Burst-Port (Rupture-Disc) Frac Sleeves
A technology in which sleeves are installed whose ports are closed by rupture discs calibrated to open at a strictly defined pressure.
Advantages
- Precise and predictable activation. The discs are calibrated to a specific pressure, ensuring controlled port opening and reducing the risk of unintended actuation.
- Simpler technology and fewer operations. It eliminates additional steps such as perforation on coiled tubing (CT) or ball drops — activation is achieved by increasing pressure from the surface.
- Time and resource savings. The work cycle is shortened and the need for special equipment and service fleets is reduced, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
- High tightness.
- Full-bore borehole retained. After the discs burst, in most configurations no obstacles remain for further equipment run-in, which simplifies subsequent operations (including repeated fracturing).
- Flexibility in designing frac stages. The sleeves can be placed at the required spacing along the horizontal borehole, adapting the layout to the reservoir’s geological features.
- Compatibility with cementing. Sleeves with rupture discs can be used in cemented intervals, providing reliable communication with the formation.
Specifications
- activation pressure: 48 to 93 MPa
- number of stages: unlimited
- port diameter: 12 mm
- total circulation-port area: 2260 mm²
- size range: 102/146; 114/168(178); 140(146)/219(245)
Application area and experience
- Horizontal wells, including extended-reach (ERD) wells. Where conventional perforation methods are technically difficult or uneconomic.
- Multistage fracturing (MSF). Staged stimulation of productive intervals in long horizontal boreholes.
- Hard-to-recover reserves and low-permeability reservoirs. Including shale and tight formations, where a branched fracture network is required to increase oil recovery.
- Complex geological and technical conditions. Where minimizing the number of trips and reducing the risk of complications matter.
- Repeated fracturing. Thanks to the retained borehole passability, the technology allows additional stimulations without extensive milling or changing the assembly.