Opening isolation for fluid injection into a formation from an expanded casing

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to enhanced recovery of petroleum fluids from the subsurface by initiating and propagating vertical permeable inclusions in a plane substantially orthogonal to the borehole axis. These inclusions containing proppant are thus highly permeable and enhance drainage of heavy oil from the formation, and also by steam injection into these planes, enhance oil recovery by heating the oil sand formation, the heavy oil and bitumen, which will drain under gravity and be produced. The present invention generally relates to a method of isolating openings in an expanded casing to provide for fluid injection into the formation in a single longitudinal plane with the wellbore axis.

1 . A method of injecting fluid into a formation through openings in a sidewall of a casing of a wellbore having an axis, the method comprising the steps of: installing an opening isolation device in proximity of the openings and orientated in a plane intersecting the openings and the wellbore axis, and injecting fluid into the formation through the openings. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening isolation device-is comprises straddle cups and opening isolation elements. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the opening isolation device is constructed of flexible rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein two or more sets of openings contained in the wellbore casing are located on differing longitudinal planes along the wellbore axis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are widened and connected to the formation by expansion of the casing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the casing is in contact with the formation by a cement based grout. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the casing is in contact with the formation by swellable rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injected fluid contains a proppant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the proppant particles are of a size ranging from #4 to #100 U.S. mesh, and the proppant particles include sand, ceramic beads, resin coated sand, resin coated ceramic beads or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the openings comprise a first set of openings and a second set of openings and wherein the second set of openings is in a different plane from the first set of openings and the openings of the second set of openings are isolated by the opening isolation device without moving or rotating the opening isolation device within the casing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a third set of openings in a different plane from the first and second sets of openings and wherein the openings of the third set of openings are isolated by the opening isolation device without moving or rotating the opening isolation device within the casing. 
     
     
         12 . A well system for injecting fluid into a formation to form inclusions in the formation, the well system comprising:
 a. a wellbore having an axis;   b. a casing installed in the wellbore, the casing having a sidewall with openings through the sidewall;   c. an opening isolation device installed in the casing in proximity to the openings and orientated in a plane intersecting the openings and the wellbore axis; and   d. means for injecting fluid into the formation through the openings.   
     
     
         13 . The well system of  claim 12 , wherein the opening isolation device comprises straddle cups and opening isolation elements. 
     
     
         14 . The well system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening isolation device is constructed of flexible rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The well system of  claim 12 , wherein two or more sets of openings contained in the wellbore casing are located on differing longitudinal planes along the wellbore axis. 
     
     
         16 . The well system of  claim 12 , wherein the openings are widened and connected to the formation by expansion of the casing. 
     
     
         17 . The well system of  claim 16 , wherein the casing is in contact with the formation by a cement based grout. 
     
     
         18 . The well system of  claim 16 , wherein the casing is in contact with the formation by swellable rubber. 
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 12 , wherein the injected fluid contains a proppant. 
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 19 , wherein the proppant particles are of a size ranging from #4 to #100 U.S. mesh, and the proppant particles include sand, ceramic beads, resin coated sand, resin coated ceramic beads or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The well system of  claim 12 , wherein the openings comprise a first set of openings and a second set of openings and wherein the second set of openings is in a different plane from the first set of openings, and the openings of the second set of openings are isolated by the opening isolation device without moving or rotating the opening isolation device with in the casing. 
     
     
         22 . The well system of  claim 21 , wherein a third set of openings in a different plane from the first and second sets of openings and wherein the openings of the third set of openings are isolated by the opening isolation device without moving or rotating the opening isolation device within the casing.