A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation while employing solids control

Abstract

There is provided a hydrocarbon production process including stimulating a hydrocarbon material-containing reservoir by hydraulic fracturing of the hydrocarbon material-containing reservoir with a treatment material including proppant. The treatment material is injected such that a frac pack is obtained. During production, hydrocarbon material is conducted from the reservoir to the surface via the frac pack. Flow control members are manipulated to enable injection of the treatment material and, subsequently, production of the hydrocarbon material from the reservoir.

1 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A hydrocarbon production process, implemented via a system including a wellbore string disposed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the wellbore string includes a material injection station and a material production station, wherein the material production station is disposed downhole relative to the material injection station, wherein the material injection station includes a material injection flow controller for modulating a flow communication condition of a material injection flow communicator that is disposed in flow communication with the subterranean formation via a wellbore space, and the material production station includes a material production flow controller for modulating a flow communication condition of a material production flow communicator that is disposed in flow communication with the subterranean formation via a wellbore space, wherein the material production flow communicator includes a filter medium for preventing oversize particulate material from entering the wellbore string, comprising:
 opening the material injection flow communicator by displacing the material injection flow controller relative to the material injection flow communicator;   while the material injection flow communicator is disposed in the open condition, injecting stimulation material, including proppant entrained within a fluid, from the surface and into the subterranean formation, via the wellbore string, the material injection flow communicator, and the wellbore space, such that hydraulic fracturing of a hydrocarbon material-containing reservoir of the subterranean formation is effected;   suspending the injection of the stimulation material;   after the suspending of the injection of the stimulation material, partially opening the material production flow communicator by displacing the material production flow controller relative to the material production flow communicator, such that:
 (i) an uphole-disposed portion of the material production flow communicator is occluded by the material production flow controller; and 
 (ii) flow communication is effected between the subterranean formation and the wellbore string via a downhole-disposed portion of the material production flow communicator, such that reservoir material is conducted from the subterranean formation and into the wellbore string via the downhole-disposed portion of the material production flow communicator in response to a pressure differential between the subterranean formation and the wellbore string, and such that solid particulate material, entrained within the conducted reservoir material, separates from the conducted reservoir material and accumulates within the wellbore space, that is disposed between the subterranean formation and the material production flow communicator, and at least contributes to formation of a solid particulate material-containing filtering medium; 
 wherein the downhole-disposed portion of the material production flow communicator is disposed downhole relative to the uphole-disposed portion of the material production flow communicator; 
   and
 after the formation of a solid particulate material-containing filtering medium, increasing the percentage opening of the material production flow communicator by displacing the material production flow controller relative to the material production flow communicator such that a production mode material production flow communicator is established, with effect that reservoir material is conducted from the subterranean formation and into the wellbore string via the solid particulate material-containing filtering medium and the production mode material production flow communicator. 
   
     
     
         44 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the partial opening of the material production flow communicator is with effect that the uphole-disposed portion, of the material production flow communicator that is being occluded by the flow controller, defines at least 50% of the total cross-sectional flow area of the material production flow communicator.   
     
     
         45 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the partial opening of the material production flow communicator is with effect that the uphole-disposed portion, of the material production flow communicator that is being occluded by the flow controller, defines at least 75% of the total cross-sectional flow area of the material production flow communicator.   
     
     
         46 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the increasing of the percentage opening of the material production flow communicator is with effect that the material production flow communicator is disposed in the non-occluded condition.   
     
     
         47 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein solid particulate material-containing filtering medium includes solid particulate material that has accumulated during the injection of stimulation material.   
     
     
         48 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the injection of the stimulation material is effected while the material production flow communicator is disposed in the closed condition.   
     
     
         49 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the injection of the stimulation material is effected while a sealed interface is disposed within the wellbore string, downhole relative to the material injection flow communicator.   
     
     
         50 . The process as claimed in  claim 49 ;
 wherein the sealed interface is disposed uphole relative to the material production flow communicator;
 and further comprising:
 after the formation of a solid particulate material-containing filtering medium, and prior to the increasing of the percentage opening of the material production flow communicator, defeating the sealed interface. 
 
   
     
     
         51 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising:
 prior to the partial opening of the material production flow communicator, closing the material injection flow communicator.   
     
     
         52 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein:
 the displacing of the material injection flow controller, relative to the material injection flow communicator, is effected by a shifting tool; and 
 the displacing of the material production flow controller, relative to the material injection flow communicator, is effected by a shifting tool. 
   
     
     
         53 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein both of:
 (i) the displacing of the material injection flow control member relative to the material injection flow communicator; and 
 (ii) the displacing of the material production flow control member relative to the material production flow communicator; 
 is effected by the same shifting tool. 
   
     
     
         54 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein:
 the material injection flow control member includes a sleeve; and 
 the material production flow control member includes a sleeve 
   
     
     
         55 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein:
 the partial opening of the flow communicator is such that the fluid velocity and pressure differential between the subterranean formation and the wellbore string will transport material from the subterranean formation via natural flowback. 
   
     
     
         56 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the filter medium is configured for preventing, or substantially preventing, passage of +11 mesh proppant from the subterranean formation, via the material production flow communicator, and in the wellbore string.   
     
     
         57 . The process as claimed in  claim 43 ;
 wherein the filter medium includes a wire screen.   
     
     
         58 . A hydrocarbon production process, implemented via a system including a wellbore string disposed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the wellbore string includes a flow communication station including a material injection station and a material production station, wherein the material production station is disposed downhole relative to the material injection station, wherein the material injection station includes a material injection flow control member for opening and closing a material injection flow communicator that is disposed in flow communication with the subterranean formation via a wellbore space, and the material production station includes a material production flow control member for opening and closing a material production flow communicator that is disposed in flow communication with the subterranean formation via a wellbore space, wherein the material production flow communicator includes a filter medium for preventing oversize particulate material from entering the wellbore string, comprising:
 opening the material injection flow communicator by displacing the material injection flow control member, relative to the material injection flow communicator, with a shifting tool;   while the material injection flow communicator is disposed in the open condition, injecting stimulation material, including proppant that is entrained within a fluid, from the surface and into the subterranean formation, via the wellbore string, the material injection flow communicator, and the wellbore space, such that hydraulic fracturing of a hydrocarbon material-containing reservoir of the subterranean formation is effected;   continuing to inject the stimulation material with effect that a frac pack is obtained within the wellbore space, between the subterranean formation and the material production flow communicator; and   after the frac pack has been obtained:   suspending the injection of the stimulation material;   after the suspending of the injection of the stimulation material, opening the material production flow communicator by displacing the material production flow control member, relative to the material production flow communicator, with a shifting tool; and   after the opening of the material production flow communicator, producing hydrocarbon material from the subterranean formation via the frac pack, the material production station and the wellbore string.   
     
     
         59 . The process as claimed in  claim 58 ;
 wherein the injection of the stimulation material is effected while the material production flow communicator is disposed in the closed condition.   
     
     
         60 . The process as claimed in  claim 59 ;
 wherein the injection of the stimulation material is effected while a sealed interface is disposed within the wellbore string, downhole relative to the material injection flow communicator.   
     
     
         61 . The process as claimed in  claim 60 ;
 wherein the sealed interface is disposed uphole relative to the material production flow communicator;
 and further comprising: 
 after the frac pack has been obtained, and prior to the opening of the material production flow communicator, defeating the sealed interface. 
   
     
     
         62 . The process as claimed in  claim 61 , further comprising:
 prior to the opening of the material production flow communicator, closing the material injection flow communicator.