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WO2020219009A1 - Outil d'assistance à la flottaison avec bouchon dégradable - Google Patents

Outil d'assistance à la flottaison avec bouchon dégradable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020219009A1
WO2020219009A1 PCT/US2019/028508 US2019028508W WO2020219009A1 WO 2020219009 A1 WO2020219009 A1 WO 2020219009A1 US 2019028508 W US2019028508 W US 2019028508W WO 2020219009 A1 WO2020219009 A1 WO 2020219009A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plug
fluid
casing string
outer case
downhole apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2019/028508
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Lonnie C. HELMS
Min Mark YUAN
Frank Vinicio ACOSTA
Michael Linley Fripp
Mayur AHUJA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Original Assignee
Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Halliburton Energy Services Inc filed Critical Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Priority to US16/641,183 priority Critical patent/US20210148184A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2019/028508 priority patent/WO2020219009A1/fr
Publication of WO2020219009A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020219009A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
    • E21B2200/08—Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions

Definitions

  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary well bore with a well casing including a buoyancy chamber therein.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of a buoyancy assist tool of the current disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section of a buoyancy assist tool of FIG. 2 after the plug has degraded.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of a buoyancy assist tool.
  • a downhole apparatus 10 is positioned in a well bore 12.
  • Well bore 12 includes a vertical portion 14 and a deviated or horizontal portion 16.
  • Apparatus 10 comprises a casing string 18 which is made up of a plurality of casing joints 20.
  • Casing joints 20 may have inner diameter or bore 22 which defines a central flow path 24 therethrough.
  • Well casing 18 defines a buoyancy chamber 26 with upper end or boundary 28 and lower end or boundary 30.
  • Buoyancy chamber 26 will be filled with a buoyant fluid which may be a gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or air but other gases may also be suitable.
  • the buoyant fluid may also be a liquid such as water or diesel fuel or other like liquid.
  • the important aspect is that the buoyant fluid has a lower specific gravity than the well fluid in the well bore 12 in which casing 18 is run. The choice of gas or liquid, and which one of these are used is a factor of the well conditions and the amount of buoyancy desired.
  • Lower boundary 30 may comprise a float device such as a float shoe or float collar. As is known, such float devices will generally allow fluid flow downwardly therethrough but will prevent flow upwardly into the casing.
  • the float devices are generally a one-way check valve.
  • the float device 30 is thus a fluid barrier that will be configured such that it will hold the buoyant fluid in the buoyancy chamber 26 until additional pressure is applied after the release of the buoyancy fluid from the buoyancy chamber.
  • the upper boundary 28 is defined by a buoyancy assist tool as described herein.
  • Buoyancy assist tool 34 includes an outer case 36 that is connectable in casing string 18.
  • Buoyancy assist tool 34 comprises a plug assembly 38 that is connected to and positioned in outer case 36. Buoyancy assist tool 34 has upper end 40 and lower end 42. Buoyancy assist tool 34 is connectable in the casing string at the upper and lower ends 40 and 42 thereof and forms a part of the casing string 18 lowered into well bore 12.
  • Outer case 36 comprises an upper outer case 44 and a lower outer case 46.
  • a connecting shield 48 is connected to and extends between upper outer case 44 and lower outer case 46.
  • Outer case 36 and plug assembly 38 define an annular space 50 therebetween.
  • Annular space 50 in the embodiment shown is defined by and between connecting sleeve 48 and plug assembly 38.
  • Plug assembly 38 has upper end 52 and lower end 54. Plug assembly 38 is connected to upper outer case 44 at the upper end 52 thereof and to lower outer case 46 at the lower end 54 thereof.
  • the plug assembly may be threadedly connected or connected by other means known in the art.
  • Plug assembly 38 may comprise a plug housing 56 with upper and lower ends 52 and 54 which are the upper and lower ends of the plug assembly 38.
  • a degradable plug or degradable core 58 is fixed in housing 56.
  • the degradable core may be a matrix of sand and salt but can be other degradable substances that can be degraded with fluids or other means once the casing string 18 is lowered into the wellbore to a desired location in the well.
  • Plug housing 56 has a plurality of housing ports 60 defined through the wall thereof. Housing ports 60 communicate the annular space 50 with the degradable plug or core 58 so that fluid passing therethrough can contact degradable plug 58 and can degrade the plug to remove it from plug housing 56 to create a full bore flow path therethrough.
  • Buoyancy assist tool 34 may include a non-permeable cap 62 positioned across upper end 52 of plug assembly 38.
  • Non-permeable cap 62 may be comprised of a resin or a rubber material or other non-permeable material that will prevent fluid thereabove from contacting the degradable plug at the upper end of the plug assembly 38 prior to the time casing string 18 is placed at the desired location in wellbore 12.
  • the non-permeable cap 62 will be configured such that upon degradation of the plug 58 the cap will be easily ruptured by fluid flowing through the casing string 18, including outer case 36.
  • Plug housing 56 has an inner surface 64 defining a diameter 66 and has an outer surface 68.
  • diameter 66 is a diameter that is no smaller than an inner diameter of casing string 18 such that upon the degradation of plug 58 buoyancy assist tool 34 provides no greater restriction to the passage of well tools therethrough than that which already exists as a result of the inner diameter of the casing string 18.
  • Upper end 40 of buoyancy assist tool 34 is likewise the upper end of upper outer case 44.
  • Upper outer case 44 has a lower end 70.
  • Plug assembly 38 is connected at its upper end 52 to the lower end 70 of upper outer case 44.
  • Outer surface 68 of plug housing 56 may have a groove 67 with an O-ring seal 69 therein to sealingly engage an inner surface of upper outer case 44.
  • Upper outer case 44 has inner surface 72 which defines an inner diameter 74 that is a minimum inner diameter of upper outer case 44.
  • upper outer case 44 has a port 76 therethrough.
  • Inner diameter 74 is a diameter that is no smaller than an inner diameter of casing string 18 such that upon the degradation of plug 58 buoyancy assist tool 34 provides no greater restriction to the passage of well tools therethrough than that which already exists as a result of the inner diameter of the casing string 18.
  • a rupture disc or other rupturable membrane 78 is positioned in a port 76 in upper outer case 44. Rupture disc 78 will prevent flow through port 76 until a desired or pre-determined pressure is reached in casing string 18. Upon reaching the pre-determined pressure the rupture disc 78 will rupture and fluid will be communicated from casing string 18 through port 76 into annular space 50. Fluid will pass from annular space 50 through housing ports 60 and will contact the degradable plug 58. The fluid passing therethrough may be referred to as a degrading fluid.
  • the degrading fluid may be any fluid utilized to degrade the degradable plug and may be water or other degrading fluid.
  • Upper outer case 44 may be a two-piece outer case comprising an upper portion 80 that is threadedly and sealingly connected to lower portion 82 Lower portion 82 connects to plug assembly 38 as shown in the figures.
  • Upper outer case 44 may define a fluid chamber 84 which is a closed fluid chamber 84
  • Fluid chamber 84 has an upper seal 86 that extends across an upper end 87 thereof. Fluid in fluid chamber 84 is thus trapped between seal 86 and the cap 62 of plug assembly 38
  • Fluid chamber 84 is an optional fluid chamber 84 and will not be used in every instance. Fluid chamber 84 will be utilized in those instances in which it is necessary to utilize a fluid to treat a formation, and the fluid may not be a degrading fluid for the degradable plug.
  • water is the degrading fluid, but not the treatment fluid
  • water will be contained in the fluid chamber 84 such that upon reaching the appropriate position in the well oil or other fluid may be pumped through the casing which will cause seal 86 to burst and force the water in fluid chamber 84 through port 76 and into annular space 50
  • the fluid from fluid chamber 84 will then pass from annular space 50 through ports 60 in housing plug 56 and will contact the degradable plug 58 until it is degraded or dissolved.
  • Lower outer case 46 has upper end 90 and a lower end which is the lower end 42 of buoyancy assist tool 34
  • Upper end 90 of lower outer case 44 is connected to lower end 54 of plug assembly 38
  • Outer surface 68 of plug housing 56 may have a groove 91 with an O-ring seal 93 therein to sealingly engage lower outer case 44
  • Lower outer case 44 has inner surface 92 defining an inner diameter 94
  • Inner diameter 94 is a diameter that is no smaller than an inner diameter of casing string 18 such that upon the degradation of plug 58 buoyancy assist tool 34 provides no greater restriction to the passage of well tools therethrough than that which already exists as a result of the inner diameter of the casing string 18.
  • Connecting sleeve 100 has upper end 102 and lower end 104
  • Connecting sleeve 44 is connected at it upper end 102 to an outer surface of upper outer case 44 and is connected at its lower end 104 to an outer surface of lower outer case 46
  • O-ring seals 105 may be positioned in grooves in the outer surfaces of the upper and lower outer cases 44 and 46 respectively to sealingly engage an inner surface 106 of connecting shield 44
  • Inner surface 106 of connecting shield 44 defines an inner diameter 108.
  • An annular passageway 110 is defined by and between upper outer case 44 and connecting shield 48. Annular passageway 110 communicates fluid delivered through port 76 into annular space 50. Fluid is communicated through ports 60 so that it will contact degradable plug 58 to dissolve or degrade the plug.
  • FIG. 2 shows the fluid chamber 84 which is an optional fluid chamber.
  • FIG. 4 shows the embodiment with no fluid chamber which is identical in all other respects.
  • buoyancy assist tool 36 is shown prior to the time fluid has degraded plug 58 and without the seal 86 which forms the upper end of the fluid chamber 84 in the embodiment of FIG. 2.
  • upper outer case 44 can be one piece or can be a two-piece upper outer case as described herein.
  • casing string 18 is lowered into wellbore 12 to a desired location.
  • Running a casing such as casing 18 in deviated wells and long horizontal wells often results in significantly increased drag forces and may cause a casing string to become stuck before reaching the desired location in the wellbore.
  • the buoyancy assist tool 34 as described herein alleviates some of the issues and at the same time provides for a full bore passageway so that other tools or objects such as, for example production packers, perforating guns and service tools may pass therethrough without obstruction after well casing 18 has reached the desired depth.
  • buoyancy chamber 26 will aid in the proper placement since it will reduce friction as the casing 18 is lowered into horizontal portion 16 to the desired location.
  • the degrading fluid will be pumped through casing 18 and through port 76.
  • the degrading fluid will be that which is pumped through the casing string 18 as opposed to that contained in a fluid chamber.
  • the choice of degrading fluid will be dependent on the plug material, but in many cases water will be used to degrade a plug formed of a sand and salt matrix.
  • Once the degradable plug 58 is dissolved or degraded service tools may be passed through plug assembly 38, and more particularly through plug housing 56.
  • buoyancy assist tool 34 provides no size restriction on the tools that can be passed therethrough that does not already exist due to the size of the inner diameter of casing 18.
  • inner diameters 66, 74 and 94 may be generally the same as or larger than the minimum outer diameter of casing.
  • the current disclosure is directed to a downhole apparatus comprising a casing string and a fluid barrier connected in the casing string.
  • a degradable plug is positioned in the casing string above the fluid barrier and the degradable plug and fluid barrier comprise upper and lower ends of a buoyancy chamber in the casing string.
  • the downhole apparatus has a non-permeable cap covering an upper end of the degradable plug.
  • the downhole apparatus may further comprise an outer case connected in the casing string with the degradable plug positioned in the outer case.
  • the outer case and the degradable plug define an annular space configured to receive a degrading fluid.
  • the downhole apparatus comprises a plug housing with the degradable plug fixed in the plug housing.
  • the plug housing defines ports through a wall thereof configured to communicate fluid from the annular space to the degradable plug.
  • the outer case comprises an upper outer case configured to connect in the casing string and a lower outer case configured to connect in the casing string.
  • a connecting sleeve is connected at one end to the upper outer case and at a second end to the lower outer case.
  • the annular space may be defined between the connecting sleeve and the degradable plug.
  • the outer case of the downhole apparatus has a port defined therein configured to communicate the degrading fluid to the annular space.
  • the outer case defines a fluid chamber containing the degrading fluid.
  • a buoyancy assist tool comprises a plug assembly.
  • the plug assembly comprises a plug housing with a degradable plug fixed therein.
  • the buoyancy assist tool in one embodiment has an upper outer case connected at a lower end to the plug assembly and is configured to connect in a casing string at an upper end thereof.
  • a lower outer case is connected at an upper end to the plug assembly and a connecting sleeve connecting the upper and lower outer cases.
  • the connecting sleeve and plug assembly define an annular space therebetween configured to receive a plug degrading fluid.
  • the plug housing of the buoyancy assist tool defines a plurality of ports therein configured to communicate a degrading fluid from the annular space with the degradable plug.
  • the upper outer case defines a port in a wall thereof, the port having a rupturable plug therein.
  • the port is configured to communicate degrading fluid into the annular space when the plug ruptures.
  • a non-permeable cap covers an upper end of the degradable plug.
  • the non-permeable plug will prevent premature degrading of the plug, by preventing a degrading fluid from contacting the degradable plug until the desired time. That time will generally be when a casing string with the buoyancy assist tool has been lowered to a desired location in a wellbore.
  • the non-permeable cap comprises a rubber coating.
  • the buoyancy assist tool may comprise the upper end of a buoyancy chamber in a casing string.
  • the upper outer case of the buoyancy assist tool may define a fluid chamber containing the degrading fluid.
  • An embodiment of the downhole apparatus is casing string comprised of a plurality of casing joints.
  • a degradable plug is configured to block flow through the casing string until the casing string reaches a desired depth in a well bore.
  • a flow barrier is positioned in the casing string below the degradable plug, and the degradable plug and the flow barrier define upper and lower ends of a buoyancy chamber in the casing.
  • the casing string in one embodiment has a plug assembly connected therein.
  • the plug assembly comprises a plug housing with the degradable plug fixed therein.
  • the plug housing defines a plurality of ports configured to communicate a degrading fluid therethrough to contact the degradable plug.
  • An outer case connected in the casing string and the plug assembly define an annular space configured to receive a degrading fluid.
  • a closed fluid chamber positioned above the plug assembly chamber contains the degrading fluid.
  • no fluid chamber is included and the degrading fluid is delivered through the casing string.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de fond de trou, lequel appareil comprend une colonne de tubage avec une barrière vis-à-vis des fluides reliée dans la colonne de tubage. Un bouchon dégradable est positionné dans la colonne de tubage au-dessus de la barrière vis-à-vis des fluides. Le bouchon dégradable et la barrière vis-à-vis des fluides définissent des extrémités supérieure et inférieure d'une chambre de flottaison dans la colonne de tubage. Le bouchon dégradable peut être dégradé de façon à laisser un perçage ouvert à travers la colonne de tubage après que la colonne de tubage a été abaissée dans un puits de forage.
PCT/US2019/028508 2019-04-22 2019-04-22 Outil d'assistance à la flottaison avec bouchon dégradable Ceased WO2020219009A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/641,183 US20210148184A1 (en) 2019-04-22 2019-04-22 Buoyancy assist tool with degradable plug
PCT/US2019/028508 WO2020219009A1 (fr) 2019-04-22 2019-04-22 Outil d'assistance à la flottaison avec bouchon dégradable

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2019/028508 WO2020219009A1 (fr) 2019-04-22 2019-04-22 Outil d'assistance à la flottaison avec bouchon dégradable

Publications (1)

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WO2020219009A1 true WO2020219009A1 (fr) 2020-10-29

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PCT/US2019/028508 Ceased WO2020219009A1 (fr) 2019-04-22 2019-04-22 Outil d'assistance à la flottaison avec bouchon dégradable

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US (1) US20210148184A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2020219009A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2025056705A1 (fr) * 2023-09-12 2025-03-20 Swellfix Uk Limited Appareil et procédé d'écran extensible

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11639641B2 (en) * 2019-12-17 2023-05-02 Klx Energy Services, Llc Degradable in-line buoyant system for running casing in a wellbore
US11293252B2 (en) * 2020-04-16 2022-04-05 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Fluid barriers for dissolvable plugs
US12305484B2 (en) 2022-11-01 2025-05-20 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Pre-positioning a meltable seal for plug and abandonment
US12134945B2 (en) 2023-02-21 2024-11-05 Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc Frangible disk sub, method and system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030116324A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2003-06-26 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Installation of evacuated tubular conduits
US20140174757A1 (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-06-26 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Electronic rupture discs for interventionaless barrier plug
US20150107843A1 (en) * 2012-04-16 2015-04-23 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Completing Long, Deviated Wells
US20160333658A1 (en) * 2015-05-15 2016-11-17 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Buoyancy assist tool
US20180080308A1 (en) * 2016-09-22 2018-03-22 Klx Inc. Apparatus and method for running casing in a wellbore

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030116324A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2003-06-26 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Installation of evacuated tubular conduits
US20150107843A1 (en) * 2012-04-16 2015-04-23 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Completing Long, Deviated Wells
US20140174757A1 (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-06-26 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Electronic rupture discs for interventionaless barrier plug
US20160333658A1 (en) * 2015-05-15 2016-11-17 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Buoyancy assist tool
US20180080308A1 (en) * 2016-09-22 2018-03-22 Klx Inc. Apparatus and method for running casing in a wellbore

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2025056705A1 (fr) * 2023-09-12 2025-03-20 Swellfix Uk Limited Appareil et procédé d'écran extensible

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