Apparatus for Zonal Communication Interruption

Abstract

A method for providing zonal communication interruption in a wellbore, comprising: positioning a plurality of cement diverters axially along an outer surface of a tubular member, each cement diverter having an axial length and an azimuthal extension of less than 360°, wherein the azimuthal position of at least one cement diverter is axially rotated from an adjacent cement diverter; positioning the tubular member within the wellbore; and flowing cement into an annulus formed between an inner surface of the wellbore and the outer surface of the tubular member, wherein the positioning of the plurality of cement diverters provides zonal communication interruption about every 10 to 20 feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) axially along the tubular member. An apparatus for providing zonal communication interruption in a wellbore is also provided.

1 . A method for providing zonal communication interruption in a wellbore, comprising:
 (a) positioning a plurality of cement diverters axially along an outer surface of a tubular member, each cement diverter having an axial length and an azimuthal extension of less than 360°, wherein the azimuthal position of at least one cement diverter is axially rotated from an adjacent cement diverter;   (b) positioning the tubular member within the wellbore; and   (c) flowing cement into an annulus formed between an inner surface of the wellbore and the outer surface of the tubular member,   wherein the positioning of the plurality of cement diverters provides zonal communication interruption about every 10 to 20 feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) axially along the tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a first distance from a first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a second cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a second distance from a first end of the tubular member, the second distance greater than the first distance, the azimuthal position of the second cement diverter rotated by at least about 30° from the first cement diverter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a third cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a third distance from a first end of the tubular member, the third distance greater than the second distance, the azimuthal position of the third cement diverter rotated by at least about 30° from the second diverter segment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a fourth cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a fourth distance from a first end of the tubular member, the fourth distance greater than the third distance, the azimuthal position of the fourth cement diverter rotated by at least about 30° from the third cement diverter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 30° and about 270° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 90° and about 180° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 35° and about 270°. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 90° and about 180°. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is between about two and about ten feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) in length. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is axially spaced apart along the tubular member by about 3 to about 20 feet (about 0.9 to about 6.1 meters). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is swellable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has a swellable coating applied thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is inflatable. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore comprises an inclined and/or horizontal section. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for providing zonal communication interruption in a wellbore, comprising: a tubular member having a plurality of cement diverters positioned axially along an outer surface of a tubular member, each cement diverter having an axial length and an azimuthal extension of less than 360°, wherein the azimuthal position of at least one cement diverter is axially rotated from an adjacent cement diverter and the positioning of the plurality of cement diverters is effective to provide zonal communication interruption about every 10 to 20 feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) axially along the tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a first cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a first distance from a first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a second cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a second distance from a first end of the tubular member, the second distance greater than the first distance, the azimuthal position of the second cement diverter rotated by at least about 30° from the first cement diverter. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a third cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a third distance from a first end of the tubular member, the third distance greater than the second distance, the azimuthal position of the third cement diverter rotated by at least about 30° from the second diverter segment. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a fourth cement diverter of the plurality of cement diverters is positioned at a fourth distance from a first end of the tubular member, the fourth distance greater than the third distance, the azimuthal position of the fourth cement diverter rotated by at least about 30° from the third cement diverter. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 30° and about 270° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 90° and about 180° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 35° and about 270°. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 90° and about 180°. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is between about two and about ten feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) in length. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is axially spaced apart along the tubular member by about 3 to about 20 feet (about 0.9 to about 6.1 meters). 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is swellable. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has a swellable coating applied thereto. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is inflatable. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the wellbore comprises an inclined and/or horizontal section. 
     
     
         31 . A method of creating a wellbore in an underground formation, comprising the steps of:
 (a) drilling a borehole in the underground formation;   (b) installing a tubular member into the borehole, the tubular member having a plurality of cement diverters positioned axially along an outer surface of the tubular member, each cement diverter having an axial length and an azimuthal extension of less than 360°, wherein the azimuthal position of at least one cement diverter is axially rotated from an adjacent cement diverter; and   (c) flowing cement into an annulus formed between an inner surface of the wellbore and the outer surface of the tubular member,   wherein the positioning of the plurality of cement diverters provides zonal communication interruption about every 10 to 20 feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) axially along the tubular member.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 30° and about 270° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 90° and about 180° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 35° and about 270°. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 90° and about 180°. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is between about two and about ten feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) in length. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is axially spaced apart along the tubular member by about 3 to about 20 feet (about 0.9 to about 6.1 meters). 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is swellable. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has a swellable coating applied thereto. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is inflatable. 
     
     
         41 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a production well of an underground formation, comprising the steps of:
 (a) installing a tubular member into a wellbore of an underground formation, the tubular member having a plurality of cement diverters positioned axially along an outer surface of the tubular member, each cement diverter having an axial length and an azimuthal extension of less than 360°, wherein the azimuthal position of at least one cement diverter is axially rotated from an adjacent cement diverter;   (b) flowing cement into an annulus formed between an inner surface of the wellbore and the outer surface of the tubular member to form a production well; and   (c) producing fluids containing hydrocarbons from the production well   wherein the positioning of the plurality of cement diverters provides zonal communication interruption about every 10 to 20 feet axially (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) along the tubular member.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 30° and about 270° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the azimuthal position of each cement diverter is rotated between about 90° and about 180° from an adjacent cement diverter. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 35° and about 270°. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has an azimuthal extension of between about 90° and about 180°. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is between about two and about ten feet (about every 3.0 to about 6.1 meters) in length. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is axially spaced apart along the tubular member by about 3 to about 20 feet (about 0.9 to about 6.1 meters). 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters is swellable. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein each of the plurality of cement diverters has a swellable coating applied thereto. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the wellbore comprises an inclined and/or horizontal section.