US 11,680,469 B2
Method and system for autonomous flow rate control in hydraulic stimulation operations
Murtadha J. AlTammar, Dhahran (SA); Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Dammam (SA); and Dung T. Phan, Brookshire, TX (US)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA); and ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/165,372.
Prior Publication US 2022/0243568 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01); G01N 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/12 (2013.01) [E21B 43/2607 (2020.05); F04B 49/065 (2013.01); G01N 11/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
determining, by a computer processor and using a plurality of downhole sensors, time-derivative pressure data based on pressure data regarding a pump system that is performing a hydraulic stimulation operation using a hydraulic fracturing fluid in a geological region,
wherein the plurality of downhole sensors comprises a first downhole sensor coupled to a casing within a wellbore and a second downhole sensor coupled to a frac plug within the wellbore, and
wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid is sent into a horizontal well in the wellbore at a predetermined flow rate during the hydraulic stimulation operation;
determining, by the computer processor, a moving average value based on the time-derivative pressure data and a predetermined time window;
determining, by the computer processor, a flow rate adjustment for the pump system based on the moving average value, an update interval for adjusting flow rates, and one or more predetermined flow rate rules, wherein a size of the predetermined time window is different from the update interval; and
transmitting, automatically by the computer processor and based on the flow rate adjustment, a command to the pump system that changes the predetermined flow rate of the hydraulic fracturing fluid within the hydraulic stimulation operation.