Apparatus, systems and methods for isolation during multistage hydraulic fracturing with flow control member having impedance feature

Abstract

An apparatus for deployment in a wellbore to control flow of fluids between the wellbore and a subterranean reservoir is provided, comprising: a housing; a port extending through the housing; a passage disposed within the housing; and a flow control member, releasably retained relative to the housing and disposed relative to the port such that the port is disposed in a closed condition, and including a frangible portion. The flow control member, the housing, and the port are co-operatively configured such that, in response to application of a sufficient force for urging displacement of the flow control member in a first direction: the flow control member becomes released from the retention relative to the housing; after the release of the flow control member from the retention relative to the housing, the flow control member is displaced, relative to the port, in the first direction; and while the flow control member is being displaced, relative to the port, in the first direction, the displacement of the flow control member is impeded by an interaction between the flow control member and the housing.

1 .- 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . An apparatus for deployment in a wellbore to control flow of fluids between the wellbore and a subterranean reservoir, comprising:
 a housing;   a port extending through the housing;   a passage disposed within the housing; and   a flow control member, releasably retained relative to the housing and disposed relative to the port such that the port is disposed in a closed condition, and including a frangible portion;   
       wherein the flow control member, the housing, and the port are co-operatively configured such that, in response to application of a sufficient force for urging displacement of the flow control member in a first direction:
 the flow control member becomes released from the retention relative to the housing; 
 after the release of the flow control member from the retention relative to the housing, the flow control member is displaced, relative to the port, in the first direction; and 
 during the displacement of the flow control member, relative to the port, in the first direction, the flow control member interacts with the housing such that the displacement of the flow control member is impeded. 
 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       wherein the interaction between the flow control member and the housing, which is impeding the displacement of the flow control member, relative to the port, includes a frictional engagement. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member, the housing, and the port are co-operatively configured such that an opening of the port is effected during the displacement of the flow control member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member, the housing, and the port are co-operatively configured such that the displacement of the flow control member in the first direction is with effect that an opening of the port is effected such that at least about 75% of the cross-sectional area of the port is unobstructed by the flow control member. 
 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member, the housing, and the port are co-operatively configured such that the displacement of the flow control member in the first direction is with effect that opening of the port is effected such that less than about 25% of the cross-sectional area of the port is occluded by the flow control member. 
 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       wherein:
 the displacement of the flow control member relative to the port is a displacement in the first direction; 
 the flow control member includes a frangible portion; and 
 the flow control member and the housing are co-operatively configured such that:
 in response to the displacement in the first direction, the flow control member and the housing become co-operatively disposed in an interference fit relationship; and 
 while the flow control member is disposed in the interference fit relationship with the housing, in response to application of a sufficient force for urging displacement of the flow control member, relative to the housing, in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the flow control member is fractured with effect that the frangible portion becomes separated from the flow control member such that a modified flow control member is obtained. 
 
 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 55 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member is deformable; and 
 the flow control member and the housing are further co-operatively configured such that the flow control member is deformed during the interaction for effecting the interference-fit relationship. 
 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 55 ; 
       wherein the flow control member and the housing are further co-operatively configured such that, upon the separation of the frangible portion from the flow control member, the frangible portion is retained by the housing. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 55 ; 
       wherein:
 the modified flow control member is positionable relative to the port such that the port is disposed in a closed condition; and 
 the flow control member, the housing, and the port are further co-operatively configured such that, while the modified flow control member is disposed relative to the port such that the port is disposed in a closed condition, the modified flow control member is displaceable, relative to the port, in the first direction, with effect that the port becomes disposed in the open condition; and 
 there is an absence of impedance, or substantial absence of impedance, by the housing to the displacement of the modified flow control member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       further comprising:
 one or more frangible interlocking members effecting the releasable retention of the flow control member to the housing, and configured for fracturing, in response to the sufficient urging of displacement of the flow control member in the first direction, for effecting the release of the flow control member from the retention relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 ; 
       wherein:
 the housing includes a transition portion disposed between the port and the interference fit-effecting portion, and the transition portion defines a housing passage-defining surface that is tapered inwardly, relative to the central longitudinal axis of the housing passage, in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         61 . An apparatus for deployment in a wellbore to control flow of fluids between the wellbore and a subterranean reservoir, comprising: 
       a housing including an interference fit-effecting portion; 
       a port extending through the housing; 
       a passage disposed within the housing; and 
       a flow control member, releasably retained relative to the housing such that the port is disposed in a closed condition, and including a frangible portion; 
       wherein the flow control member, the interference fit-effecting portion, and the port are co-operatively configured such that, in response to application of a sufficient force for urging displacement of the flow control member in a first direction:
 the flow control member becomes released from the retention relative to the housing; and 
 after the release of the flow control member from the retention relative to the housing, the flow control member is displaced, relative to the port, in the first direction; and 
 the displacement of the flow control member, relative to the port, in the first direction includes displacement through the interference fit-effecting portion with effect that the flow control member becomes disposed in an interference fit relationship with the interference fit-effecting portion; and 
 while the flow control member is disposed in the interference fit relationship with the interference fit-effecting portion, in response to sufficient urging of displacement of the flow control member, relative to the port, in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the flow control member is fractured with effect that the frangible portion becomes separated from the flow control member such that a modified flow control member is obtained. 
 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 ; 
       wherein the flow control member and the interference fit-effecting portion are further co-operatively configured such that, upon the separation of the frangible portion from the flow control member, the frangible portion is retained by the interference fit-effecting portion. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 62 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member, the housing, and the port are further co-operatively configured such that, while the modified flow control member is disposed relative to the port such that the port is disposed in a closed condition, in response to application of sufficient force for urging the displacement of the modified flow control member in a first direction, the modified flow control member is displaced, relative to the port, in the first direction, with effect that the modified flow control member becomes disposed in contact engagement with the retained frangible portion; and 
 there is an absence of impedance, or substantial absence of impedance, by the housing to the displacement of the modified flow control member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 63 ; 
       wherein the displacement of the modified flow control member, relative to the port, in the first direction is with further effect that the port becomes disposed in an open condition. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member is deformable; and 
 the flow control member and the interference fit-effecting portion are further co-operatively configured such that the flow control member is deformed while being displaced, relative to the port, in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 ; 
       wherein:
 the flow control member, the interference fit-effecting portion, and the port are co-operatively configured such that an opening of the port is effected during the displacement of the flow control member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         67 . A method of producing hydrocarbon-comprising material from a subterranean formation via a wellbore extending into the subterranean formation, comprising:
 applying an opening force, in one of an uphole direction or a downhole direction, to a flow control member, that is being releasably retained relative to a housing, such that: (i) the flow control member is released from the retention relative to the housing, and (ii) the flow control member is displaced, relative to a port of the housing, in the one of an uphole direction and a downhole direction, such that opening of the port is effected, with effect that the port becomes disposed in an opened condition, wherein, during the displacement of the flow control member, relative to the port, in the one of an uphole direction and a downhole direction, the flow control member is interacting with the housing with effect that the displacement of the flow control member in the one of an uphole direction and a downhole direction, is impeded; and   while the port is disposed in the open condition, injecting treatment material from the wellbore, via the port, into the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         68 . The method as claimed in  claim 67 ; 
       wherein:
 the displacement of the flow control member, relative to the one or more ports, in the one of an uphole direction and a downhole direction, is with effect that the flow control member and the housing become co-operatively disposed in an interference-fit relationship; and 
 while the flow control member is disposed in the interference fit relationship with the housing, in response to the application of the closing force in the other one of an uphole direction and a downhole direction, the flow control member is fractured with effect that a frangible portion becomes separated from the flow control member and retained relative to the housing, such that a modified flow control member is displaced, relative to the port, in the other one of an uphole direction and a downhole direction, and effects the re-closing of the port. 
 
     
     
         69 . The method as claimed in  claim 68 ; 
       wherein the flow control member that is displaced, in response to the application of the second opening force, is the modified flow control member.