Multi-well simultaneous fracturing system

Abstract

A system for simultaneously fracturing multiple wells is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes fracturing trees installed at multiple wells. A fracturing manifold is connected to the fracturing trees and includes output valves to independently control flow of fracturing fluid from the manifold to each of multiple wells. The system may also include a controller connected to the output valves so that the controller can remotely operate the output valves to simultaneously fracture the multiple wells and independently control the volume of fracturing fluid entering each of the wells from the fracturing manifold. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

1 . A system comprising:
 a first fracturing tree installed at a first well;   a second fracturing tree installed at a second well;   a fracturing manifold connected to the first fracturing tree and the second fracturing tree, the fracturing manifold including output valves to independently control flow of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold to the first fracturing tree and from the fracturing manifold to the second fracturing tree; and   a controller connected to the output valves of the fracturing manifold to enable the controller to remotely operate the output valves to simultaneously fracture both the first well and the second well by routing fracturing fluid into each of the first and second wells via its respective fracturing tree and to independently control the volume of fracturing fluid entering the first well and the volume of fracturing fluid entering the second well from the fracturing manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one ball launcher connected to one or both of the first fracturing tree and the second fracturing tree. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second wells include sliding sleeves for isolating different fracturing zones in the first and second wells. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sliding sleeves are ball-actuated sliding sleeves and the controller is connected to the at least one ball launcher so as to allow the controller to remotely operate the at least one ball launcher to release balls into the fracturing fluid to be conveyed to the ball-actuated sliding sleeves of the first and second wells. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a fracturing supply system connected to the fracturing manifold, the fracturing supply system including pumps connected to a blender. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the fracturing supply system includes an additional blender and the fracturing manifold includes input valves connected to the blender and to the additional blender to control flow of fracturing fluid from the blender and from the additional blender into the fracturing manifold. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is connected to the input valves to enable remote operation of the input valves by the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising sensors coupled between the output valves of the fracturing manifold and the first and second wells, wherein the controller is configured to receive input from the sensors and use the received input to vary operation of the output valves of the fracturing manifold. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a fracturing manifold including:
 an input valve; 
 at least two output valves connected in fluid communication with the input valve; and 
 one or more ball launchers integrated as part of the fracturing manifold. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more ball launchers are integrated into the fracturing manifold between the input valve and the at least two output valves. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more ball launchers include a first ball launcher connected at, and downstream of, one of the output valves and a second ball launcher connected at, and downstream of, another of the output valves. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving fracturing fluid into a manifold;   routing the fracturing fluid from the manifold into multiple wells simultaneously;   measuring flow characteristics of the fracturing fluid output from the manifold with sensors downstream from the manifold;   providing input based on the measured flow characteristics to a controller; and   actuating valves connected to the multiple wells with the controller to control the amount of fracturing fluid routed into each of the multiple wells.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein measuring flow characteristics of the fracturing fluid output from the manifold includes measuring volumetric flow rate from the manifold to each of the multiple wells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising calculating a duration for pumping fracturing fluid from the manifold into a first well of the multiple wells to stimulate a fracturing zone of the first well. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising determining, based on the calculated duration for the first well, a desired volumetric flow rate for fracturing fluid into a second well via the manifold. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein actuating valves connected to the multiple wells includes operating at least one of the valves to balance volumes of fracturing fluids routed into each of the multiple wells. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein actuating valves connected to the multiple wells includes actuating valves of the manifold. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising selecting between different fracturing fluids for pumping into the manifold by actuating one or more input valves of the manifold. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 connecting a fracturing manifold to a plurality of wells;   stimulating at least two wells of the plurality of wells to increase productivity of the at least two wells, wherein stimulating the at least two wells includes simultaneously fracturing the at least two wells with fracturing fluid routed into each of the at least two wells via the fracturing manifold.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising simultaneously pumping fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold into a first well and into a second well of the at least two wells at different flow rates. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising controlling at least one valve to cause the flow rates of fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold into the first and second wells to differ. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein controlling the at least one valve includes controlling at least one valve of the fracturing manifold. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein controlling the at least one valve includes automatically controlling the at least one valve remotely with a programmed controller. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising producing formation fluids from the at least two wells.