Fluid diversion through selective fracture extension

摘要

A system and method that uses fluid diversion to selectively re-fracture a location of a multizone horizontal wellbore. A tubing string is extended from the surface to a location within the wellbore that is to be re-fractured. The annulus between the tubing string and the wellbore contains a first fluid and a second fluid is contained within the tubing string. The annulus may be sealed off at or near the surface and the second fluid is pumped out of the tubing string to initiate the re-fracture of the first location. The annulus seal may then be unset and the first fluid may be pumped down the annulus simultaneous to pumping a third fluid down the tubing string to re-fracture the first location. After re-fracturing the first location, the first location may be hydraulically isolated from the wellbore to permit a second location to be re-fractured.

主权项

1. A method of re-fracturing a horizontal wellbore comprising:
extending a tubing string into a horizontal wellbore from a surface location; positioning an end of the tubing string adjacent a first location within the horizontal wellbore, the first location having been previously hydraulically fractured at least once to form a fracture that extends into a subterranean formation at the first location prior to extending the tubing string into the horizontal wellbore, the tubing string extending from the surface location to the first location; providing a first fluid in an annulus between the tubing string and the horizontal wellbore, wherein a portion of the horizontal wellbore beyond an end of the tubing string includes the first fluid; providing a second fluid within the tubing string, wherein the second fluid differs from the first fluid; sealing the annulus adjacent to the surface location; and pumping the second fluid down the tubing string to initiate a re-fracture of the fracture that extends into the subterranean formation at the first location while the annulus is sealed adjacent to the surface location.