treatment fluid system,
`a pump-down system, a fluid valve system, and a controller
`comprising a processor and a memory storing computer
`program code. The treatment fluid system is configured to
`perform well treatment operations by pumping a treatment
`fluid into a first wellbore or a second well bore extending into
`a subterranean formation from a surface of an oil and gas
`wellsite. The pump-down system is configured to perform
`pump-down operations by pumping a pump-down fluid into
`the first wellbore or the second wellbore to convey a
`perforating tool within the first wellbore or the second
`wellbore. The fluid valve system is configured to fluidly
`connect and disconnect the treatment fluid system to and
`from the first wellbore or the second wellbore and to fluidly
`connect and disconnect the pump-down system to and from
`the first wellbore or the second wellbore. The controller is
`communicatively connected to the treatment fluid system,
`the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system. The
`controller is configured to operate the fluid valve system to
`simultaneously fluidly disconnect the pump-down system
`from the first wellbore, fluidly connect the treatment fluid
`system to the first wellbore to permit pumping of the
`treatment fluid into the first wellbore, fluidly disconnect the
`treatment fluid system from the second wellbore, and fluidly
`connect the pump-down system to the second wellbore to
`permit pumping of the pump-down fluid into the second
`wellbore to convey the perforating tool within the second
`wellbore. As used herein, the terms "simultaneous" and
`"simultaneously" are intended to mean certain operations
`that are performed at generally the same time (e.g., concur(cid:173)
`rently). In other words, simultaneous operations are intended
`to mean operations that at least partially overlap in time.
`[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of at least a portion of
`an example implementation of a wellsite system 100, in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
`FIG. 1 illustrates multiple wellbores 102 each extending
`from a terrain surface of a wellsite 104, a partial sectional
`view of a subterranean formation 106 penetrated by the
`well bores 102, and various pieces of wellsite equipment or
`components of the wellsite system 100 located at the well(cid:173)
`site 104. The wellsite system 100 may facilitate recovery of
`oil, gas, and/or other materials that are trapped in the
`subterranean formation 106. In certain embodiments, each
`wellbore 102 may include a casing 108 secured by cement
`(not shown). The wellsite system 100 may be configured to
`transfer various materials and additives from corresponding
`sources to a destination location for blending or mixing and
`subsequent injection into one or more of the well bores 102
`
`during fracturing and other stimulation operations. In certain
`embodiments, such operations may be partially or fully
`automated using at least one controller, as described in
`greater detail herein.
`[0035]
`In certain embodiments, the wellsite system 100
`may include a mixing unit 109 (referred to hereinafter as a
`"mixer") fluidly connected to one or more tanks 110 and a
`container 112. In certain embodiments, the container 112
`may contain a first material and the tanks 110 may contain
`a liquid. In certain embodiments, the first material may be or
`include a hydratable material or gelling agent, such as
`cellulose, clay, galactomannan, guar, polymers, synthetic
`polymers, and/or polysaccharides, among other examples. In
`addition, in certain embodiments, the liquid may be or
`include an aqueous fluid, such as water or an aqueous
`solution including water, among other examples. In certain
`embodiments, the mixer 109 may be configured to receive
`the first material and the liquid, via two or more conduits or
`other material transfer means (hereafter simply "conduits")
`114, 116, and mix or otherwise combine the first material
`and the liquid to form a base fluid, which may be or include
`w