Wellbore Plug Isolation System and Method

Abstract

A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The RPE includes a first composition and a second composition that changes phase or strength under wellbore conditions. After a stage is perforated, RPEs are deployed to isolate toe ward pressure communication. The second composition changes phase to create flow channels in the RPE during production. In an alternate system/method, the second composition changes phase or strength thereby deforming the RPE to reduce size and pass through the RSM's. The RPEs are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure.

1 . A restriction plug element (RPE) for use in a wellbore casing, said restriction plug element comprising a material, wherein said material that is insoluble in wellbore fluids; said material is configured to change a physical property at a pre-determined temperature expected to be encountered in said wellbore casing; and when said material changes said physical property without chemically reacting with said wellbore fluids, said restriction plug element is configured to deform to enable substantially unrestricted fluid flow in said wellbore casing. 
     
     
         2 . The restriction plug element of  claim 1  wherein said material is configured with flow channels. 
     
     
         3 . The restriction plug element of  claim 2  wherein said flow channels are filled with a second composition material, said second composition material is configured to change physical property when exposed to said expected wellbore temperatures and said second composition material does not change said physical property when exposed to fracturing fluids. 
     
     
         4 . The restriction plug element of  claim 2  wherein said flow channels are external flow channels. 
     
     
         5 . The restriction plug element of  claim 2  wherein said flow channels are internal flow channels. 
     
     
         6 . The restriction plug element of  claim 2  wherein said flow channels are banded flow channels. 
     
     
         7 . The restriction plug element of  claim 1  wherein said physical property is a phase of said material. 
     
     
         8 . The restriction plug element of  claim 1  wherein said physical property is a strength of said material. 
     
     
         9 . The restriction plug element of  claim 1  wherein said physical property is elasticity of said material. 
     
     
         10 . A wellbore plug isolation system comprising:
 (a) restriction sleeve member (RSM); and   (b) restriction plug element (RPE)   wherein   said restriction sleeve member is configured to fit within a wellbore casing;   said restriction sleeve member is configured to be positioned at a wellbore location by a wellbore setting tool (WST);   said restriction plug element is configured to seat in said RSM; and   said restriction plug element comprises a material, said material is insoluble in wellbore fluids; said material is configured to change a physical property at a pre-determined temperature expected to be encountered in said wellbore casing; and when said material changes said physical property without chemically reacting with said wellbore fluids, said restriction plug element is configured to deform to enable substantially unrestricted fluid flow in said wellbore casing.   
     
     
         11 . The wellbore plug isolation of  claim 10  wherein said material is configured with flow channels. 
     
     
         12 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 11  wherein said flow channels are filled with a second composition material, said second composition material is configured to change physical property when exposed to said expected wellbore temperatures and said second composition material does not change said physical property when exposed to fracturing fluids. 
     
     
         13 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 11  wherein said flow channels are external flow channels. 
     
     
         14 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 11  wherein said flow channels are internal flow channels. 
     
     
         15 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 11  wherein said flow channels are banded flow channels. 
     
     
         16 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 10  wherein said physical property is a phase of said material. 
     
     
         17 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 10  wherein said physical property is a strength of said material. 
     
     
         18 . The wellbore plug isolation system of  claim 10  wherein said physical property is elasticity of said material. 
     
     
         19 . A wellbore plug isolation method, said method operating in conjunction with a wellbore plug isolation system, said system comprising:
 (a) restriction sleeve member (RSM); and   (b) restriction plug element (RPE)   wherein   said restriction sleeve member is configured to fit within a wellbore casing;   said restriction plug element is configured to seat in said RSM; and   said restriction sleeve member is configured to be positioned at a wellbore location by a wellbore setting tool (WST);   said restriction plug element comprises a material, said material is insoluble in wellbore fluids; said material is configured to change a physical property at a pre-determined temperature expected to be encountered in said wellbore; and when said material changes said physical property without chemically reacting with said wellbore fluids, said restriction plug element is configured to deform to enable substantially unrestricted fluid flow in said wellbore;   wherein said method comprises the steps of:   (1) checking if said restriction sleeve member (RSM) is present, if so, proceeding to step (3);   (2) setting said RSM at a wellbore location in a wellbore casing;   (3) perforating a hydrocarbon formation with a perforating gun string assembly;   (4) deploying said restriction plug element into said wellbore casing to isolate toe end fluid communication and create a hydraulic fracturing stage;   (5) controlling a contact temperature of said restriction plug element to retain said physical property;   (6) fracturing said fracturing stage with fracturing fluids;   (7) controlling said contact temperature of said restriction plug element to enable said restriction plug element to undergo a change in said physical property in wellbore fluids;   (8) checking if all hydraulic fracturing stages in said wellbore casing have been completed, if not so, repeating steps (1) to (7); and   (9) enabling fluid flow in a production direction.   
     
     
         20 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 19  wherein said restriction plug element is configured with flow channels. 
     
     
         21 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 20  wherein said flow channels are filled with a second composition material, said second composition material is configured to change physical property when exposed to said expected wellbore temperatures and said second composition material does not change said physical property when exposed to fracturing fluids. 
     
     
         22 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 20  wherein said flow channels are external flow channels. 
     
     
         23 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 20  wherein said flow channels are internal flow channels. 
     
     
         24 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 20  wherein said flow channels are banded flow channels. 
     
     
         25 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 19  wherein said physical property is a phase of said material. 
     
     
         26 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 19  wherein said physical property is a strength of said material. 
     
     
         27 . The wellbore plug isolation method of  claim 19  wherein said physical property is elasticity of said material.