BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for coordinated pumping operations with respect to wellbore stimulation jobs.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an admission of any kind.

A wellbore stimulation job utilizes several well service systems at a wellsite. A stimulation job for a horizontal wellbore may include dividing the wellbore into numerous individual operations or stages. For example, a wellbore stimulation job may be divided into sixty or more individual stimulation operations or stages. The process utilizes individual pumping and wireline operations (e.g., pump-down and perforating operations) between each stimulation stage (e.g., hydraulic fracturing) to isolate the wellbore and perforate a casing. Such pumping and wireline operations also include wellhead fluid control valves associated with the wellbore.

The above-described operations and systems utilize different well services that are executed independently, each focusing on different objectives without knowledge or consideration of status of other well services. For example, each well service is conducted by corresponding equipment that is manually coordinated by different companies and/or crews, with little to no automation or communication between the well services. Coordination across these well services may include implementing checklists, manual hand signals, and voice communication via radios in order to execute each consecutive well service. A completion job becomes even more challenging as multi-well pads are constructed to permit multiple wellbores to be stimulated in parallel with the same suite of well servicing equipment. Lack of coordination and communication between the well services results in inefficiencies, resulting in fewer (e.g., just 12-16) hours of active pumping per day.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments described herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a system that includes a treatment fluid system configured to pump a treatment fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation from a surface of an oil and gas wellsite. The system also includes a pump-down system configured to pump a pump-down fluid into the wellbore to convey a perforating tool through the wellbore. The system further includes a fluid valve system configured to selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the treatment fluid system and the pump-down system to and from the wellbore. In addition, the system includes a controller having at least one processor and at least one memory storing executable program code instructions. The controller is communicatively connected to the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system. The program code instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to: monitor operational status of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system; and control operations of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system based at least in part on the operational status of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system.

In addition, certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a method that includes operating a treatment fluid system to pump a treatment fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation from a surface of an oil and gas wellsite. The method also includes operating a pump-down system to pump a pump-down fluid into the wellbore to convey a perforating tool through the wellbore. The method further includes operating a fluid valve system to selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the treatment fluid system and the pump-down system to and from the wellbore. In addition, the method includes monitoring, using a controller, operational status of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system. The method also includes controlling, using the controller, operations of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system based at least in part on the operational status of the treatment fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system.

In addition, certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a system that includes a fracturing fluid system having a fracturing fluid mixing and pumping system for facilitating well fracturing operations including pumping a fracturing fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation from a surface of an oil and gas wellsite. The system also includes a pump-down system having at least one pump and at least one container storing a pump-down fluid. The pump-down system is configured to pump the pump-down fluid into the wellbore to convey a perforating tool downhole through the wellbore when the pump-down system is fluidly connected to the wellbore. The system further includes a fluid valve system configured to selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the fracturing fluid system and the pump-down system to and from the wellbore. The fluid valve system includes a fracturing manifold fluidly connected between the fracturing fluid system and the wellbore. The fracturing manifold is configured to selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the fracturing fluid system to and from the wellbore. In addition, the system includes a controller having at least one processor and at least one memory storing executable program code instructions. The controller is communicatively connected to the fracturing fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system. The program code instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to: monitor operational status of the fracturing fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system; and operate the fluid valve system to alternatingly connect and disconnect the fracturing fluid system and the pump-down system to and from the wellbore based at least in part on the operational status of the fracturing fluid system, the pump-down system, and the fluid valve system.

Various refinements of the features noted above may be undertaken in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. The brief summary presented above is intended to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter.

