PROGRAMMABLE PLUG SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FORMATION ACCESS IN MULTISTAGE HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF OIL AND GAS WELLS

摘要

Programmable plug system for accessing and isolating formations duringhydraulic fracturing,consisting of a Programmable Plug and plurality of Sliding Sleeve Valvesinstalled in the casingstring of a wellbore wherein Programmable Plug travels down the casing string,through thecasing and Sliding Sleeve Valves wherein during its passage the ProgrammablePlug recognizesand counts each sleeve using on-board sensors, electronics and software andwherein theProgrammable Plug utilizes recognition information to locate, activate and setitself into theSliding Sleeve Valve according to programmed sequence stored in the on-boardmemorywherein this activation and setting of the Programmable Plug forms physicalcoupling betweenProgrammable Plug and allows the Programmable Plug to engage and actuate theSliding Sleeveand wherein applying the pressure from the surface causes opening of theSliding Sleeve Valve,wherein this opening provides access to the zone adjacent to the SlidingSleeve Valve whilesealing and isolating the zones below the Sliding Sleeve Valve and whereinapplying thepressure in the opposite direction, or pulling on the winch attached to theProgrammable Plugcauses the Programmable Plug to unset itself and travel up the casing stringtowards the nextSliding Sleeve Valve where setting, actuation, and opening is repeated forthat Sliding SleeveValve.