Reliable Sleeve Activation for Multi-Zone Frac Operations Using Continuous Rod and Shifting Tools

Abstract

An apparatus for opening and closing downhole tools, such as sliding sleeves, includes a first (opening) shifting tool connected to an end of a continuous rod, an intermediate rod connected below the first shifting tool, and a second (closing) shifting tool connected to the end of the intermediate rod. The first tool has a profile for selectively opening sleeves when moved downhole, and the second tool has a profile for selectively closing sleeves when moved uphole. Alternatively, a single tool can couple to the end of the continuous rod and can have the profiles for opening and closing sleeves. When used, the continuous rod and shifting tools are deployed downhole to a series of sliding sleeves on a tool string. Manipulated by the continuous rod and a rig at the surface, the shifting tools are used to successively open and close the sliding sleeves so that successive isolated zones of a formation can be treated with frac fluid.

1 . A downhole tool actuating method, comprising:
 installing a first shifting tool to an end of a continuous rod, the first shifting tool adapted to selectively actuate a downhole tool in a first direction to a first operative condition;   installing an intermediate rod below the first shifting tool;   installing a second shifting tool to an end of the intermediate rod, the second shifting tool adapted to selectively actuate a downhole tool in a second direction to a second operative condition;   deploying the continuous rod and the first and second shifting tools downhole to a downhole tool; and   selectively actuating the downhole tool to either the first or the second operative condition by moving the first and second shifting tools with the continuous rod in either the first or second directions relative to the downhole tool to selectively actuate the downhole tool with either the first or second shifting tool.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a sliding sleeve having an insert movable between opened and closed conditions. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein installing the first shifting tool to the end of the continuous rod comprises coupling a first threaded pin on the continuous rod to a second threaded pin on the first shifting tool using a sucker rod connector. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein installing the intermediate rod comprises coupling a first threaded pin of a sucker rod to a second threaded pin of the first shifting tool using a sucker rod connector. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the first operative condition comprises:
 engaging an uphole facing shoulder on the first shifting tool against a downhole facing shoulder on the downhole tool; and   selectively actuating the downhole tool to an opened condition by moving the first shifting tool in an uphole direction.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the opened condition further comprises camming the uphole facing shoulder free from the downhole facing shoulder against a first stop shoulder in the downhole tool. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the second operative condition comprises:
 engaging a downhole facing shoulder on the second shifting tool against an uphole facing shoulder on the downhole tool; and   selectively actuating the downhole tool to a closed condition by moving the second shifting tool in a downhole direction.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the closed condition further comprises camming the downhole facing shoulder free from the uphole facing shoulder against a second stop shoulder in the downhole tool. 
   
   
       9 . A sliding sleeve actuating method, comprising:
 installing at least one shifting tool on an end of a continuous rod, the at least one shifting tool adapted to selectively actuate a downhole tool in a first direction to a first operative condition and in a second direction to a second operative condition;   deploying the continuous rod and the at least one shifting tool downhole to a downhole tool; and   selectively actuating the downhole tool to either the first or second operative condition by moving the at least one shifting tool with the continuous rod in either the first or second directions relative to the downhole tool to selectively actuate the downhole tool with the at least one shifting tool.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the first operative condition comprises:
 engaging a first shoulder on the at least one shifting tool facing a first direction against a second shoulder on the downhole tool facing a second opposite direction; and   selectively actuating the downhole tool to the first operative condition by moving the at least one shifting tool in the first direction.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the first operative condition further comprises camming the first shoulder free from the second shoulder against a first stop shoulder in the downhole tool. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the second operative condition comprises:
 engaging a second shoulder on the shifting tool facing the second direction against a first shoulder on the downhole tool facing the first opposite direction; and   selectively actuating the downhole tool to the second operative condition by moving the at least one shifting tool in the second direction.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively actuating the downhole tool to the second operative condition further comprises camming the second shoulder free from the first shoulder against a second stop shoulder in the downhole tool. 
   
   
       14 . A formation fracing method, comprising:
 deploying a continuous rod downhole to a plurality of sliding sleeves, the continuous rod having at least one shifting tool adapted to selectively open and close a sliding sleeve in opposing first and second directions;   selectively opening and closing the sliding sleeves by moving the at least one shifting tool with the continuous rod in the first and second opposing directions relative to the sliding sleeves; and   fracing selective zones of the formation isolated by packers disposed downhole between each of the sliding sleeves by using the at least one shifting tool and the continuous rod to successively open and close the sliding sleeves in the selective zones.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein deploying the continuous rod downhole comprises installing one shifting tool on an end of the continuous rod, the one shifting tool adapted to selectively open the sliding sleeve in the first direction and to selectively close the sliding sleeve in the second direction. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein deploying the continuous rod downhole comprises:
 installing a first shifting tool to an end of the continuous rod;   installing an intermediate rod below the first shifting tool; and   installing a second shifting tool to an end of the intermediate rod.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first shifting tool is adapted to selectively open the sliding sleeve in the first direction, and wherein the second shifting tool is adapted to selectively close the sliding sleeve in the second direction. 
   
   
       18 . A downhole tool actuating system, comprising:
 a continuous rod having a distal end;   a surface rig operable to deploy and move the continuous rod in first and second directions downhole; and   a tool actuating device coupleable to the distal end of the continuous rod, the tool actuating device having a first profile adapted to selectively actuate a downhole tool in the first direction to a first operative condition, the tool actuating device having a second profile adapted to selectively actuate the downhole tool in the second direction to a second operative condition.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the tool actuating device comprises:
 a first shifting tool coupleable to the distal end of the continuous rod and having the first profile;   an intermediate rod having first and second ends, the first end coupleable to the first shifting tool; and   a second shifting tool coupleable to the second end of the intermediate rod and having the second profile.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the tool actuating device comprises a shifting tool coupleable to the distal end of the continuous rod, the shifting tool having the first and second profiles.