Propagation of High Permeable Planar Inclusions in Weakly Cemented Formations

Abstract

A well system for installing highly permeable inclusions at multiple azimuths in anelastic weakly cemented formations. The well system includes a wellbore device interconnected to a tubular string for initiating and propagating of planar inclusions at multiple azimuths into a formation surrounding the wellbore. The well device radially expands to seal against the formation, with the device having multiple openings in its sidewall at differing azimuths for the initiation and propagating of inclusions into the formation by controlled injection of a viscous non-penetrating fluid. The viscous propagating fluid carries proppant to the extremities of the inclusions, creating highly permeable planes at multiple azimuths from the wellbore. The well device is particularly well suited for use in conjunction with anelastic weakly cemented formations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore completion system, comprising:
 an open hole expansion tool device connected to a tubular string for initiating and propagating at least one inclusion into a formation surrounding the wellbore, the device expanding and sealing against the wellbore, having at least one opening in a sidewall, forming an initiating slot in the sidewall of the wellbore at the opening, and propagating a planar inclusion from the slot by injection of a viscous non-penetrating fluid into the formation; and the initiating slot is formed in the formation by either mechanical cutting, fluid jetting, explosive shape or perforating charges, or a combination of either.   
     
     
         2 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the initiating slot is formed by a combination of mechanical and fluid insertion of a wedge into the formation at the sidewall opening of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the initiating slot is formed by additional expansion of the downhole tool against the sidewall of the wellbore to exceed the passive Rankine effective pressure of the formation. 
     
     
         4 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of device sidewall openings is greater than one, with each sidewall opening in fluid isolation of each other, and each initiating slot at each sidewall opening are independently flow controlled for the injection of the propagating viscous non-penetrating fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the propagating viscous non-penetrating fluid contains an enzyme breaker and carries proppant, either quartz sand, garnet sand or a manufactured ceramic proppant to the extremities of the inclusion. 
     
     
         6 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the device after installing multiple azimuth inclusions, is then radially contracted, rotated, radially expanded to seal with the wellbore sidewall and further multiple azimuth inclusions are formed and propagated into the formation at differing azimuths, with each inclusion having independent flow control of its propagating viscous fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the formation comprises an anelastic weakly cemented sediment, with a formation Quality factor of less than 20. 
     
     
         8 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein multiple azimuth permeable inclusions are formed at a depth in the wellbore, the well device is radially contracted and raised to a shallower depth in the wellbore, expanded to the wellbore sidewall and multiple azimuth inclusions are installed, with the wellbore fluid pressure below the well device is controlled by the device to ensure that inclusions propagating at the shallower depth coalesce to their respective azimuth deeper inclusion by pore pressure relief.